Steelers’ Ward may play against Dolphins
PITTSBURGH – For Ronnie Brown and Hines Ward, the inherent risk of playing in Saturday night’s Miami Dolphins-Pittsburgh Steelers exhibition game seemingly outweighs the reward for doing so. The two didn’t end their holdouts until Monday, and admittedly are behind their teammates in conditioning, timing and game speed.
Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, can’t lose his starting job even if he sits out. Brown, the No. 2 pick in the April draft despite barely starting half of Auburn’s games last season, probably can’t beat out Ricky Williams even if he plays.
So, only a week after they were resting comfortably on their living room couches, why should they risk injury in a game that can’t make a career but, in the worst of scenarios, could end it? Ward is still negotiating a longterm contract and, despite being an established star, is not yet assured of the guaranteed millions Brown is getting.
To Ward, the answer is simple: He’s a football player, and this is what he does. When his team plays a game and he’s healthy enough to go, he plays.
“I love football,” he said. “I’ve always said that if I’m going to play, I’m going to play it full out. I’m not going to try not to get hurt, because that’s when injuries occur.
“Once I step on the field I’ve got to play football, and let my agent and the front office deal with the contract. My only thoughts now are on football.”
Brown will effectively miss three days of work if he doesn’t play, since teams do little the day before or after a game. That’s why coach Nick Saban was debating whether to play him, though he cautioned, “If we play him and he gets hurt, they’ll crucify me.”
One reason why Brown could play: The Dolphins need Brown early in the season, since Williams must sit out the first four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Williams also is eager to see Brown in game action, saying, “When he first got drafted, you hear people wonder why you’d take a guy that didn’t even start in college. But, seeing him out there, there is really nothing that isn’t wonderful about him.”
Steelers coach Bill Cowher plans to play his regulars about a half – as long as they likely will go in any of the four exhibition games – though Ward probably won’t stay in that long after going through only three full practices.
Ward won’t be the only well-rested player on offense. The starters played only 10 plays Monday in beating the Eagles 38-31 because three scores on returns kept the defense on the field most of the first 20 minutes.
Running back Jerome Bettis also isn’t likely to play more than a quarter because, with Duce Staley out, the Steelers don’t want to risk losing the NFL’s No. 5 career rusher to a needless injury.
Saban wants to see more of his offense, too – more production. While Gus Frerotte looks to be ahead of A.J. Feeley at quarterback, the Dolphins’ starters haven’t done much offensively in two losses.
The running game was held to 41 yards on 22 carries in a 27-24 loss to the Bears. Williams looked much better in gaining 39 yards on six carries in a 27-17 loss to the Jaguars, but neither Frerotte (6-of-14, 51 yards) nor Feeley (6-of-13, 60 yards) did much for a team coming off a 4-12 season.
Both teams also are looking for better play from their backups. The Steelers gave up 24 points in the final three quarters Monday, and the Dolphins have yielded 33 points in the second half of their two games.