Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has the chance to go out on top. His longtime rival, Hines Ward, did not, a reality that has the retired Pittsburgh Steelers receiver slightly irritated.
"I'm a little disappointed how it ended because it wasn't my idea how to end things," Ward told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "But that's part of the business. I still think about how it went down, and I look at Ray Lewis having the opportunity to walk off the field in Baltimore. I never had that opportunity. But this city still loves me and supports me, so regardless what I do, I always have a home back in Pittsburgh."
Ward wanted to come back this season, but the Steelers weren't into it. Even if he had, it's doubtful the 36-year-old pass-catcher would have saved an 8-8 team that underwhelmed on both sides of the ball down the stretch.
Besides, Ward's post-gridiron career is rolling. After floating through our lives on "Dancing With The Stars" and returning kickoffs in "The Dark Knight Rises," he's now in the middle of training for the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. Best of all? He's set to debut as a zombie next month in AMC's "The Walking Dead."
Said Ward: "I've always wanted to be known for more than just being a football player."
He's off to a good start.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.