Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward says he would be prepared to take a pay cut in order to stay with the team.
↵↵↵"I'd probably have to restructure my contract," Ward said of the pay cut. "That's fine with me. I recognize that. I'm telling you I want to be here, I'm telling you I'm willing to do that. And I understand the ramifications -- we have the cap number and stuff, but I want to be here."
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Ward is also beginning to talk about the possibility of playing for someone else if the Steelers don't want him back.
↵Dejan Kovacevic, meanwhile, writes that the Steelers need to part ways with Ward, James Farrior and Aaron Smith. All three appear to be nearing the ends of their careers. The team already has young replacements for Ward and Smith, and could draft another linebacker this year as a potential replacement for Farrior. As hard as it might be, there's no doubt that the Steelers can't afford to stand still. They've never done so before, and I don't expect them to now.
↵For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.