Ward Backs Off on Statements

By Kevin Gorman
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, May 12, 2006

Steelers receiver Hines Ward has a reputation for nasty downfield blocking, but the Super Bowl XL Most Valuable Player has proven proficient in backpedaling.

In a feature in this week's Sports Illustrated, Ward said of his relationship with Steelers coach Bill Cowher: "I don't have anything to say to him. After what he did to me, after how he treated me, no. The numbers I put up? The seasons I had, for them to keep on bringing in guys...?"

In an exclusive interview with WTAE-TV (Channel 4), Ward backtracked. He tried to clarify the context of his comments, which were made in reference to the organization using first-round draft choices on receivers Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burress.

"It was a good article, but everything got taken out of context," Ward said. "The question to me was about what was the lowest part of your contract holdout, what were some things going on in your mind."

Ward told WTAE's Sally Wiggin that, during his 15-day training camp holdout, Ward asked Jerome Bettis for advice and was told not to take it personal. Ward couldn't resist, calling Cowher to ask "man-to-man" how the coach felt about the Pro Bowl receiver "as a player."

In September, Ward signed a five-year, $27 million contract with $17 million guaranteed. It's the richest deal in team history. And it paid dividends.

"Once we had our talk, that was it," Ward said. "That's the reason why I came back to camp: I needed to hear that from him. That was the question, how it was set up and asked.

"So, the quotes that was said to that was speaking to the contract negotiation. So, it all got blown out of proportion."

It was nothing a Lombardi Trophy couldn't solve.

"I had to call coach Cowher and let him know kind of how it all got (this far)," Ward said, "but we're fine."

Kevin Gorman can be reached at kgorman@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7812.