Hines Ward? I don't agree either. Imagine if Ricky and Ronnie had a receiver that DB's had to worry about on a running play? They would be breaking loose for more 20+ gains a game!
Hines Ward gets the votes (and the rep) because he's a receiver. There's nothing special about the hits he puts on defenders, but players have been conditioned to weak-ass receivers who bare block, much less throw a decent hit. This is "reflex"-type knowledge for NFL players and they just cannot seem to adjust to a receiver being a blocking threat during "live action". The result is that they're unprepared for the hit, even though they've seen Ward coming. Of course, as with all hits, you don't always see it coming, but it seems like defenders are a lot more pissed when they're blocked unawares by a receiver than by, say, a running back, tight end or lineman.
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