Steelers deal for Ward

Ward: New Steelers deal

I don't want to put on another uniform. I want to go down as one of the better players to wear the black and gold.

Hines Ward
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Pittsburgh's veteran wide receiver Hines Ward has signed a contract extension with the Steelers which will see him end his career with the Super Bowl champions.

33-year-old Ward has signed a new five-year deal that will keep him at Heinz Field until 2013, although it is likely that he will not play for that long.

Ward's new deal is worth around $22 million and his bonus money has been spread out to allow the Steelers more room in the salary cap.

A two-time Super Bowl winner with the Steelers, Ward made some valuable plays in Pittsburgh's championship-winning season last year - and is a firm favourite with the fans.

"I think everybody in the organization wanted to see Hines conclude his career here, just like Jerome (Bettis) did," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said.

Success

"He's been such a big part of our success. You want a player like that to finish in a Steelers uniform. He was committed to that and we were committed to that, and thankfully, it worked out."

A third-round draft pick from Georgia in 1998, Ward is the Steelers' record receiver with 800 career catches and he will break the 10,000-yard career mark next season.

"You love Hines," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "He embodies what's important to us in terms of how he approaches the game.

"He's a football player first and a wide receiver second. He's got a passion for the game, a desire to win and compete. He's Hines."

The hard-hitting ward was the MVP in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL win over Seattle, and enjoyed a superb campaign last year with 81 catches for 1,043 yards.

Ward has said that he wants to see-out his career with the Steelers, and now it seems he will have his wish after working out the deal.

"I don't want to put on another uniform," Ward said. "I want to go down as one of the better players to wear the black and gold."