As he promised, Hines Ward did not report to Steelers training camp due to lack of progress on a contract extension. Unfortunately for Ward, and many Steelers fans, we are in for a game of chicken.
The Steelers policy is not to renogiate if the player is not in camp, and as history shows, they do not deviate from the policy. Mike Merriweather held out all of the 1988 season, Barry Foster eventually came back to camp in 1993 in order to get a contract, and Hall of Famer Franco Harris actually was released in 1984 while holding out.
Ward has little leverage in this case, other than being the team's best offensive player. If he were to continue to sit out and miss the year, the Steelers will retain his rights for 2006 and he won't become a free agent.
Hines, my advice: get to camp and keep negotiations going. The Steelers will not overpay, but they will prove to be fair and do the right thing. And next year, I doubt, in a league of youth, that any other team will pay more.
Comments