Less than two weeks until the black void that is my life is once again filled with the life-affirming goodness of Steeler football, and I am as excited as they get. There is, of course, some bad news:
With the third day of Steeler training camp underway, Hines Ward is continuing to hold out; but the team has a new plan that could get him to report to St.Vincent’s College in Latrobe after all
As KDKA’s Bob Pompeani first reported last week, Ward plans to hold out “as long as it takes” to come to an agreement on a contract extension with the Steelers.
But since he has one year left on his current contract, the team is drawing a line in the sand.
While Ward says he won’t show up for camp until he gets a new deal, the Steelers say they won’t negotiate until he comes to camp.
Now the Rooneys are considering fining Ward for each day he fails to report to camp. The Steelers would find him $6,000 for each day missed.
At this point, though, the proposal is just one option on the table.
Not how I want to start the season. This, however (via Red State), is good great news:
Dan Marino is on his way to Canton, Ohio, to crown his football career while Ben Roethlisberger pulled into St. Vincent College in Latrobe to start cranking up Year 2 by placing a phone call to his new pal.
“Dan and I have actually spent a lot of time together in the last month,” Roethlisberger said, “talking about two, three times in the month, hanging out, spending time picking his brain.”
Roethlisberger, who broke Marino’s 1983 NFL rookie records last season with the Steelers, said Marino has “become kind of a mentor and a father to me” and he has become friends with his sons.
SoCalJustice
Please, Mr. Rooney.
Pay Hines – don’t fine him.
He’s more than earned it.
J. Michael Neal
In every other sport, I have little to no sympathy for holdouts when someone is under contract. (Holdouts when they aren’t under contract, but covered by a reserve clause are different.) In the NFL, I think that it’s perfectly reasonable for players to use them. If the owners want there to be no guaranteed contracts, then it cuts both ways. The player should have the same right to demand a renegotiation that the team does. The teams have the right to cut any player they want and not owe them the remaining amount of the contract. Players ought to have the same ability to cut the team and not owe them the remaining time.
I would add a whole new fun level of waiver rules.
Another Jeff
Speaking as an Eagles fan, Hines Ward’s holdout hasn’t gotten as much attention in the offseason because of the TO circus and TO’s concern that $7million isn’t enough to feed his family, but I think Hines has every right to hold out.
He’s something like the 36th hihgest paid WR in the league and based on performance AND what he brings to the team, he’s definitly in the top 10 receivers in the league.
People are always gonna get into the whole “he signed the contract, he should honor it” stuff, but J michael neal touches on it above. A five year contract in the NFL isn’t a five year contract, it’s five one-year contracts. Owners can find ways out of them if they want to.
I’d take him on the Eagles and send you guys TO in a heartbeat.
jg
Hines Ward rocks. They gotta pay him.
Mark
It’s hard to have sympathy for either Ward or the Steeler’s management. Inexhaustible greed on both sides of the equation.
Why can’t a contract in major league sports be the same as a contract for the rest of us? You breach, you pay damages.
Halffasthero
I have no sympathy for holdouts ever since Ricky Henderson did way back when (I am dating myself here).
By the way, rumour has it the Vikings will actually have a defense to brag about this year. I am liking their chances to get to the big game although nothing about their team has been tested not that Moss is gone. Moss was a threat but he was less help than his record indicates. I was glad they traded him and hope they figure out a way to land another deep threat.
Brad R.
Richard Seymour reported to camp today. The pieces for another Pats championship are falling into place (OK, so no Bruschi or Johnson leaves our secondary vulnerable, but we’ll see). Should be a good season.
Bob
From about 1980 to about 2000 the San Francisco 49ers were always among the cream of the NFL. The new ownership pretty much destroyed the team, but hope springs eternal with a new coach and a new quarterback and some linemen who can hopefully block for him. We’re like the Demos in Ohio’s 2nd District. If we finish within 10 to 15 points we’ll consider it improvement.
Steve M
C’mon, now, you ain’t won nothing till you get past the Pats…and they are wounded, but still strong!
SeesThroughIt
I couldn’t agree more. Hines has been an elite receiver for a while, and he’s been a true-blue (or rather true-Black-and-Gold) Steeler since day one. Letting him slip away now would be terrible. Please, pay the man!
DecidedFenceSitter
The contracts are non-binding, mainly due to the injury rate in the NFL. The only thing that is guranteed to the players are the bonuses they receive upfront. Everything else is modular at the owner’s whims.
Or so speaketh NPR last week. :)