Hines Ward to Retire

**PeterB58** · 01-09-2012, 12:37 PM

http://tracking.si.com/2012/01/09/re...?sct=nfl_t2_a3

**bensmotorcyclehelmt** · 01-09-2012, 12:40 PM

THe way a few of the guys were hugging him after the game, I thought he might be close to retiring too...

**lovefootball** · 01-09-2012, 01:00 PM

Steelers were hoping to go to SB and hav refs hand them the game for wards last game. Just like they did for bettis.

**HoustonRaven** · 01-09-2012, 01:08 PM

Moved to the main page, since it's our most heated rival ....

Discuss.

**B-more Ravor** · 01-09-2012, 01:12 PM

He's had a great career, no doubt, but am I wrong to wish that we could have been the team to beat them to end his career?!?!?

**PeterB58** · 01-09-2012, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

He's had a great career, no doubt, but am I wrong to wish that we could have been the team to beat them to end his career?!?!?

In a way, the Ravens did. And perhaps quite a few more.

I posted this article in the Non-Ravens forum:

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbur.../s_775706.html

Look at Baltimore and the decidedly different approach the Ravens took last offseason, shipping out a few veterans, keeping a few and allowing the youngsters to pick up the slack when the Ray Lewises went down.

I thought it would knock the Ravens backward. Instead, it gave them fresh life.

I raised that example with Rooney after this game, and the man with the final say on these things didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement for keeping everyone together again: "That's something for us to sit down and consider in the days and weeks to come. Right now, the loss just hurts.

**Knox Harrington** · 01-09-2012, 01:12 PM

ahhhh, my lasting image will be JJ leveling him Week 1. What a way to send him off for Ravens fans.

**GOTA** · 01-09-2012, 01:12 PM

A year too late. Ward was a shell of himself this season.

And before someone asks......I know the HOF selection guys are Steelers homers but there is no way Ward has any shot of getting in.

**B-more Ravor** · 01-09-2012, 01:13 PM

That team is going to look A LOT different next year.

Their cap woes are reported to be epic.

**Ravenswintitle** · 01-09-2012, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

That team is going to look A LOT different next year.

Their cap woes are reported to be epic.

No surprise that he is retiring and as said above, it's a year too late. Regarding their cap woes, is it any different than what the Ravens did this year, cutting a slew of veterans and moving on? I've read some articles that predict major gloom but usually teams figure out ways around a lot of that.

**B-more Ravor** · 01-09-2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

No surprise that he is retiring and as said above, it's a year too late. Regarding their cap woes, is it any different than what the Ravens did this year, cutting a slew of veterans and moving on? I've read some articles that predict major gloom but usually teams figure out ways around a lot of that.

Oh, they'll figure out a way, but it sounds like it's going to be more than cutting 3 guys like we did.

I haven't looked too much at it myself yet, but it sounds like they're going to have to have a major purge and aren't going to be in a position to reload, other than through the draft. Remember, we cut guys to be able to sign and re-sign other guys (Yanda, Leach, Pollard, Ricky, McKinney, Evans). At least based on what I've read so far, I don't think they are going to be in that position. They're going to need to cut guys just to get under the Cap. Although, granted, a lot of those guys are pretty old/injured anyway (Ward, Hampton, Farrior, Smith, McFadden, etc).

**52decleetzu** · 01-09-2012, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

Oh, they'll figure out a way, but it sounds like it's going to be more than cutting 3 guys like we did.

I haven't looked too much at it myself yet, but it sounds like they're going to have to have a major purge and aren't going to be in a position to reload, other than through the draft. Remember, we cut guys to be able to sign and re-sign other guys (Yanda, Leach, Pollard, Ricky, McKinney, Evans). At least based on what I've read so far, I don't think they are going to be in that position. They're going to need to cut guys just to get under the Cap. Although, granted, a lot of those guys are pretty old/injured anyway (Ward, Hampton, Farrior, Smith, McFadden, etc).

Would love to hear your input! (there is Ravens related stuff in there as well)

http://ravens24x7.com/forum/showthre...plete-disaster