Super Bowl 2011: Hines Ward and 10 Stars Who Could Hang It Up After the Big Game

Super Bowl XLV: A Potential Final Curtain Call for Hines Ward and Some Other Big Stars

News broke earlier this week that Super Bowl XLV would be the the final game in the storied career of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

Well, so much for that.

Ward reiterated that he currently has no plans to retire after the Pro Football Championship Game.

But you still have to think that if the Steelers win their third title since 2005, Ward might pull a Jerome Bettis and call it quits when he's on top.

Ward isn't the only huge star who could hang up his cleats after the Super Bowl though.

Here are 10 stars who might be playing their final game on Sunday (ranked from least likeliest to likeliest).

10. Casey Hampton

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Casey Hampton #98 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before their game against the New Orleans Saints at Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Roughly a year ago, Casey Hampton signed a three-year, $21 million deal to return to the Steelers, but the 325-pound defensive tackle had a huge dropoff in production this season.

He played in 15 games and had only 20 tackles and one sack just a year after posting 43 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2009.

Of course, Hampton's contributions to the Steelers don't often come in the form of numbers—he's more like Pac Man, eating up space in the middle—but that has to be a bit disheartening for Pittsburgh, especially when you consider that he'll be 34-years-old when the 2011 season begins.

Pittsburgh may have put themselves in a bind with a three-year contract rather than putting a franchise tag on Hampton last offseason, but a potential third Super Bowl ring might give him the motivation to let the sun set on what has been a nice NFL career. 

9. Donald Driver

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Donald Driver #80 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates as he walks off the field after the Packers own 48-21 against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on January 15, 2011 in Atlanta

A seventh-round draft pick in 1999 out of Alcorn State, Donald Driver has exceeded any and all expectations in the NFL.

He's been to three Pro Bowls, has a Packers franchise record 698 catches and is 41 yards away from becoming Green Bay's all-time leading receiver.

From 2004-2009, Driver went over 1,000 yards each season, but he had just 51 catches for 565 yards in 2010. That's still good but a big dropoff in production for Driver nonetheless.

Driver did sign a two-year contract extension in August 2010 that will keep him in Green Bay through the 2012 season, and he's still a starting-caliber receiver.

But if he wins a Super Bowl after 12 stellar seasons as a Packer and tops the receiving yardage record in that same game, then he we will have accomplished everything he set out to do, and then some.

8. James Farrior

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Linebacker James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 31-24 in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Grego

In August 2008, a 33-year-old James Farrior signed a five-year extension with Pittsburgh, signaling that he would indeed retire as a Steeler.

And considering that Farrior has at least 100 tackles in three straight seasons since signing that deal—not to mention six sacks in 2010—hanging it up right now might seem like a dumber idea than the Shake Weight.

But what means more to him? Money, retiring on top, or retiring while he's still healthy?

Farrior just turned 36-years-old last month and is probably pretty set financially.

Winning another Super Bowl ring, his third, would likely make him think twice about another year of training camp.

7. Chris Hoke

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 25: Chris Hoke #76 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the side line during the NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Field on October 25, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Vikings 27-17. (Pho

Much like a lot of the other Pittsburgh players on this, this will be Chris Hoke's third Super Bowl since joining the Steelers back in 2004.

Hoke, who attended BYU, actually graduated in 2001 but had to complete a two-year mission before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, so he's got a little less mileage on those legs of his than your typical NFL veterans.

But still, he'll turn 35 in April and already has two Super Bowl rings.

Hoke may just have 80 career tackles more than I do, but he's also got two more rings than Dan Marino.

So hey, what do I know? Maybe Hoke should just keep coming back, racking up single-digit tackles each season and still wind up winning Super Bowls.

6. Charlie Batch

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TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Charlie Batch #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks for an open receiver against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. The undefeated Steelers won 3

The running joke in my house is that Charlie Batch has one of the greatest jobs in America.

I mean, the guy has been with Pittsburgh since the 2003-04 season, a span which has seen Batch complete exactly 105 passes but one that has also earned him two Super Bowl rings and a chance at a third one.

Now, Batch just turned 36 in December, so it's not like he's Brett Favre old. But he's gotta be close to calling it a career, right?

If I was Batch, I would stay with the Steelers as long as possible though.

If he plays or sits on the bench behind Ben Roethlisberger until he's 40-years-old, then he could have a shot at winning a fourth or even fifth ring.

That's not too shabby. 

5. Aaron Smith

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CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 27: Aaron Smith #91 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is pictured during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

After playing in the first six games of the regular season, Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith tore his triceps in a game against Miami in October and hasn't played since then.

This came just one season after he missed 11 full games became of a rotator cuff injury.

Translation: Smith has been hurt more the past two years than a lovesick teenager.

Though he tried to come back for the Super Bowl—which shows he might still want to play another couple of years—Smith will turn 35 in April and is looking to play only his second 16-game season since 2006.

This might be Smith's body's way of saying, "Dude, it's time to stop playing football."

4. Charles Woodson

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: Charles Woodson #21 of the Green Bay Packers addresses the media during Super Bowl XLV Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 1, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Green

Of all the people on this list, Charles Woodson is probably the one who's playing at the highest level right now. 

Though he's 34-years-old, Woodson won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2009 and helped give Green Bay the league's No. 2 scoring defense this season.

He shouldn't retire, and he probably won't. But Woodson will turn 35-years-old in October and a Super Bowl win on Sunday will make his resume look a little something like this:

National Championship at Michigan? Check.

Heisman Trophy? Check.

Defensive POY? Check.

Super Bowl win? Check.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but Woodson would be the only player in football history to collect those four honors.

And that's pretty unbelievable. 

3. James Harrison

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Linebacker James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to playing the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Sha

When James Harrison threatened to retire early this season because's of the NFL's crackdown on violent hits, I thought it was a bit childish to react that way.

Sure, the new rules are a little ridiculous and will continue to cost him money. But how many people actually thought he would retire? Maybe seven or less.

I mean, Harrison has racked up 37 sacks over the last three seasons and is probably the second most important player on Pittsburgh's defense, next to Troy Polamalu.

But with the new CBA coming and the possibility of an 18-game schedule and even stricter safety rules, Harrison probably isn't too excited about playing again in 2011.

Plus, the guy already has two rings and might get another one on Sunday.

If he does, maybe he'll decide to call it a day rather than deal with paying more fines and having the NFL cramp his style again next season.

2. Hines Ward

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers smiles as he wears a Troy Polamalu wig as he is on the podium during Super Bowl XLV Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 1, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The P

For 29 Steelers, this is their second Super Bowl appearance in the last three years.

For 17 Pittsburgh players, this is their third time playing in the big game since February 2006.

Hines Ward falls into that second group.

He has two Super Bowl rings, one Super Bowl MVP, and is Pittsburgh's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs.

In other words, Ward's like the Bill Gates of the NFL—he's got everything.

So even though he's put to bed any rumors of him retiring after Sunday's game, he's almost 35-years-old and another Super Bowl win put the cherry on top of his Hall of Fame sundae. 

1. Flozell Adams

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Flozell Adams #71 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In July 2010, the Steelers signed free agent tackle Flozell Adams to a two-year deal but one that was front-loaded.

Essentially, Pittsburgh did this so that the team could cut ties with Adams if he performed anything like he did with the Dallas Cowboys during the 2009 season.

Adams has had a better 2010 campaign, but he turns 36-years-old in May and was essentially a one-year rental because of the injury to Willie Colon that landed him on injured reserve.

Adams may be performing decent for a guy in his mid-30s, but this year's Super Bowl takes place in Dallas, where he spent the first 12 years of his career before being released last April.

I'm sure he would love nothing more than to win a ring in the stadium of the team who cut him less than a year ago.