Hines Ward Should Be Steelers Next Hall of Famer

Ward's Best Attribute Didn't Show Up in the Box Score

What made Ward so valuable to the Steelers wasn't just his playmaking ability, catching, or anything you'd normally expect out of a wide receiver.

Ward was an incredible blocker and played a big role for the Steelers offense in establishing the run and creating space for his fellow wide outs and tight ends.

He also changed NFL rules after delivering a blindside block on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers on Oct. 19, 2008, which broke Rivers' jaw and knocked him out the rest of the season

The NFL made these blindside hits illegal the following season, especially if they struck the neck area or head of a defensive player.

Ward gained respect from his teammates for his blocking, but also his first Steelers head coach in Bill Cowher.

"Hines Ward is a Hall of Fame player because number one, he had a tremendous impact on the game," Cowher said in a statement to the Steelers. "His numbers may not be what they are to other people because he played in an offense where he wasn't going to be asked to catch the ball. He was asked a lot to block. We had one of the best running games in my 15 years here, and Hines Ward was a big part of that. He was a guy that every defense knew where he was, every defensive safety knew where he was.

"His impact as a blocker, his impact as a player who can make clutch plays at clutch times. He could play inside. He could play outside. A versatile guy who lined up every snap. He was consistent, he was productive over a long period of time. There's no question in my mind that Hines Ward, don't just look at the numbers, but his impact on the field, what he did to the game, he was a difference maker. And everyone knew and understood where he was. To me, that's a Hall of Fame player."

Will Ward Make the Hall of Fame?

Ward is one of five wide receivers that are a part of the 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This includes Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams, Steve Smith Sr. of the Carolina Panthers and Reggie Wayne of the Indianapolis Colts.

Fitzgerald, who is on his first ballot, is the most likely of these options to earn a spot amongst the 15 finalists and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The other four wide receivers have comparable numbers and will go up against other legends of the game for one of the 15 finalists.

Ward might not have the flashy plays of his compatriots, but his impact on the game is undeniable