“This is the right thing to do,” Ward said during a press conference. “I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. I have no regrets. It’s bittersweet. It’s the end of an era. I’ll be a Steeler for life.”



“We had a conversation today with Hines Ward and informed him that we plan to release him of his contract prior to the start of the 2012 NFL calendar year,” Steelers team president Art Rooney II said in a statement earlier this month. “Hines has been an integral part of our success since we drafted him in 1998 and we will forever be grateful for what he has helped us achieve. He has meant so much to this organization, both on and off the field, and we appreciate his efforts over the past 14 years. Hines’ accomplishments are numerous, and he will always be thought of as one of the all-time great Steelers. We wish him nothing but the best.”

A former third-round pick from Georgia, Ward played in Pittsburgh for 14 seasons.
“Our expectations year in and year out was the Super Bowl,” Ward said. “We were taught what it takes to approach practice each day to get to that one goal and win the Super Bowl. Hopefully, we left that legacy and that lasting impression on the guys behind us.”

He’s the Steelers’ all-time leader in receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083), receiving touchdowns (85) and 100-yard receiving games (29).

Ward is the eighth player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions and joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the only two players in league history to post 1,000 career catches and win multiple Super Bowls.

Ward was the MVP of Super Bowl XL after leading the Steelers to a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. He posted a game-high 123 receiving yards on five receptions with one touchdown.

The Steelers’ 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Ward was named to four Pro Bowls and was a member of the Steelers’ 75th Season All-Time Team.

“This is the city of champions,” Ward said. “I loved playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

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Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is expected to announce his retirement today at a noon ET press conference in Pittsburgh, according to published reports.

Ward, 36, was cut after 12 seasons with the Steelers, the only team he has ever known, back on Feb. 29.

NBCSports.com was first to report Hines holding the press conference. All indications are that the conference was called to announce Hines’s retirement.

“On the Hines Ward press conference in Pittsburgh, if it’s anything other than a retirement announcement it would be a major shock,” tweeted @ProFootball Talk.

“Sad day for the Steelers. Hines Ward is retiring today. Probably one of the toughest WR’s to ever play the game,” said @TannerCarder.

Jason La Canfora, a blogger for NFL.com, said on Twitter he expected the announcement to be “an emotional end to an outstanding career.

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Ward owns every receiving record in Steelers franchise history and was a part of two Pittsburgh teams that won the Super Bowl.

Hines Ward was the MVP of Super Bowl XL when the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10. Ward caught a touchdown pass from Antwaan Randle El in the fourth quarter of the game to solidify the Steelers’ victory.

“Hines Ward you had a good run and a decent NFL career. That TD pass you caught from Randel El was pretty sick. #NotGonnaLie,” said @Tmorley1992.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward reached the 12,000 yards receiving milestone during the 35-7 Steeler win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 4, 2011. Ward was the first Pittsburgh Steeler to reach that mark and the 19th overall in NFL history. UPI/Archie Carpenter 

DECATUR, Ga., March 14 (UPI) — Former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward told a police officer he was worried his arrest on a DUI charge would become public, a police car’s video shows.

The footage, taken from a dashboard camera and obtained by TMZ, showed Ward handcuffed in the backseat of the car after his July 9 arrest in DeKalb County on a charge of driving under the influence, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Ward leaned forward and asked a police officer through the see-through, protective partition, “Is this going to be all in the newspaper?”

“Only if you tell somebody,” the officer responded.

“No, I already know ESPN. They always be looking for [expletive] like that,” Ward told the officer.

Ward pleaded with the officer not to let word of his arrest get out.

“Please, sir, I already know how y’all gonna put it out like that. Don’t put it out like that.”

The Journal-Constitution said Ward, a wide receiver, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

A DeKalb officer said the car Ward was driving was stopped after hitting a curb. Authorities said Ward failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Ward pleaded to reckless driving and the DUI charge was dropped in February. He was given 12 months of probation, fined $2,000 and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and attend an alcohol evaluation and a risk-reduction program.

Ward was released by the Steelers March 2 and is currently a free agent.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have tendered an offer to restricted free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace.

The Steelers did not release what the players were tendered, though general manager Kevin Colbert said recently the team would do what it could to keep Wallace. The Steelers have the right to match any offer made to Wallace or would receive compensation if he signs with another team, likely a first-round draft pick.

Wallace made the Pro Bowl this season after leading the Steelers with 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011. He’s one of the NFL’s top deep threats with an average of 18.7 yards per reception.

The Steelers also tendered offers to CB Keenan Lewis, S Ryan Mundy, TE David Johnson and offensive linemen Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster.

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Steelers have tendered an offer to restricted free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace.

The Steelers did not release what the players were tendered, though general manager Kevin Colbert said recently the team would do what it could to keep Wallace. The Steelers have the right to match any offer made to Wallace or would receive compensation if he signs with another team, likely a first-round draft pick.

Wallace made the Pro Bowl after leading the Steelers with 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011. He’s one of the NFL’s top deep threats with an average of 18.7 yards per reception during his three-year career.

The Steelers also tendered offers to CB Keenan Lewis, S Ryan Mundy, TE David Johnson and offensive linemen Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster.

Colbert was adamant during last month’s NFL combine that re-signing Wallace was a priority. The Steelers are thin at wide receiver following the release of veterans Hines Ward and Arnaz Battle and Jerricho Cotchery’s free agency.

Wallace said repeatedly throughout the season and in recent weeks through his Twitter account that he wants to remain in Pittsburgh, where he has developed a solid rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and is the leader of a talented young group that includes Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

If Wallace returns he’ll be playing for a revamped coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley replaces Bruce Arians and assistant Amos Jones will coach the running backs while Kirby Wilson recovers from a late-December fire in his home that left him with third-degree burns.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Wilson’s recovery is going well and he expects Wilson to return at some point next season.

”He has surprised the doctors with the rate of recovery,” Tomlin said of Wilson. ”Obviously, we still have a long way to go, but it has been just awesome to watch him go through this process and see the improvement in him.”

Tomlin is also eager to get to work with Haley, calling it a ”ridiculous bonus” that the former Kansas City Chiefs head coach was available. Tomlin isn’t sure what the offense will look like when Haley is done with it but is eager to watch the process.

”Obviously, I think we need to have a defined personality, but that’s centered around playing to our strengths,” Tomlin said. ”That changes, of course, depending on what our strengths are. Obviously, we have a solid, franchise-type quarterback. We have some emerging outside talent at wide receiver … Our personality, obviously, is going to be one that is built and geared toward our strengths.”

Mike Wallace won’t be receiving a franchise tag from the Pittsburgh Steelers after all, inside sources for the team say the Steelers’ front office will not, not franchise their sought after free agent.

Because the team won’t franchise tag Wallace the Steelers in turn will be able to match any offers from other potential suitors or receive a first-round pick in return for his services.

According to ESPN:

“The highest qualifying offer for Wallace is about $2.75 million, nearly matching the amount that Pittsburgh is now under the salary cap. To franchise Wallace would cost Pittsburgh $9.5 million, which it currently does not have the salary-cap space to absorb.”

GM Kevin Colbert told reporters at last weeks combine that he was determined to keep the wide receiver. Colbert said it was his belief that Wallace wants to stay in Pittsburgh and they will work together to make sure that goal is realized.

While both sides would like to see a deal get done Wallace last week told SiriusXM NFL Radio:

“[Pittsburgh is] where I would like to be, but we all know that it is a business and you have certain things you have to handle. So if I have to go elsewhere, you know Pittsburgh will always be in my heart, but I have to do what I have to do.”

Letting Wallace go would deal a blow to the Steelers organization after he received for 1,193 yards last season with eight touchdowns, good enough to get the wide receiver selected to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Wallace has led the Pittsburgh Steelers in receiving touchdowns the past two seasons while tying for the team’s best during his rookie year.

Do you think letting Mike Wallace go would be a big mistake on behalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers front office?

PITTSBURGH – Former Central Michigan University star Antonio Brown made the Pro Bowl in only his second season in the NFL, earning the spot as a kick returner.

The Pro Bowl may have  been one of the last times Brown will return kicks, according to reports coming out of Pittsburgh.

Brown was the first player in NFL history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 return yards in the same season.

The Steelers, however, have made it known that they would like receiver Emmanuel Sanders to take over return duties to spare Brown the rigors of receiving and returning kicks.

Brown played three years for CMU, leaving to enter the draft after the 2009 season. During his final season, Brown caught 110 passes for 1,198 yards and nine touchdowns.

He was a sixth-round pick by the Steelers in 2010.

post-gazette.com: Do not think Brown won’t get a chance to return any punts. Like Coach Mike Tomlin did several years ago with Santonio Holmes, Brown could go back on punt returns in special situations when the Steelers need a big play.

But his opportunity to make a lot of plays, for now, might be limited.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to play the Denver Broncos in the first round of the playoffs on January 8, 2012. The game will be held in the high altitude and low oxygen conditions of Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. Unfortunately, for Steelers S Ryan Clark, this means he will not be able to play and he has been pulled out of the game.

Clark carries the sickle cell trait in his blood and when exposed to high altitude and reduced oxygen, this condition can become life-threatening. Clark learned this in 2007 when he last played in Denver. That game cost him his spleen and gallbladder, as well as a loss of 30 pounds and an end to his season. He thought he was going to die.

So what exactly is sickle cell and how is it affected by high altitude and reduced oxygen?

Sickle cell affects the red blood cells in the body. It is caused by a trait that is acquired from both parents.

Healthy red blood cells are round in shape and designed to move easily through the blood vessels. They carry the iron-rich protein called hemoglobin which carries oxygen throughout your body. In people with sickle cell disease, these red blood cells are crescent shaped and carry abnormal hemoglobin. Because of the shape of the cells, they can also block blood flow in the vessels. This can cause pain, organ damage and serious infections.

In order to have sickle cell disease, you need to have received the sickle cell trait from both of your parents. However, if you only receive the trait from one parent, you are diagnosed with sickle cell trait. This means that you will more than likely not have symptoms of the disease but can see complications under certain conditions.

Ryan Clark is considered to have sickle cell trait. He does not suffer from the disease on a regular basis but can experience complications and can pass the trait to his children.

Complications for those carrying the sickle cell trait occur under conditions of high atmospheric pressure, low oxygen levels, dehydration and high altitudes. Unfortunately for Clark, those account for many of the conditions in Denver. The higher altitude and reduced oxygen can be difficult enough for healthy individuals to receive enough oxygen for their body, but with sickle cell trait it becomes even more difficult.

While the idea of missing the first playoff game is not appealing to Clark, neither is a risk of potential complications. This is not the first game he has missed because of this condition. The Steelers have played Denver two times since that game in 2007 and Clark was pulled out of both of them.

Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete, medical professional and avid football fan. She is a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for the NFL and Olympics. She has followed the Denver Broncos since she was a child and can usually be found yelling at the television during football season. Follow her on Twitter at @fwcdeborah.

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“People were telling me later they could hear it through their TV,” Batch said. “I was like, ‘really, OK, pretty good.’”

Actually, better than that.

Batch was his usual efficient, reliable self against the Rams, passing for 208 yards and showing there’s plenty of life left in his 37-year-old legs, extending several plays that turned into big gains as the Steelers (11-4) kept their hopes of an AFC North title alive.

The Pittsburgh native improved to 5-2 while subbing for starter Ben Roethlisberger through the years, earning praise from coach Mike Tomlin and turning Roethlisberger into one of the world’s tallest — and most handsomely paid — cheerleaders.

When the fans started chanting Batch’s name, Roethlisberger joined in. It’s the least he could do for one of his closest friends.

“For an old man … making people miss in the pocket and doing some great things, I was really happy for him and happy for the team,” said Roethlisberger, who dressed but did not play so he could rest his badly sprained left ankle. “He did a great job.”

So good the Steelers might let Roethlisberger watch from the sideline again on Sunday when they close the regular season against woeful Cleveland (4-11). Pittsburgh can still win the AFC North with a victory and a loss by the Ravens in Cincinnati.

Though Batch is openly rooting for Roethlisberger to start, and while Roethlisberger took snaps with the first team in practice on Wednesday, the veteran’s steady performance against the Rams calmed any doubts he can keep the Steelers competitive.

“Charlie likes to chuck it,” wide receiver Antonio Brown said. “You know he wants to get it out of there and let us go to work.”

The same as it ever was for Batch, who spent the spring helping the NFL Players Association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement then spent training camp wondering if he’d have a job when the season started.

Batch and Dennis Dixon battled for the third quarterback spot behind Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich during the preseason only to move up the depth chart after Leftwich went out with a broken right arm in an exhibition game.

It wasn’t the way Batch envisioned keeping a roster spot. Then again, he’s been around so long — Batch is the oldest player on a team full of guys on the other side of 30 — he’s no longer concerned about how he makes the team so long as he does.

By Batch’s count, this summer was the third — or is it fourth? — time his career was supposed to be over. Yet he remains employed and effective.

The player who deftly avoided blitzing linebackers and methodically moved the Steelers up and down the field looked an awful lot like the one considered a solid starter while playing with the Detroit Lions around the turn of the millennium.

By Evan Dunlap

– Newsdesk contributor

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Dec 27, 2011 – The Pittsburgh Steelers blanked the St. Louis Rams, 27-0, in Week 16 to run their record to 11-4. But beating the 2-13 Rams wasn’t enough to improve the Steelers’ place in the SB Nation NFL power rankings, as Pittsburgh remains at No. 6.

The five teams ahead of the Steelers are, in order, the Green Bay Packers (14-1), New Orleans Saints (12-3), San Francisco 49ers (12-3), New England Patriots (12-3), and Baltimore Ravens (11-4).

“Pittsburgh is in this place every year — one of the top handful of teams in the league,” writes Joel Thorman. “I’m just hoping for a playoff rematch with the Ravens.”

The Steelers have a chance to overtake Baltimore in the AFC North if they defeat the Cleveland Browns and the Ravens lose their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. If the teams finish with identical records, Baltimore wins the division, and thus earns a first-round playoff bye, by virtue of its 2-0 record against the Steelers this season.

As it happens, the Rams’ loss to Pittsburgh dipped St. Louis to No. 32 in the SB Nation rankings this week, which moved the Indianapolis Colts (2-13) out of the cellar.

For more on the Steelers, please visit Behind the Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s Steelers blog.

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