Why Hines Ward Was One Of The NFL's Dirtiest Players

Posted by Reinaldo Massengill on Sunday, May 5, 2024

According to ESPN, in 2009, Ward was named the NFL's dirtiest player in a poll held by Sports Illustrated. After retiring, Ward finally addressed his reputation while on The Dan Patrick Show. "I didn't want them saying this guys out here trying to hurt everybody and trying to take food off their table, whatever... But for me, I just played the game I've always played. There's nothing wrong with cut-blocking. ... If I get an opportunity to hit you, I always took the approach, I'm gonna' hit you before you hit me."

While a common practice amongst many in the game, the former Steelers player also noted that he would seek out any weakness and exploit it. After reading the scouting reports and looking for players who were injured, Ward said: "Needless to say, I'm circling that. ... I'm cut-blocking all the time. That's how I got to be considered one of the dirtiest players." Ward also mentioned on the show how after his NFL career, he started making appearances in movies and on television. Ward appeared in The Dark Knight Rises, Dancing with the Stars, and The Walking Dead. In 2019, Hines Ward became an offensive assistant for the New York Jets. Ward also contributes to CNN and HLN as a sports contributor, per CNN.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qL7Up56eZpOkunB%2FkWtob3FfrLW6eceipZ6rXayus7CMsJisZZ%2Bjsm67xWaroZ1do7Otv4ydoKusmZrAtXnPpZiynaKofA%3D%3D