Hard Hat Award (Wild Card Game, vs. Jax)
Stiller WR Hines Ward is the winner of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.
On a day when a good percentage of the team failed to rise to the occasion of the NFL playoffs, Ward came through with a strong, gritty effort. He finished with 10 catches for 135 yards. Many of the receptions were catches in traffic, after which Ward took some severe punishment. He also made a spectacular catch on a 2-point lob pass, fighting off a blatant masking by the CB and keeping 2 feet in bounds on a difficult, over-the-shoulder catch. Regrettably, the catch was nullified by a phantom hold on the O-line, but it does not take away from the superb effort and concentration on display by Hines.
Ward also delivered a crisp, strong crack-back block on the DE on the infamous Arians Abortion keeper by Ben on the fateful 3rd & 6 near the end of the game. Having Ward deliver the crack-back block was one of the very few sound concepts amidst this asinine playcall. Given the way Ward was toasting Jaguar coverage and catching everything in sight, it’s a shame that he wasn’t given the chance to catch an 11th pass that evening.
Kudos to Ward for winning the Hard Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat proudly, Hines !
Previous 2007 Hard Hat Awardees:
Game 1, @ Clev: Jamie Harrison and Danny Sepulveda
Game 2, vs. Buffalo: Jamie Harrison
Game 3, vs. San Fran: Willie Parker
Game 4, @ Arizona: Santonio Holmes
Game 5, vs. Seattle: Ben Roethlisberger, Najeh Davenport, and Aaron Smith
Game 6, @ Denver: Nobody
Game 7, @ Cinci: Jamie Harrison
Game 8, vs. Balt: Jamie Harrison
Game 9, vs. Clev: Jamie Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger
Game 10, @ Jets: Nobody
Game 11, vs. Miami: Tyrone Carter
Game 12, vs. Cinci: Hines Ward
Game 13, @ NE: Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport
Game 14, vs. Jax: Nobody
Game 15, @ St. Louis: Najeh Davenport
Game 16, @ Balt: Ty Carter and Trai Essex