Steelers Restructure Contracts, Expected to Cut WR Hines Ward

by Emily Sutherlin | February 11, 2012 at 04:37 pm

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The Steelers spent the week cutting their 2012 salary-cap numbers and appear ready to part ways with veteran WR Hines Ward.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Steelers restructured the contract of CB Ike Taylor on Friday. Taylor agreed to convert $4.925 million of his base salary into a signing bonus.

Wide receiver Hines Ward has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers since he was drafted by the team in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. Ward has played his last season with the Steelers however, as the team plans to part ways with him this offseason according to a report by Jason La Canfora of NFL Network.

Ward only started 9 games last season and caught just 46 passes – his lowest total in more than a decade. The Super Bowl MVP has played his entire 14 year career in Pittsburgh and he was a member of the teams that won the Super Bowl in 2005 and 2008.

Ward posted on his Facebook page Saturday that he's already told the Steelers he's willing to work with them on altering his deal so he can remain with the team. Ward's comments came after NFL.com reported the Steelers are planning to cut the franchise's all-time leading receiver.

"I don't normally like to respond to rumors, but as I've said all along, I want to finish my career with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Ward posted.

Ward, who turns 36 next month, became the eighth player in league history to reach 1,000 career receptions in the regular-season finale against Cleveland. He andJerry Rice are the only players in league history to reach 1,000 receptions and win multiple Super Bowls.

The Steelers will look for receiver depth after releasing veteran Arnaz Battle this week and the possible departure of Jerricho Cotchery, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Pittsburgh has just four receivers under contract for 2012, including Ward.

Ward's role within the offense diminished as Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders passed him on the depth chart and Mike Wallace became a Pro Bowler. Ward pushed aside speculation he would retire after the Steelers' season ended with a 29-23 overtime loss to Denver in the wild card round.

Wallace, Brown and Sanders have spoken at length about Ward's leadership and all want his No. 86 to be on the field next season.

"He sets the tone in the room," Brown said of Ward. "We definitely want to help a guy like him win."