BlitzburghRockCity
11-20-2011, 01:23 AM
Interesting article from the Post Gazette today, talking about how Hines has been demoted in favor of Cotchery and the younger WR's Brown and & Sanders. One one hand I can see their point about talking to him and saying, "dude we're going to see what the young guys can do, they are our future. We're going to give them more reps but be ready if we need you, etc." On the other hand, this is a business and perhaps it was a gut decision on gameday and they wanted to see how things went before the media got wind of it.
The Steelers coaches could have displayed better bedside manners when they benched Hines Ward last week.
Maybe the coaching staff believes that veteran receiver Jerricho Cotchery, in his first season with the Steelers, can help the team more than Ward, in his 14th season with the Steelers.
And maybe they are correct. Hines Ward himself said Tuesday that he is "owed nothing" by the coaches. But this someday Hall of Fame candidate deserved one thing -- more respect through a simple, quiet meeting with one of his coaches to tell him that his role had changed.
This isn't some fly-by-night player here. This is the most decorated and productive receiver in Steelers history, a Super Bowl MVP and often the face and spokesman for the team.
It's not wrong that he lost his starting status or was dropped to No. 4 or even No. 5 on the depth chart. But someone owed him at least a heads-up that it was going to happen and maybe even an explanation as to why. Ward obviously could see it coming by how he was used in practices, but would it have hurt to have someone tell him before the practice week started?
It could have come from Mike Tomlin or Bruce Arians, who was Ward's position coach before he became offensive coordinator.
It would have taken them two minutes, somewhere in private so Ward could be given the chance to talk about it before the game on his terms, and he, the fans and the media were not blindsided by it.
Would that have been too much to ask?
Ward took the high road Tuesday, saying all the right things when a gaggle of media gathered around him in the locker room.
It comes time for everyone, sooner for athletes. The great ones, the ones who contributed to two Super Bowl victories and countless memorable moments, those who played through injuries and concussions and gave what Hines Ward did to play the game, deserve a little more respect when their time comes.
From the PG (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11324/1191240-66.stm#ixzz1eDvltMaH)
The Steelers coaches could have displayed better bedside manners when they benched Hines Ward last week.
Maybe the coaching staff believes that veteran receiver Jerricho Cotchery, in his first season with the Steelers, can help the team more than Ward, in his 14th season with the Steelers.
And maybe they are correct. Hines Ward himself said Tuesday that he is "owed nothing" by the coaches. But this someday Hall of Fame candidate deserved one thing -- more respect through a simple, quiet meeting with one of his coaches to tell him that his role had changed.
This isn't some fly-by-night player here. This is the most decorated and productive receiver in Steelers history, a Super Bowl MVP and often the face and spokesman for the team.
It's not wrong that he lost his starting status or was dropped to No. 4 or even No. 5 on the depth chart. But someone owed him at least a heads-up that it was going to happen and maybe even an explanation as to why. Ward obviously could see it coming by how he was used in practices, but would it have hurt to have someone tell him before the practice week started?
It could have come from Mike Tomlin or Bruce Arians, who was Ward's position coach before he became offensive coordinator.
It would have taken them two minutes, somewhere in private so Ward could be given the chance to talk about it before the game on his terms, and he, the fans and the media were not blindsided by it.
Would that have been too much to ask?
Ward took the high road Tuesday, saying all the right things when a gaggle of media gathered around him in the locker room.
It comes time for everyone, sooner for athletes. The great ones, the ones who contributed to two Super Bowl victories and countless memorable moments, those who played through injuries and concussions and gave what Hines Ward did to play the game, deserve a little more respect when their time comes.
From the PG (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11324/1191240-66.stm#ixzz1eDvltMaH)