Hines Ward's Complaints Make No Sense

Hines, your tears sustain me.

Recently, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward spoke out against the NFL and their stance on player safety, calling the league "hypocrites". He said:

"The league doesn't care about us anyway. They don't care about the safety of the game. If the league was so concerned about the safety, why are you adding two more games on? You talk about you don't want players to drink ... and all you see is beer commercials. You don't want us to gamble, but then there are [NFL-endorsed lottery scratch-off games]... It's going to change the outcome; somebody's going to lose a game because of it,"

Let's dissect his complaints.

"The league doesn't care about us anyway. They don't care about the safety of the game."

Believe it or not, it really is in the league's best interest to keep players healthy. When a player gets injured, someone has to take their spot. Usually, that injured player is going to be replaced by a less skilled, less popular backup. This is diluting the product the NFL is trying to market.

But no, Hines, the NFL isn't fighting for your rights. That's the NFLPA's job. As far as jobs that involve running as fast as you can and hurling your body at other people are concerned, the NFL is amongst the safest. The NFL cares about its employees as much as any other business does.

"If the league was so concerned about the safety, why are you adding two more games on?"

The NFL is attempting to lower the chances of getting hurt on a given play. Adding two games to the schedule doesn't increase the inherent risks in playing football, it simply increases the number of opportunities to be injured.

Will it shorten careers, impacting a player's ability to earn over the course of their lifetime? Let's ignore the fact that player salaries will increase if an 18 game schedule is implemented. I can't see how playing 144 games in just 8 seasons is any more of a toll on the body than 144 games over the course of 9 seasons.

"You talk about you don't want players to drink, but our major endorsement is Coors Light. That's all you see is beer commercials."

No, no, no, Hines. The NFL doesn't want its players to drink and drive or drink and assault a cab driver or drink and shoot yourself in the leg. HUGE difference. You can drink until your liver cries uncle. For the most part, the "high standards" players are held to by the NFL consist of not breaking the law.

I know what you're thinking. "That's not fair! Why should NFL players have to obey the same laws as ordinary citizens?" The world may never know. However, even when players do break the law, when was the last time a player was banned from the NFL?

Truth be told, the NFL is pretty forgiving when it comes to players and their legal troubles. Just ask Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, Larry Johnson, Donte Stallworth, and Santonio Holmes, amongst others.

"It's going to change the outcome; somebody's going to lose a game because of it."

It wouldn't be the first or last time the outcome of a game would be affected by officiating. Anytime a human being is charged with making a decision, that decision is subject to human error.

Maybe the NFL should get rid of pass interference and holding, because those are often controversial calls? No, wait, that's idiotic. The game is changing, and players should probably get used to it.

A few people have praised Hines Ward for standing up and speaking his mind against the league. Why doesn't someone with the Steelers stand up and teach teammate James Harrison how to tackle without leading with his helmet? Because that's what this is all about, isn't it?