When Hines Ward played wide receiver in the NFL, times were different. Life was much harder on receivers during his era — 1998 to 2011 — as opposed to now, at least according to him.
“I mean, I think the rules are easier now because it’s set up for the offensive guys to get catches,” Ward said. “You know, when I came up during my time, I remember small receivers, they were unheard of, you know, going across the middle. I took a lot of my lumps going across the middle getting hit.”
Buy Steelers TicketsDuring his time in the NFL, no receiver played with an edge as Ward did. Not only was he fearless when it came to getting hit going across the middle, Ward never shied away from delivering a blow on a defender as well. This is something Ward noticed about a fellow Georgia product, Steelers WR George Pickens. For all of his amazing catches this season, Ward loved what saw out of Pickens as a blocker as well and credited that to the fact he played at Georgia.
