Hines Ward, feels like one more year in Pittsburgh

I have to imagine that at the right price, the Steelers want him back, too.

This doesn’t appear to be a Jaromir Jagr situation. It doesn’t scream “say one thing, do another” to me.

Jagr once spoke out and said he’d play for the league minimum in Pittsburgh to pay back Penguins owner Mario Lemieux for everything he provided him in his career.

Then, when the actual Jagr sweepstakes began in free agency last summer, Jagr signed in Philadelphia for a higher pay check.

It’s hard for me to believe Ward would do something similar. And if you ask him, donning a different uniform for one season is practically an unthinkable act.

“My thing is, I want to be a Steeler, I’m here, I’m willing to restructure, do whatever,” Ward said. “I don’t want to be seen in another uniform but, if they decide to part ways, or whatever, I don’t know, I’m not even thinking like that. I couldn’t even fathom myself [in another uniform], but I still want to play football.”

It all depends on if the offer is there, and Jerricho Cotchery’s production this season tells me one will be readily available.

Cotchery caught 16 passes in the final nine games of the season for 237 yards and a touchdown. He added a 31-yard touchdown reception in the playoffs. He passed Ward on the depth chart and had some impressive catches.

At 29 years old, Cotchery still has gas left in the tank. He’s relatively young and is going to want as long a contract as possible, knowing the end of his career isn’t far down the road.

Pittsburgh has to worry about extending Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders in the near future. It can’t waste years and money on Cotchery, and Cotchery is going to be able to get more money somewhere else.

So what’s a better situation than bringing back Ward for one year at a cheap rate?

The Steelers are going to have to cut salary throughout the roster this year. It will mean several veterans won’t be back in 2012. That’s because those veterans aren’t willing to take a cut like Ward.

Shave $3 million off Ward’s contract and still get to keep the vet on the roster? His intangibles are worth the money.

Wallace, Brown and Sanders are the future, but they are far from polished. Wallace arguably took a step back while Brown took a step forward. Sanders dealt with injuries all season.

All three are going to have considerable physical and mental battles as they continue to adjust and grow as NFL wide receivers. Ward â€" a 14-year veteran and future Hall of Famer â€" can spend another year grooming them as people and players.

That’s something this organization values. There’s over $100 million invested in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger because this offense is passing more and more. Developing Roethlisberger’s receivers is of paramount importance, and there’s nobody better than Ward to help in that area.

What’s more, this organization is loyal. It seems to always have the right mix of veterans and youth and, in turn, is always a Super Bowl contender.

Max Starks, Brett Keisel, Casey Hampton, James Farrior, Aaron Smith and others are likely gone, and the front office knows it can’t get rid of every veteran leader on the roster.

Some of those players I just mentioned likely face offseason surgery. Ward doesn’t.

The list goes on.

With Ward’s willingness to restructure, it becomes more clear that he’ll have one more season in Pittsburgh to finish his career. His words aren’t empty, like those of Jagr’s, and the front office has proven to be too smart â€" there’s decades worth of evidence.

If I were a betting man, I’d put money on one more year of Hines Ward in Pittsburgh.

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Chris | PSD

(Photo by Getty Images)