Image: ESPN Deportes

James Walker at ESPN sees this Super Bowl as a chance for Hines Ward to solidify his Hall of Fame credentials. If inducted he’d only be the third Georgia Bulldog to make it into the NFL Hall of Fame along with Charlie Trippi and Fran Tarkenton.

Troy Polamalu, Hall of Fame timber himself, gives us his biased opinion:

“I’m probably a little [biased], but I think he’s the best receiver in the game,” Steelers safety Troy Polamalu said. “You can never ask anymore from anybody with what he does. His blocking from a receiver, he catches the football, he’s able to have all of these great receiving statistics even though we’re a running offense.

“To have that whole package, I don’t think anybody in the NFL has that. I hope that he’s remembered as a Hall of Famer, because that’s what we all believe that he is.”

Whole package is right. How many receivers are the intimidators on the football field? He blocks with a legendary ferocity and that has contributed as much to his team’s success as his receptions.

Still, even though his numbers aren’t as gaudy as his contemporaries, he holds many all-time records for one of sport’s most storied franchises:

In terms of numbers, Ward currently holds Pittsburgh’s all-time marks for games played (170), career receptions (800), receiving yards (9,780) and receiving touchdowns (72).

As far as Ward himself goes, he seems like he’d be happier if he contributes to putting another Lombardi trophy into the Steelers trophy case.

“Some guys might like me, some guys call me dirty,” Ward said. “There will be some kids that want to be me one day, but I don’t know. When I leave this game one day, all I want people to say is he was one heck of a football player. That’s all I can really ask for. It’s up to you guys [in the media] to vote your opinion, judge how you want.”

Additional Super Bowl or not, the answer has to be… yes.