What is the Mel Blount rule?

The 1975 Defensive Player of the Year was so dominant that the league instituted the 'Mel Blount Rule,' to limit the contact defensive backs could make with wide receivers.

What is the Hines Ward rule?

-- The NFL today approved four new rules that focus on player safety, including the so-called Hines Ward Rule that affects blocking tactics. The blocking rule makes illegal a blindside block if it comes from the blocker's helmet, forearm or shoulder and lands to the head or neck area of the defender.

Where is Mel Blount now?

Blount currently resides in Buffalo Township, southwest of Pittsburgh, on a 303-acre (1.23 km²) farm that includes the site of his former youth home.

Who wore number 47 for the Steelers?

47: Mel Blount. Blount was another champion during his time in Pittsburgh. The defensive back finished his career with 57 interceptions including a league-leading 11 in 1975.

Is 43 retired for the Steelers?

7; Troy Polamalu will be the last Steeler to wear No. 43 and Hines Ward will be the last Steeler to wear No. 86. The Steelers should retire some numbers not because of the greatness of the players who wore them, but rather the infamy, ineptitude or ill fate of those players.

Is Hines Ward number retired?

Pittsburgh has not handed out the No. 86 since Hines Ward -- the franchise's all-time leader in catches, yards and touchdowns -- retired after the 2011 season. Ward helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls during the 2000s and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XL.

Will Hines Ward make the Hall of Fame?

Hines Ward Not Included Among 2022 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Finalists. Hines Ward will have to wait at least another year to hear his name be inducted into Canton, Ohio. Ward was not part of the 15 finalists for the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When was Mel Blount drafted?

Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round (53rd overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft.

How many Steelers are in the Hall of Fame?

Eighteen long-time members of the Steelers organization have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

When was the Mel Blount rule made?

Implemented in 1978, the 'Mel Blount Rule' barred contact with wide receivers beginning five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, a rule that helped mark a turning point in the game that began to skew more heavily to an open passing attack.

Is Hines Ward a dirty player?

Hines Ward was voted as the dirtiest player by his peers. Of the 296 players who voted, Ward was named on 11.6% of the ballots. Behind him were Albert Haynesworth, Joey Porter, Roy Williams and Kevin Mawae.

Did Hines Ward have an ACL?

When he came out of college, it was discovered that Ward was missing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, which he lost during a bicycle accident during childhood. According to a Yahoo! Sports article, Ward broke his kneecap in the fourth grade and the doctors never accounted for the ligament.

What is a blindside block?

First, what constitutes a blindside block, per the 2021 NFL Rulebook? It is a foul if a player initiates a block when his path is toward or parallel to his own end line and makes forcible contact to his opponent with his helmet, forearm, or shoulder.

When did Jerome Bettis retire?

He retired in 2006 after helping the Steelers win a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XL, the franchise's first in over two decades. Bettis was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Did Terry Bradshaw win the Heisman Trophy?

Eli Manning's Super Bowl XLII Most Valuable Player Award combined with Manning's SB XLI MVP trophy marked the first time that brothers had won the award. Desmond Howard is the only Heisman Trophy winner to earned. Only Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana have won consecutive Super Bowl.

Why did Hines Ward retire?

"I feel like I have a few more good years in me left," Ward said. "I would love nothing more to get back to the Super Bowl." He wasn't willing to do it, however, outside Pittsburgh. "I want to go down as one of the greats to wear the black and gold and that's how it should end," Ward said.

Are there any retired numbers in the NFL?

History. Since NFL teams began retiring numbers, 155 players have had their jersey number retired. The Chicago Bears and the New York Giants have the most retired numbers of the teams with 14 each.

Was Mel Blount good?

In 1975, Blount became the first defensive back to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after he picked off a league-leading 11 passes. And in 1976, he was a major part of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history — the '76 Steel Curtain gave up 28 points total in their last nine games.

How many interceptions did Mel Blount have in his career?

Blount, a native of Vidalia, Georgia, wound up his career with 57 interceptions which he returned for 736 yards and two touchdowns. He intercepted at least one pass in all 14 NFL seasons and led the league in interceptions with 11 in 1975. Blount also was used as a kickoff returner early in his career.