Ward is a very interesting player when it comes to assessing just what kind of NFL player he was. True, he played some QB at Georgia (he threw for +400 yards in a bowl game) but really didn’t play QB after his sophmore year. But he played running back and he played wide receiver.
Every NFL team looked at him like, what is he?
Not very fast, not very big, certainly did not have the physical tools to be considered a pro quarterback prospect.
Pittsburgh took him in the 3rd round (bit of a roll of the dice) and he started on special teams.....and he started to absolutely blow people up.
Then he became a situational WR...and started blowing people up in the run game...and at the same time began to find his game as a WR, namely, intermediate routes and great in the red zone.
It was rare for essentially a slot receiver to set the physical tone for a 2x Super Bowl champion.
I think he makes the H.O.F.....maybe not the first couple of attempts but I think he will make it.
Rare player for sure.
Agree, Ward had the best hands I ever saw, like they were coated with glue. He also took huge hits time after time over the middle and always jumped up smiling. Later in his career, he was getting a bad rap for dirty hits because he was so physical. Amazing talent from Forest ParK, GA.