<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> <w:UseFELayout /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> </object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Batang; panose-1:2 3 6 0 0 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:바탕; mso-font-charset:129; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 151388160 16 0 524288 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@Batang"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:129; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 151388160 16 0 524288 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Batang;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -- Ward's hit on Keith Rivers was definitely a cheap shot.  

While the hit was not late, Ward clearly lines him up, dips his head before impact, and then rises into Rivers’ chin, using the hardest part of his uniform, his helmet, to slam into one of the most vulnerable areas of a football player, under the face mask.

The manner of impact may look like a coincidence, but look at the links below.  In each case, Hines Ward lowers his head, and then rises into the chin of an unsuspecting man.  .

Football is a violent game, but it is a game.  The repeated manner in which Ward blindsides players leads one to believe that he understands what will happen when he commits such an act, and if this is so, it is cowardly, unconscionable, and not in the spirit of the game.

A broken jaw and a concussion can have lifelong side effects.  Football is dangerous enough when played ethically, and Ward’s behavior can not stand.

Rivers Cincinnati

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS1kETsSb4E

Reed Baltimore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2iG0HDqgv4&NR=1

Holly Cleveland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NJYruxZ4Zg

Reed Baltimore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2iG0HDqgv4&NR=1

Scott Baltimore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFuFTwLaufE