The Kansas City Chiefs: Why Signing This Man Would Be a Smart Move

When Scott Pioli took over as GM of the Kansas City Chiefs, he vowed to build the Chiefs with players who fit a specific set of criteria. He was looking for players who were leaders, motivated, versatile, smart, unselfish and felt football and achievement were the most important things in their lives.

He brought in players like Mike Vrabel, who came from a championship-caliber teams and knew all about winning. Such a player could lead by example and help create a more positive culture on a team where losing had become the norm.

I bring this up because after living in Pittsburgh for the last 35 years, I have seen a winning organization and the players who helped make it happen. One player in particular has stood out: wide receiver Hines Ward.

Ward was cut the other day by the Steelers, a move that deeply saddened this city. People in Kansas City who follow football know a lot about him, but not as much as the fans in Pittsburgh who know him both on and off the football field. When the news of his departure was announced, there was a collective sigh, but hardly of relief 

True, Ward is turning 36 and his once-great skills are declining like most athletes his age. But his true value can only be measured in his intangibles, and it's intangibles that Pioli values most.

As a player, Ward's stats speak for themselves. Certainly his 1,000 career catches will put him in the Hall of Fame. He also will go down as maybe the best blocking wide receiver who ever played the game.

 One thing that set him apart was his passion for the game. I have never seen a wide receiver crack down on defensive lineman, or even break linebackers' jaws, the way Ward did. I also have never seen a receiver play the game with such enthusiasm. Even after being hit, he always came up smiling.

Outside of Brett Farve, he is the toughest player I have ever seen. But his greatest value was as a mentor, specifically his mentoring of young wide receivers. In fact, he did it so well, it led to his eventual release

Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emanuel Sanders give Ward all the credit for their success. He led by example, and that's exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs need, especially among the wide receivers  Knowing what we know, couldn't the receivers on this team benefit from what he has to offer?

Its obvious that Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin will be the Chiefs starting three. My point is that Ward would be a great No. 4. 

Bowe has put up great numbers. He has ever since his rookie season when he got by on pure athletic ability alone. He has been in and out of more than a few doghouses. He has had a frustrating career, filled with mental errors, lack of focus, and at times even a lack of effort.Ward would toughen Bowe up. Ward knows all about gifted Wide recievers who have blown long term contracts because of those traits

The funny part is that coming out of LSU, his greatest asset, according to scouts, was his devastating ability to block, a trait we have rarely seen. Maybe with Ward around, he'll elevate his level of play to even new heights. Considering his "franchise" status, he should be ashamed if he doesn't 

When there is Baldwin, also well known here in Pittsburgh, actually for all the wrong reasons, namely work ethic. Hey, he's a young, immature kid with unlimited potential, but maybe he needs a player like Ward to bring it out. What he can learn by watching Ward would be invaluable. Coaches can tell a player what to do, but it's their peers who they listen to the most 

Then you probably will have a new group of young wide receivers, probably many undrafted or lacking in experience, for whom Ward could be a role model. As a receiver, there is none better

Of course, Ward loves Pittsburgh and his departure hurts, but he realizes that this is a business. I believe the Chiefs can get him to sign a one-year deal for $2 million. Knowing Ward, he'll even play special teams and still be one of the best clutch catchers in the game. He is a warrior.

Will the Chiefs sign him? Maybe not. But if Pioli were smart, he would do it, and then make him wide-receiver coach in 2013.

Signing a player who has played under more pressure, has seen for 14 years what building a championship is like, and who is used to playing and excelling in games at the Super Bowl level, it's a smart move.

While Chief players and fans "dream" of a Super Bowl, for Hines Ward it's simply "been there, done that, lets move on". We dream it, he's lived it.

If ever there was a poster child for what Pioli says he believes in, Ward would be on the cover