Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time in 2017, but Ward said recently he’s not worried about whether he’ll be voted in -- in part because he isn’t sure of the criteria involved in Hall of Fame voting.
Ward is proud of his 14-year NFL career, as he should be. But he told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he knows other players posted better over statistics than he did and that he’s not exactly sure what Hall of Fame voters prioritize.
“Is it stats? My stats are OK,” Ward said. “Is it MVPs? I got a Super Bowl MVP. I got two Super Bowl rings. I really don’t know the criteria. I don’t know what is really expected to get in.
“I started in this game as a third-round pick, a special teams guy and I ended up playing 14 years. If it happens it will be a cherry on top of an amazing career. If not, I am not going to be disappointed.”
Ward had 1,000 career receptions, a landmark Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith plans to chase in a potential return. But he’s not sure his numbers -- 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns -- stand out in today’s pass-happy NFL.
“Now, guys have a 140 catches a season,” he said. "[A 1,000-catch career] is kind of like nothing now.”
