Wide receiver Hines Ward cannot imagine football career beyond Pittsburgh Steelers – NFL News Update
Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver, Hines Ward, stated on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, that he could not imagine moving elsewhere or calling it a day from his professional football career, irrespective of the fact that he might come under the Pittsburgh
Steelers’ hammer in their cost-cutting drive along with other players.
Ward has played for the Steelers for the last 14 years and now faces a reduction of up to $4 million in his salary as the team management aims to launch measures to reduce $20 to 25 million, they are spending above their salary cap of around $120 million
on personnel payout for the year 2012.
The management is meeting in their first postseason moot on Monday, January 16, 2012, and it is expected that the personnel department’s expense will be the focus point of the agenda in their discussion.
A number of veteran players are feared to see their jobs on the line with certain reduction in the salaries of many of them, including Hines Ward.
Steelers’ coach, Mike Tomlin, said there going to be certain changes in the roster as part of their efforts to consolidate the personnel expense. He however, did not disclose the extent of the changes expected to be made.
"There's always going to be changes", Tomlin said.
"There are changes every year. I am not going to sit here and pretend like there's not going to be changes. To what extent, at this point, I am not ready to address".
This has made many players ponder about their future with the Steelers and weigh alternate options before hand.
However, Ward said that he was not thinking of moving elsewhere or retirement, adding that he believed more football was left in him and would like to return to the side for another season.
"It would be weird (joining another team), not how I want it to happen", Ward told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"But I do want to play. I still think I can play. I'm not even thinking like that -- what if. If that scenario happens, I'll be devastated, but I do want to play football".
According to the newspaper, a clause in Ward’s contract with the Steelers stipulates that he either should be released from his job or guaranteed it with the club by March later on this year.
The player however, said he did not ponder upon other options such as joining any other team in the National Football League (NFL), and it was not a possibility after having spending more than a decade with the Steelers.
It is yet to be seen what sort of cuts his side introduces in its Monday meeting with next season on their mind.
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