"Defensive backs are always trying to kill me, so I'm trying to get them first."

"Everything I do is for my mom. Every time I step out there and try to get better, it's for her."

"Guys ask me, 'Why are you always smiling?' Are you kidding? I'm in the NFL, that's why!"

"I can really say that I'm a pretty good receiver and came a long way."

"If you're going to talk stuff and try to take me out, I'm coming at you. Cleanly and fairly, but I'm coming."

"I grew up kind of fast. I had a lot of responsibilities-cleaning the house, going to school on my own, making good grades on my own."

"I have a big problem with scouts. There's a standard for a receiver-you have to have a certain size, run a certain speed, and what not. I disagree with that. You can have a lot of heart, a lot of passion for the game, and be a great receiver. Everyone's looking for that prototype guy, and it shouldn't be that way."

"I'm not the prototype wide receiver. But I like to think I'm one hell of a football player."

"I think fans cling to me because I'm a blue-collar guy in a blue-collar city."

"It's well known that I play aggressively. When I'm not doing that, I'm not doing my job."

"I want to be the guy who catches the game-winning touchdown."

"I wanted to finish my career as a Steeler. I felt I just fit the mold as far as a blue-collar guy. I may not be the flashiest, most flamboyant wide receiver out there. But I get the job done for my team."

"I was a lost child. I wasn't accepted in the black community because I was Korean, and I wasn't accepted in the Korean community because I was black."

"I went into Pepi's and they offered me a Roethlisburger. But they said it's no good without Hines on it!"

"My hope is to be the best complete receiver in the game today."

"My mom used to tell me, 'I live every day of my life for you.' I understand that now. The older I get, the more I understand."

"My whole life I've been trying to prove people wrong. I ended up beating everything."

"People really appreciate the way I play."

"Tom Osborne, Lou Holtz, Bobby Bowden were in our living room. My mom didn't know who they were!"

"For our running game to go, he has to block. He's that crucial. He's just like an offensive lineman." - Bruce Arians

"He is an extra lineman out there in the run game." - Ben Roethlisberger

"He is just blessed with physical talent. He is probably more powerful than people think. Like a boxer, he delivers a great blow with a short punch. That is just who he is. It is part of what makes him him." - Mike Tomlin

"He probably loves hitting people more than catching passes." - Eric Hicks

"He's a pro's pro. He's tough, he's smart, he plays the game the right way. He's the epitome of an NFL player." - Greg Ellis

"He's a self-made star-the most complete receiver in the NFL." - Bill Cowher

"He's no ordinary wide receiver. When it comes to blocking, he blocks like a tackle." - Danny Clark

"He's the type of player you need on your team because of his character." - Gil Brandt

"If he could have concentrated on one position, whoa-he would have really been something." - Terrell Davis

"I never look at him as a receiver. I look at him as a tough football player." - Samari Rolle

"My life, I would say, has been a hard life and a sad life. But in my country, a mother cares for her first child." - Kim Ward

"One thing you know is when you cover him, you're going to have to make a lot of tackles." - Champ Bailey

"There are no words to describe how valuable Hines Ward has been to me." - Ben Roethlisberger

"We can't win without him." - Joey Porter