Pittsburgh Steelers: Top 13 Moments of Hines Ward's Career - Bleacher Report

NFL receivers are not "supposed to be" tremendous hitters and physical blockers. 

In the essence of being a "Pittsburgh guy," Hines Ward was both, and Keith Rivers discovered the penalty for not keeping your head on a swivel in 2008.

While I would not wish such injury on any NFL player, the blockâ€"which was proximate to the action on the fieldâ€"was perfectly legal. It was not made from behind, and Ward led with his shoulder and chest, delivering a brutal hit on Rivers, who was headed toward the ball-carrier and facing the sideline, with no awareness upfield.

By that point, the scouting report on Ward was pretty clear: know where the guy is...

Clearly, Rivers didn't know. 

While detractors use this play as one of the examples for asserting Hines Ward as a dirty player, I'd argue their purview with simple NFL logistics:

The block, while violent and arguably more physical than necessary, fell within the NFL rules and, as such, was a clean (a.k.a., not dirty) hit.  Beyond the severity, the action was engaged in the vicinity of the ball carrier, further justifying Ward's action. 

However, regarding the force behind the block, NFL players are expected to make split-second decisions that can be the difference between a first down, touchdown or (worst case) takedown.

How can one realistically expect Hines to take a half measure so close to the on-field action?  Or, more accurately, one cannot blame him for NOT taking the half measure.  Finishing in football is finishing, not half-finishing.

Period.