Tough Guy Hines Ward Is the Face of the Pittsburgh Steelers

It's amazing enough that, in the context of a physical and rough sport like American Football, there would be a team that actually stands out and creates an identity based on extreme toughness and physicality.

It's even more amazing, however, that there's a player within such a team that stands out from the other players as a result of his own physicality and toughness.

What's even more amazing is that this player is a wide receiver, a position usually held by guys who would rather run than hit.

It is probably needless to say that I am talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers and, in particular, Hines Ward.

This South Korean native played College Football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. Ward has built a solid and remarkable career in Pittsburgh, which includes two Super Bowl rings (2006 and 2009) and holding team records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

His great hands established him as a premier wide receiver but his willingness to block is what differentiates him in the position. It is also what characterizes him a physical player. Cincinnati Bengals' linebacker Keith Rivers left a game in 2008 with a broken jaw as a result of one of these blocks. Not very popular among players from opposing teams, Ward was twice named one of NFL's dirtiest players by a Sports Illustrated poll.

Hines Ward is one of those athletes that you either love or hate. If you are a Pittsburgh fan or player, you will love his toughness, dedication and loyalty to the team. If you are coaching him, you will always welcome his hard-working approach to practice and his fearless competitive skills, especially when games get down to the nitty gritty. If you are rooting, playing or coaching against him, you will probably hate him and the sarcastic smile he carries on his face at all times, sending a clear mocking message to his opponents.

Many teams are perceived in different ways, but few have created such a strong identity as the Steelers have. Similarly, few players are so clearly identified with a team the way Hines Ward is with Pittsburgh. After signing a four-year contract extension with the team in 2009, it is more than likely that the 35-year-old wide receiver will end his career right where it started and, in this case, life couldn’t make more sense.