Nov 21st 2008 7:30AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, AFC NorthThe out-to-get Hines Ward tour got off to a very unsuccessful start Thursday night.

With an entire Bengals team out to get Ward for breaking linebacker Keith Rivers’ jaw with a completely legal block, Ward walked off Heinz Field with all limbs still attached, no big bumps or bruises, and a 37-yard reception. No Bengals got a good clean shot on Ward all night. Somewhere, Rivers mumbled disappointment through his wired jaw.

It’s a good first step for Ward, but he still has one more stop on the revenge tour. The Ravens have gone beyond just talking about revenge and have stepped it up by putting a bounty on Ward. Then again, every time the Ravens gun to get Ward, he usually ends up laying out Ed Reed or Bart Scott. So, on Dec. 14, Ward will either get his block knocked off by the Ravens, or more likely he’ll just hand out a couple more crushing blocks and ensure the Ravens up the bounty for 2009.