# Hines Ward voted "dirtiest player" in the NFL. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 5, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416 "2009-11-05T14:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/101 "2009-11-09T20:35:52Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Are you daft? The guy missed one preseason out of what? 13? And then was a Super Bowl MVP. If you’re argument is that he wasn’t earning his money during the holdout it doesn’t make sense since he never was paid for the weeks he held out. This is a lot of nonsensical arguing for an illusory title. Even Hines Wards’ detractors consider him a blue collar player, just a dirty one. I’m daft. I’m a Bengals fan. Show me mercy and pity. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/102 "2009-11-09T20:36:36Z")
You suggest that because he held out one preseason out of thirteen that it somehow disqualifies him from being considered a blue collar type guy and then compare him to Michael Crabtree. He wasn’t paid for holding out so the work he did during that time is moot. He wanted more money, he got it, he came back and performed at a high level. See Brandon Marshall for an example of another way of going about it. You’ll have to figure out the je ne sais quoi yourself, I don’t have a mathematical formula for you to use. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/103 "2009-11-09T20:38:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I’m daft. I’m a Bengals fan. Show me mercy and pity. No mercy! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/104 "2009-11-09T20:49:05Z")
Look, this whole devolving nonsense about blue-collar arose from **quixotic78** somehow being ignorant of a common usage of the term blue-collar. I don’t know why he is so literal and having such a hard time, but I really don’t have much inclination to continue to consider every possible exemplar of “blue collar” he wants to drag in here - Porter, Roethlisberger, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Suffice it to say that many, if not most, sports fans would immediately understand the connotation of the term blue collar when applied to players and to teams or organizations, even if they might not agree on each and every member of that category. **quixotic78** may simply just not be one of those people, and I have no interest in trying further to help him be one. As for **Hamlet** , buddy, all we have to resolve this is the pit. Either nut up or shut up, but you know what you can do with your unapology. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/105 "2009-11-09T21:06:37Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > As for **Hamlet** , buddy, all we have to resolve this is the pit. Either nut up or shut up, but you know what you can do with your unapology. There’s no need to go to the pit to tell you that you’re acting like a humorless, whiny, oversensitive little bitch. It really isn’t that important to me. I’ll just avoid talking smack to you in the future to save your widdle feelings. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/106 "2009-11-09T21:29:35Z")
Hamlet, you keep describing what you’re doing as smack talk. All you’ve really done is repeatedly say that James Harrison is held on every play and that I don’t live in reality. Do you really think that’s smack talk? You’re like an autistic kid trying to figure out social interaction and failing miserably. You’re like Abed on _Community_. It would be something if you ever had an observation about football to make, instead of nothing but ineffectual sniping that you think equates to smack talk. ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/107 "2009-11-09T21:44:25Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Look, this whole devolving nonsense about blue-collar arose from **quixotic78** somehow being ignorant of a common usage of the term blue-collar. I don’t know why he is so literal and having such a hard time, but I really don’t have much inclination to continue to consider every possible exemplar of “blue collar” he wants to drag in here - Porter, Roethlisberger, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. > > Suffice it to say that many, if not most, sports fans would immediately understand the connotation of the term blue collar when applied to players and to teams or organizations, even if they might not agree on each and every member of that category. **quixotic78** may simply just not be one of those people, and I have no interest in trying further to help him be one. So you essentially call me a liar, baselessly slander the work habits of a couple of football players (some of whom I’m rather fond of), and then cowardly slink away under the guise of no longer being interested in the conversation. Stereotypical Steelers fan behavior, I suppose, but I will admit to being disappointed nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/108 "2009-11-09T21:58:19Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Did you even read the article? As many as 90% do not agree. > > Nice try, though. Uh, 90% of his peers didn’t list him as the dirtiest player in the league, which does not mean they don’t think he’s dirty. You’re inferring conclusions that the data does not support. You could also say that 100% of the players think he’s dirty, but only 10% think he’s the dirtiest. There’s not enough data there to support that conclusion either. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/109 "2009-11-10T02:00:32Z")
Data hurts. And every time a Steeler or its fan cries, an angel gets its wings. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/110 "2009-11-10T02:08:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Data hurts. 6 😉 I know, I know, I’m being an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/111 "2009-11-10T05:42:09Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > But the ones that voted…did? No, 90% of the ones that voted did not. Again, slowly…read the article. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/112 "2009-11-10T05:44:15Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Uh, 90% of his peers didn’t list him as the dirtiest player in the league, which does not mean they don’t think he’s dirty. You’re inferring conclusions that the data does not support. You could also say that 100% of the players think he’s dirty, but only 10% think he’s the dirtiest. There’s not enough data there to support that conclusion either. Unless you have contrary data, my statement stands. Read it again. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/113 "2009-11-10T07:47:52Z")
Is there only one dirty player in the NFL? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/114 "2009-11-11T12:48:07Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Is there only one dirty player in the NFL? Nah, the Sporting News polled 99 NFL players and released the results this morning. Richie Incognito won the voting for dirtiest player with 12 votes. Hines Ward was all the way back at second with 9 votes. Bobby Wade said, “He’s quick to knock you off the pile and quick to look for a crackback instead of blocking the guy in front of him.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/115 "2009-11-11T14:42:41Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No, 90% of the ones that voted did not. > > Again, slowly…read the article. OK, fine, I will…and Labradors are shitty dogs! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/116 "2009-11-11T15:08:46Z")
Why don’t we just have our own informal poll? A simple yes or no to the question: Is Hines Ward a dirty player, and then a disclaimer as to whether you’re a Steelers fan or not. We can compare the results to the article. I’ll start: Is Hines Ward a Dirty Player? I vote yes. I am most decidedly not a Steelers fan. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/117 "2009-11-11T16:33:26Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Why don’t we just have our own informal poll? A simple yes or no to the question: Is Hines Ward a dirty player, and then a disclaimer as to whether you’re a Steelers fan or not. We can compare the results to the article. > > I’ll start: > > Is Hines Ward a Dirty Player? > > I vote yes. > > I am most decidedly not a Steelers fan. I don’t think so. Not a Steelers fan. At all. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/118 "2009-11-11T17:19:11Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Is Hines Ward a Dirty Player? > > I vote yes. > > I am most decidedly not a Steelers fan. Yes. Not a Steelers fan. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/119 "2009-11-11T17:45:59Z")
I just watched that Rivers hit. I’m completely floored by the controversy surrounding it. He didn’t sneak up on Rivers. He was openly running toward hit to throw a block. Rivers was not blindsided, or if he was, it was his own damn fault. I saw Ward lay the wood on an opposing team member, like he’s supposed to do. It was a brilliant block. Textbook. What’s the trouble? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416/120 "2009-11-11T18:28:05Z")
If Rivers’ jaw hadn’t been broken it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal. For my part I will vote yes even though I love Hines Ward and almost every thing he does on the field. I don’t think he’s dirty the way a lot of linemen are. some of them can be relied on for a chippy play every few series. Hines Ward doesn’t have that many dirty plays to his name but he has enough that I think he’s earned his reputation. How many wide receivers have their own hits highlight reels though? And Steelers fan through and through. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hines-ward-voted-dirtiest-player-in-the-nfl/516416.md?page=7)