Steelers Notebook: No change in Ward's situation, but teammates feel his absence
Sunday, August 07, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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</TBODY></TABLE><!--END PHOTO-->Hines Ward enters the second week of his training-camp holdout much the way it began, with the Steelers still determined not to negotiate for a contract extension until they see the white's of his eyes.
Kevin Colbert, the team's director of football operations, said yesterday there was nothing new in Ward's situation. The receiver continues to hold out since he failed to report to St. Vincent College last Sunday, and there has been no contact between the club and agent Eugene Parker.
Ward, who has one year left on his contract, said he will not report to the team without a new deal. Colbert said the team will follow its long policy of not negotiating a new deal for a player under contract who holds out.
Teammates said Ward's absence through the first week of camp has been a loss for them.
"More than anything, I think some of the rookies are missing out on a lot," fellow receiver Antwaan Randle El said. "When he's watching them, he'll talk to them about certain routes and certain plays, that kind of thing. That's a big part of it.
"I miss him in terms of, as a ballplayer, he certainly can help our team. He's still part of this team. We need to get him here, some kind of way, that's why I hope it all works out."
Life at training camp without his roommate is quieter for cornerback Deshea Townsend, but less rewarding.
"That's my alarm clock," Townsend said. "I'm not used to waking up by myself. Most times in the morning when he gets up before me, he says 'Deshea, I'm about to go,' so I go ahead and get up. "We need him here. When you think about the Steelers and how tough we are, you think about Hines Ward."
Sunday, August 07, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
<!--BEGIN PHOTO--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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</TBODY></TABLE><!--END PHOTO-->Hines Ward enters the second week of his training-camp holdout much the way it began, with the Steelers still determined not to negotiate for a contract extension until they see the white's of his eyes.
Kevin Colbert, the team's director of football operations, said yesterday there was nothing new in Ward's situation. The receiver continues to hold out since he failed to report to St. Vincent College last Sunday, and there has been no contact between the club and agent Eugene Parker.
Ward, who has one year left on his contract, said he will not report to the team without a new deal. Colbert said the team will follow its long policy of not negotiating a new deal for a player under contract who holds out.
Teammates said Ward's absence through the first week of camp has been a loss for them.
"More than anything, I think some of the rookies are missing out on a lot," fellow receiver Antwaan Randle El said. "When he's watching them, he'll talk to them about certain routes and certain plays, that kind of thing. That's a big part of it.
"I miss him in terms of, as a ballplayer, he certainly can help our team. He's still part of this team. We need to get him here, some kind of way, that's why I hope it all works out."
Life at training camp without his roommate is quieter for cornerback Deshea Townsend, but less rewarding.
"That's my alarm clock," Townsend said. "I'm not used to waking up by myself. Most times in the morning when he gets up before me, he says 'Deshea, I'm about to go,' so I go ahead and get up. "We need him here. When you think about the Steelers and how tough we are, you think about Hines Ward."
Heard on the way in this morning that Bettis blasted Steelers management pretty good saying that it looks bad to have your supposed number 1 offseason priority still not dealt with a week into training camp.
Ward still insists that he is not showing up without a new contract. Steelers insist that they will not negotiate with him until he shows up for camp. Who will break first?
Ward is obviously at a disadvantage here. Steelers no doubt would miss him terribly if he held out during the regular season - but if he did that, the Steelers would still retain his rights for next year, Ward would not get paid, and he would have to forfeit some of his original signing bonus. We woul dbe in the same position next summer. He is going to have to show up sooner or later but the longer this drags on, the messier it becomes.
Of course the minute he signs a long term deal and catches a few TD's, all will be forgotten.
Ward still insists that he is not showing up without a new contract. Steelers insist that they will not negotiate with him until he shows up for camp. Who will break first?
Ward is obviously at a disadvantage here. Steelers no doubt would miss him terribly if he held out during the regular season - but if he did that, the Steelers would still retain his rights for next year, Ward would not get paid, and he would have to forfeit some of his original signing bonus. We woul dbe in the same position next summer. He is going to have to show up sooner or later but the longer this drags on, the messier it becomes.
Of course the minute he signs a long term deal and catches a few TD's, all will be forgotten.
Dante said:
1. Ward was a marginal NFL player in 2000.
2. The Steelers signed him to a long-term deal. Ward chose that instead of a shorter deal or no extension. He wanted security instead of an earlier free agent period.
3. Ward was an exceptional receiver in 2001-2004.
4. Ward is signed through 2005.
5. The Steelers, who promised to make him a priority, made a large contract offer to Ward as an extension.
6. Ward did not accept, and thought the offer was inadequate.
At this point, nobody's at fault. It's a pure difference of opinion. The two parties could then continue to negotiate, and if they failed to sign Ward to an extension, then Ward could be an UFA next offseason. Simple.
But here's what happened...
7. Ward, even though he's under contract for 2005, is refusing to show for training camp and is threatening to hold out all season unless he is extended immediately on terms he believes are fair.
8. The FO has Ward under contract this season and is not obligated to extend Ward for him to perform for them.
9. Ward is damaging the team because the Steelers now unexpectedly are without their Pro Bowl flanker.
10. The Steelers will not, have not, and should not negotiate with holdout players.
How can ANYONE come to the conclusion that the front office is at fault? Both parties were simply disagreeing, and Ward burned everything with his idiotic holdout. He is under contract this season, and I don't care if the Steelers offered him thirty cents next season -- Ward is obligated to play out his deal.
How is Hines NOT the "greedy villain?"
Hines Ward can only end up a loser in this deal. The Steelers wont, have never and will never negotiate with a player under contract that is holding out. Hines can sit for a whole year and still owe the Steelers a year on the present contract. If he thinks the Steelers will crack, he better think again. Hopefully this is just a ploy so he doesnt have to go thru the brutal days of training camp which I'm sure he doesnt need anyway. The Steelers promising to make Hines their 1st priority wasnt a promise to give him everything he wanted no matter how unrealistic it may be. The offer of the highest contract in Steeler history doesnt seem too unfair to me. I'm very confident that if he goes into camp a deal will be struck.
Reports today are that Ward is looking for 16-18 mill in guaranteed money over the next 3 seasons - very similar to the deal that Marvin Harrison got last year. Ward says that Cowher and Colbert (Steelers GM) told him after last season that he would be receiving the highest signing bonus ever for a WR. Said Ward..."I love football, and I don't want to miss practices with my teammates. But the Steelers don't value receivers. And I'm (ticked) off."
Continues to be a messy situation. No way are the Rooneys gonna give this guy Harrison money. I love Hines and he is a great player but he needs to get his butt in camp, play out the final year of his deal, and test the free agent waters next season if he so desires. The longer this thing drags on, the less likely the chances that he will be a Steelers in 2006. He will have to report to the team sooner or later this season.
Continues to be a messy situation. No way are the Rooneys gonna give this guy Harrison money. I love Hines and he is a great player but he needs to get his butt in camp, play out the final year of his deal, and test the free agent waters next season if he so desires. The longer this thing drags on, the less likely the chances that he will be a Steelers in 2006. He will have to report to the team sooner or later this season.
Well the highest paid player in team history was either Kordell Stewart (8+ mil SB his last contract here) or Big Ben (Up towards 10 mill in guaranteed). Hines wants something north of 15. Big difference. The whole "highest paid player in steelers history" was just a phrase thrwn out there by the Steelers for publicity.
