Is Hines Ward Hall of Fame Worthy?

The Facts (as of 2008)

Born: 3/8/1976 Seoul South Korea

Draft: 3rd Round 1998
Experience: 12 seasons and counting

Games Played: 170
Receptions: 800
Yards: 9,780
Yards per Catch: 12.2
Touchdowns: 72 (plus 1 rushing TD)
First Downs: 509
Accolades: 3-time team MVP, 4-time Pro Bowler, 4 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, club record for receptions and TDs in a year (112, 12), all-time Steeler receiver, Super Bowl MVP

The Rep

• Great hands
• Versatile
• Great blocker
• Team player, presumably for one team his whole career
• Great attitude
• Tough player
• Ambassador for South Korea

The Rap

• Never the best receiver among his peers (and rarely the featured receiver on his own team)
• Not particularly fast or athletic
• Dirty Player
• Little impact on the game overall
• Statistically dwarfed by others in the game

The Analysis
It is our belief that Hines Ward is definitely in a gray area when it comes to inclusion to the Hall of Fame. When all is said and done on his career, which should have 2-3 more years of generally decent productivity, Ward may still find himself on the outside looking in on many statistical categories.

He currently ranks 22nd all-time in receptions, but with 200 more, he will more than likely be only the 10th with a 1,000 or more in his career, putting him in the company of the likes of Marvin Harrison, Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Tim Brown and Terrell Owens. Unfortunately, without much more production, he finds himself among the Rod Smith, Jimmy Smith, Henry Ellard, and Keyshawn Johnson's of the world.

His 9780 yards put him 34th all-time and with a couple thousand more, he could end up in the top 20 by the end. Again, unfortunately, that would put him in the area of guys that few think are Hall of Famers like Henry Ellard, Keenan McCardell, Joey Galloway and Derrick Mason. But, on the plus side, he would be in the company of guys like Steve Largent, Michael Irvin, Charlie Joiner and Art Monk.

His 72 touchdowns look much like the pace of his receiving yards for comparison purposes. If he somehow manages to reach 100, he would be in good company, but that may be wishful thinking for a guy that averages 6 a year.

He also blows away the other Steeler wide receiver inductees Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, statistically speaking. But, is this a fair comparison. One could easily argue that Swann and Stallworth on any other team even in their era would produce far better numbers and, if they played today, would be two of the best in the league. It's hard to see Ward doing better if you placed him on another team in the league and he may even do far worse (see Antwaan Randle El).

What will probably eventually help Ward the most are the things not measured by statistics - his reputation as the ideal team player and pound for pound one of the toughest in the game. Detractors, though, point out his contract hold-out and his penchant for questionable hits that have since been ruled illegal.

The fact that he will presumably play for the same franchise will probably also work in his favor, but we question just how much of an important factor is that? After all, could it be that a player stays with the same team because he isn't much of a commodity elsewhere? Fans accuse players of being greedy all the time for leaving a team for more money, but what if the biggest offer of money is coming from the team that you're already on? That's still, by definition, being greedy.

Another bonus factor in his favor that can't be ignored are the rabid Steeler fans that believe nearly every player that puts on the black and gold should be given some consideration. The 21 Steelers already in the Hall might play a part in influencing the decision as well.

There might also be some consideration to the fact that he is the best Korean born NFLer to ever play.

The Judgment
It is my opinion that Hines Ward will eventually make the Hall of Fame, probably sometime around 2025. I think for comparison purposes he measures very closely to recently inducted Art Monk (940 receptions, 12,721 yards, 68 touchdowns). Monk didn't play in a dead ball era, but he did share the load with a couple of other very talented receivers and receiving touchdowns were not where they are today. Monk played 14 of 15 years with one team and was known as an intangibles, pound for pound guy as well.

But, it did take Monk 17 years after eligibility and a lot of lobbying by fans and teammates to get the guy in there.

The X Factor
If Ward can pull off something special in the few years he's got left (a couple more Pro Bowls, another Super Bowl MVP, 100 touchdowns) he will be a near lock, not first ballot, but an eventual for sure.

But, if Ward gives it all up and becomes a Tibetan Monk or something and never plays another down or hits the wall statistically and does the ol' release, sign, waive, sign, release, sit out, sign, release, try-out dance he probably won't ever make into the Hall.