Was a below average to average (at best) type of player. Nothing more/nothing less than a 30 catch, 450 yards and 2.7 TD's (per year) type of player. I remember back to 1998 where he was (by far) the weakest link amomgst our trio of WR's in Keyshawn, Chrebet and Ward (himself). Martin could catch out of the backfield and Kyle Brady was decent but i always felt that N.Y's offensive attack was a 3rd WR weapon away from becoming a truly dynamic, electric and explosive offense. And for that reaaon alone, I've never liked Ward as a WR and I've never enjoyed mentioning him as a player either. Just mediocre in every sense of the word. Heck. I didn't even like throwing to him while playing NFL GameDay 1998 on Sony PlayStation as a kid (989 sports). But i can't put all the blame on Ward himself. It's really not his fault that Alex Van Dyke (who should've been our 3rd WR option) developed into a gigantic 2nd round bust at the position.
He was Parcells handpicked choice from the 98 draft to be the long term PR/KR. What he ended up being was a decent #3. Parcells always loved him & predicted big things for him heading into the 98 season going as far as to suggest he was right on par w. Keyshawn & Chrebet. Not so much.
For some reason I don't remember him signing or playing with Miami after he left. But he did. Average receiver. Probably the most memorable thing was his long catch and run in Buffalo to clinch the AFC East in 98. Typical Buffalo/Jets game, cold, physical, low scoring, tied, then Vinny throws it deep down the sideline to Ward, the defender falls, Jets win
I had forgotten that he had as long a career as he did, playing two years with Miami, 3 games with the Ravens and 4 with the Patriots in 2003, then 8 games with the Cowpukes in 2004. I can't believe he lasted that long. A little over 800 yards was the most he had in a season and 4 TD was the most in any one season. A JAG, typical of Parcells personnel evaluation.
Haha, an admin trolling his own board. What's next? Memories of Terance Mathis?! Oh, yeah, he left, had two amazing years, and went to the Pro Bowl. Too bad the Jets gifted Herman Munster Horse face and Denver. Goddamn it, I'm getting a rash.
I remember him being very fast in a straight line, but couldn't get off the jam, so he not only never got a cushion, but also never got open deep. His contribution seemed to consist keeping one DB way down field away from the play, and keeping a safety a step or two deeper than he wanted to be on that side. That doesn't sound like much, but it probably helped Chrebet a lot on those third down catches....
I remember watching Parcells coaching him returning punts and KR's at Hofstra. Parcells worked hard at it with him. But I don't believe Ward really liked returning kicks, some guys don't, and he was a disappointment in that regard. Now Leon Johnson is another story. He was a man now. I fucking hated when Leon got hurt. He was great for us for that short while.
So you are telling us that what he averaged per year with the Jets was the type of player he was, he was the 2.7 TD per year type player? Good to know
Mostly mediocre, as most people are saying, but he did have his moments. A great long TD against the Patriots in 1998 and some big plays in 2000 after Keyshawn had gone. Keyshawn, in his never-ending hatred for Wayne Chrebet, once said he thought Ward was the better receiver of the two. How he got jobs in the media after that I'll never know.
As others have said, the @ Buffalo game in '98 will always be remembered, as well as generally a WR who was really a 9 route or nothing type player 90% of the time. He helped open up the field for Key & Wayne for a few years. We've had much, much worse.
