Hines Ward Wins 2002 Regular Season Hard Hat Award
It has been suggested by some that Hard Hat has become too much of an MVP award lately. The committee was stung by that criticism, all the more so because there is perhaps a grain of truth to it. For this reason, the committee spent many a long hour discussing and debating the candidates for the regular season award. So much so, in fact, that we actually are a week late in finalizing our decision, much to Mill's consternation. In the end, however, this one was a lock almost from the get-go. Hines Ward is, without a doubt, our consensus winner for the 2002 regular season. If there is any one player on the Stillers who defines "iron-tough" and "hard-as-steel", it is the former QB from Georgia, who in his 5 NFL seasons has never missed a game, despite the pounding he regularly takes by working primarily in the No Mans Land that is the middle of the gridiron.
The Numbers: 112 catches (2nd only to Marvin Harrison's gaudy 143) for 1329 yards (4th in the NFL), an 11.9 yards per catch average, 12 TDs (2nd only to Terrell Owens' 13 among WRs) and a long of 72 yards. Easily a candidate for best WR in the league, based on those numbers alone.
The Intangibles: innumerable vicious down field blocks that helped produce extra running yards; the fact that he does more than half of his business across the middle where he is subject to the bone-crushing hits of opposing LBs and safeties; the tenacity he shows in hanging on to the ball, regardless of how hard he is hit; the never-say-die, caution-to-the-wind, sacrifice-the-body-to-get-every-fraction-of-a-yard-possible attitude that defines his running after the catch; and the ever-present smile on his face, which just has to drive opposing defenders nuts. Add all that together and what do you get? Just the best all around WR in the league and toughest SOB to split wide in the NFL in over two decades, that�s what you get. Kudos to Hines for winning the 2002 regular season Hard Hat Award. Wear it proudly, Hines!! (note: all stats used in this report come from careful reading of the official play-by-play at NFL.com. We here at Stillers.com NEVER rely on the notoriously inaccurate box scores posted on that site or any other.) (note: all stats noted in this report come from careful perusal of the official play-by-play from NFL.com. We on the committee never rely on the notoriously inaccurate box scores for stats.) Previous Winners in 2002: Gams #17, vs. Cleveland (AFC Playoffs Wild Card Game): QB Tommy Maddox Game #16, vs. Baltimore: RB Amos Zeroue and QB Tommy Maddox Game #15, at Tampa Bay: LB Kendrell Bell Game #14, vs. Carolina: DE Aaron Smith Game #13, vs. Houston: No winner Game #12, @ Jacksonville: K Jeff Reed and RB Jerome Bettis Game #11, vs. Cincinnati: K Jeff Reed and QB Kordell Stewart Game #10, @ Tennessee: WR Hines Ward Game #9, vs. Atlanta: LB Joey Porter Game #8, @ Cleveland: RB Amos Zeroue Game #7, @ Baltimore: C Chukky Okobi Game #6, vs. Indianapolis: S Mike Logan Game #5, @ Cincinnati: DE Rodney Bailey Game #4, @ New Orleans: OG Alan Faneca Game #3, vs. Cleveland: QB Tommy Maddox Game #2, vs. Oakland: LB Joey Porter Game #1, @ New England: No winner, due to total lack of Hard Hat-qualifying play.