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Ward Will Be Tough To Keep Off Field

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2009

TAMPA - So how do you get a hyperbaric chamber into your hotel room?

Hines Ward laughed.

"How do you do it? You move some tables out of the way and tell the hotel to pick up some tables and just lay it right beside my bed," the Steelers' all-time leading receiver said Tuesday.

Ward is trying to come back from a sprained right knee sustained in the AFC Championship Game 10 days ago. Oxygen therapy, which accelerates healing by promoting the growth of red blood cells, is part of his rehabilitation.

That rehab apparently continues to go well. Ward reiterated that he expects to play in Sunday's Super Bowl.

"Having a full week off last week helped," he said. "I've tried to put two weeks of rehab into one week, working overtime and rehabbing the knee. I'm walking around without a brace, and that's a good thing.

"I'll get a chance to rehab a couple of more days and then try it out on Thursday and actually do some cutting and run a route."

A day earlier, Ward predicted he would not be 100 percent and wouldn't be able to "trick" anyone, but that he would "be able to go out there and perform like I'm used to." Tuesday, he wouldn't give a percentage, saying he isn't good at math but "feels good."

Ward's hyperbaric chamber is a portable unit, and he rests in it regularly from 60 to 80 minutes to recover from games. Because of his injury, Ward had the unit shipped from his home to the hotel.

A sprained knee can easily take a month or more to recover from. Ward is trying to do it in less than half that time.

His teammates appreciate the commitment.

"Oh man, he's the toughest guy that I've ever played with," fellow receiver Santonio Holmes said. "I know his heart is with us, and if he has any chance of playing, he's definitely going to take it. He's that type of guy."

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Monday it isn't even worth asking whether Ward will be ready.

"People ask me that question and I want to smack them," he said. "It's Hines Ward. He's going to be out here. It's the Super Bowl."

An argument can be made that Ward is as valuable to the Steelers as Larry Fitzgerald is to the Cardinals. The MVP of Super Bowl XL and holder of most of the Steelers' career receiving records was the team leader this season with 81 catches, 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns.

Ward had 100-yard receiving games in Weeks 15 and 16 and 70 yards in Pittsburgh's divisional playoff victory against San Diego, so it didn't appear he was wearing down in his 11th season.

Even in the AFC title game against Baltimore, Ward had three catches for 55 yards, including a 45-yarder on third-and-12, before leaving in the first half with his injury.

"I think if Hines is on the field and he's in uniform, then he's going to have quite an impact on the game," tight end Heath Miller said. "I feel like he's the heart and soul of our offense. He's going to do everything in his power to be there."

Tuesday, Ward looked around Raymond James Stadium and sounded like he was ready to suit up immediately.

"Being back here in Tampa brings back a lot of memories," he said. "Being in the Outback Bowl and getting the chance to beat Wisconsin a 33-6 Georgia victory in 1997. Hopefully, that will carry over to Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals."

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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