Ward's comments hit hard, but were they accurate?

[stillers4me]

To say Ben Roethlisberger was displeased with ex-teammate Hines Ward's recent critique is an understatement.

A radical one.

Roethlisberger, standing at his locker after practice Friday, made it clear that he believes Ward not only is clueless on Steelers matters but also the kind of guy who's quick to cast blame, which Ward most assuredly did in his appearance Wednesday on NBCSN's Pro Football Talk.
That is part of Ward's job. The question is whether his claims had any merit.

Now, it's not exactly news that Hines and Ben aren't the best of friends. Whatever relationship they had careened downhill when Ward called out his quarterback on national television for sitting out a game in Baltimore in 2009 on account of post-concussion symptoms.
That time, it was Ward questioning Roethlisberger's heart.

This time, it's Ward questioning Roethlisberger's accountability.

First, the show's host asked Ward if it's fair to pin the team's recent offensive struggles on coordinator Todd Haley. Ward responded, in part, “I put the blame a little bit on Ben Roethlisberger.”

That is the quote that made national headlines (minus the “a little bit” part).............


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/joestarkey/6952935-74/ward-roethlisberger-steelers#ixzz3GbcPA1sG

[MrPgh]

Quite a few people thought Ward just came off as bitter and jealous when he first made those comments. But since Haley admitted he called about three quarters off the offensive plays, that pretty much invalidated everything Ward said.

[zulater]

Has anyone ever questioned Ward about his calling out Ben for missing a game for post concussion syndrome? I don't care how long after the fact it is I've always believed he owed Ben an apology for that. It was an asshole thing at the time, and never once have I seen Ward express any regret for what amounts to a monumentally stupid thing to have said about another player, let alone a teammate.

[Count Steeler]

Has anyone ever questioned Ward about his calling out Ben for missing a game for post concussion syndrome? I don't care how long after the fact it is I've always believed he owed Ben an apology for that. It was an asshole thing at the time, and never once have I seen Ward express any regret for what amounts to a monumentally stupid thing to have said about another player, let alone a teammate.


Hines Ward’s apology to Ben Roethlisberger wasextended to the rest of the Steelers on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh’s veteran receiver said at a team meeting that he
regretted creating a distraction when he questioned why a
concussion had kept Roethlisberger from playing against
Baltimore on Sunday night, a game the struggling Steelers lost

in overtime.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/300597-ward-apologizes-for-questioning-qbs-toughness

I remember he had apologized.

[zulater]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/300597-ward-apologizes-for-questioning-qbs-toughness

I remember he had apologized.

.I read that that he apologized for creating a distraction. Then he said he should have gave the PC response instead at the end, which more or less undermines his supposed apology to Ben.

I suppose at the time they did put it behind them . But I get the sense that the fact that it came out in the first place reveals their true feelings for one another.

[fansince'76]

.I read that that he apologized for creating a distraction. Then he said he should have gave the PC response instead at the end, which more or less undermines his supposed apology to Ben.

And then there was the time he publicly bitched about Arians and Ben being "too close" (http://nicepickcowher.com/2012/10/23/former-steelers-hines-ward-bold-truth-or-bitter-face-on-sunday-night/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) and basically accused Arians of padding Ben's stats instead of doing what was "right for the team" as a result of it. Yet Ward didn't seem to mind it all too much when the two of them were dialing up shovel passes to him for negative yardage just to pad his stats and get him to the 1,000-reception mark for his career. :coffee:

[MrPgh]

And then there was the time he publicly bitched about Arians and Ben being "too close" (http://nicepickcowher.com/2012/10/23/former-steelers-hines-ward-bold-truth-or-bitter-face-on-sunday-night/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) and basically accused Arians of padding Ben's stats instead of doing what was "right for the team" as a result of it. Yet Ward didn't seem to mind it all too much when the two of them were dialing up shovel passes to him for negative yardage just to pad his stats and get him to the 1,000-reception mark for his career. :coffee:

In a game where the score was very close too.

[zulater]

In a game where the score was very close too.
Damn. Mr Pgh and Fansince 76 seemingly on the same side of an issue. :wtf: How far off can the zombie apocalypse be? :uhoh:

\

[MrPgh]

Go suck a dick Hines. You just had it shoved up your candy ass.

[X-Terminator]

Go suck a dick Hines. You just had it shoved up your candy ass.

-- Said Ben, when the cameras were gone.

[Dwinsgames]

when the remarks where made they where accurate ... today not so much

[MrPgh]

when the remarks where made they where accurate ... today not so much

No they weren't. Ben wasn't running the no-huddle and Haley admitted he called nearly 3/4ths of the plays.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Can we get Hines to say this every week?

[fansince'76]

Can we get Hines to say this every week?

No doubt. C'mon Hines, keep dissing Ben!

[zulater]

No doubt. C'mon Hines, keep dissing Ben!

Yep. Ben plays his best with a chip on his shoulder. I still love Ward. But there';s no doubt not much love is lost between Ben and Hines. And you know damn well Ben wants to make Hines eat those words before the season is over.

[tube517]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512HKQdHSoL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[steel striker]

I missed it what did Hines say last night after the steelers big win?

[tube517]

I missed it what did Hines say last night after the steelers big win?

From his Facebook page:


Big win in the bumble bees! Proud of my guys! It's going to be a good one next Sunday vs the Ravens. Stay tuned. Hines