CBSSports’ Mike Freeman, after speaking with a player via text, reports that Ward is expected to soon announce his retirement.

As Freeman cautions, the decision is far from being set in stone, as Ward recently said he plans on playing next season, but that “doesn’t seem to be the case.”

The 2011 campaign was a brutal one for Ward, who started only nine games, recording 46 receptions for just 381 yards and two touchdowns.

In the AFC Wild Card contest against the Broncos, he was held without a catch, looking like a shell of his former self on the field. It’s obvious the 35-year-old receiver has been completely phased out of the offense, falling to fifth on the depth chart and having his spot overtaken by the young studs, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

Even if he doesn’t call it quits, Ward is a likely cap casualty, as he’s due to collect $4 million in base salary in 2012. He may be more inclined to go out on his own terms, rather than attempt to give it another go as a free agent who can’t draw any interest.

A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, Ward is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. And, hey, he always has a dancing career to fall back on.

UPDATE: WPXI in Pittsburgh has refuted Freeman’s report, citing multiple sources who say Ward has no intentions of retiring. While it’s possible Ward isn’t ready to hang ‘em up, there’s still just a slim chance he returns to the Steelers — at least without taking a sizable paycut first.

After years of coming through in the clutch, Hines Ward is now lucky to just see the field.

Nevertheless, the four-time Pro Bowler feels he’s got more gas left in the tank, and has no intentions of going out on this kind of note.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ward acknowledged Friday, one day before he steps onto Heinz Field for what may be the final time, that retirement isn’t apart of his New Year’s resolutions for 2012.

“I have two years left on my contract,” Ward said, counting this one. “I’m not even thinking that this is my last one. If the organization decides to, I have no control over that. But, for me, I’m not even thinking this is my last game ever [at Heinz Field]

In fact, the 35-year-old even left the door open for 2013.

“I feel fine. I feel like I can play another year or two if I want to.”

Despite the overwhelming possibility that he might have to record reception number 1000 — he’s only nine away — with another club, Ward isn’t letting the thought creep into his mind, as he enters the postseason with a chance at a third ring.

“I don’t want to play for anybody else,” he said. We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, it’s not even in my mind to think what happens — am I going to be here, is this my last game? I don’t think like that, I’ve never thought like that.”

Ward’s situation is similar to that of the Colts’ Reggie Wayne — two longtime greats with questionable futures. The only difference is Wayne is a few years younger, and proves he’s still capable of performing at a high level. Ward can’t do anything about the former, but the latter is in his hands — most literally.

Should he return for a fourteenth season in the Steel City, Ward would be comfortable as an afterthought in the offense.

To him, it’s obviously better than the alternative — a dancing career, perhaps?

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers have named Charlie Batch the starting quarterback for Saturday’s contest against the Rams.

Roethlisberger, who’s battling a high-ankle sprain, is officially listed as questionable, and may still dress in case an emergency arises.

Dennis Dixon, who was trade bait this past August, will serve as the No. 2 option for the game.

While Batch is certainly not comparable to Roethlisberger — in nearly any facet — Pittsburgh apparently feels as if they can handle a two-win Rams squad that boasts one of the NFL’s worst defenses.

Besides, with a playoff berth already wrapped up, Batch will likely spend the Christmas Eve afternoon handing the ball off to runningback Rashard Mendenhall, who could add more coal to St. Louis’ slumping stocking.

It was another textbook showing of toughness by Big Ben, whose made a career out of playing through painful ailments.

But it came at a price, a potentially hefty one with a major interconference clash looming.

Peter King, of SI.com, spent some time in the Steelers lockerroom after their 14-3 win over the Browns, and came away with “doubts” that Roethlisberger, who could “hardly walk”, will be able to play in Week 15 against the 49ers.

“Ben could put about 20 ounces of weight on left foot,” King said.

Roethlisberger was injured during the second quarter, when two Browns defenders converged on him for a sack. He was bent backwards on a high-low hit, forcing his leg to twist awkwardly in the turf. The hit left him with a noticeable limp, which was severe enough to require further examination in the lockerroom.

Amazingly, Big Ben emerged from the tunnel onto the field to start the second half, drawing a tremendous ovation from the home crowd.

As King put it, the entire “Western World” thought Roethlisberger was done for the night after he went down, so it was a particularly gutsy effort on his part. After the game, Ben conceded that he initially thought his leg was broken. It sure looked like it on replay.

Roethlisberger has become the definition of a warrior over the years, displaying a higher pain tolerance than perhaps any other player in the NFL. With 10 days of rest upcoming, he’ll be afforded the opportunity to receive extra treatment, and we can never truly count against him when it comes to situations such as these.

However, this particular injury is difficult to control and usually lingers for at least a few weeks. Come next Monday night, it won’t at all be a surprise to see Roethlisberger in the huddle — nor would it be if it’s Charlie Batch instead.

During the second quarter of the Browns-Steelers contest, Roethlisberger went down awkwardly after he was sacked by two Cleveland defenders, his left ankle twisting in the turf.

Ben had to be helped off of the field by trainers and escorted to the locker room, with each gimpy step causing him to wince in obvious pain.

He couldn’t put any weight on the foot, and NFL Network’s Alex Flanagan said there was a “distressed” feeling in the tunnel.

A couple of Charlie Batch-led series later, a shoeless Roethlisberger was seen hopping onto a cart, likely to undergo additional tests.

He’s no stranger to pain, having dealt with a smorgasbord of ailments of the years, but if this is as severe as replays indicated, there’s a chance Big Ben could miss an extended period of time.

While there’s been no update to his status, we should know more as the night progresses. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: NFL Network reported during halftime that x-rays revealed no break in the ankle, and Roethlisberger has returned to the game. It’s a major bullet dodged for both the team and its Pro Bowl signal-caller, whose once again proven to be a true iron man.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the NFL fined Polamalu $15,000 for a horse-collar tackle during the third quarter of the team’s blowout loss in the regular season opener.

The tackle was made on Ravens running back Ricky Williams after he sprung off a 26-yard run. Polamalu stated he had no intention of bringing him down that way.

“It definitely wasn’t on purpose,” Polamalu said. “I’ve never intentionally tried to horse collar anybody.”

He has the option of appealing the fine in front of a two-man panel, but refuses to discuss it publicly.

“I’m not a big fan of people being really vocal about the fines,” he said.

Last week, Polamalu agreed to a new four-year, $36.5 million contract, including a $10.55 million signing bonus. His bank account won’t even feel the slightest ripple of a $15k loss.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers signed inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons to a six-year, $50 million contract. The new pact replaces his rookie deal, which was in its last year and would’ve payed him only $650,000 this season.

Now the 25-year-old is signed through 2016 at a little over $8 million annually.

The No. 15 overall draft selection in 2007 — and the first pick of the Mike Tomlin era — Timmons has become a key cog in the middle of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s defense, accumulating over 200 tackles, 15 sacks, three interceptions, and seven forced fumbles in four years with the team.

Although a good pass-rusher, Timmons earns his stripes against the run and is a big part of why it’s nearly impossible to establish a ground attack against Pittsburgh.

Having also signed outside ‘backer LaMarr Woodley to a $61.5 million extension — to go along with James Harrison and James Farrior — the Steelers will once again head into the upcoming season boasting the best quartet of linebackers of any team in the league.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette, live from Steelers practice on Thursday, the organization “would like” to end any discussion on who their No. 3 quarterback will be by trading the incumbent, Dennis Dixon.

Don’t get too excited just yet, Pittsburgh faithful; Bouchette states the potential deal is “not likely” to take place.

Apparently, there’s a divide between the Steelers’ braintrust — some prefer to keep Dixon where he is at, and others want to hand the job over to veteran Charlie Batch.

Clearly, being the designated clipboard toter is an esteemed duty.

Besides, Dixon, the 2008 fifth-round selection, has been doing a fine job of it lately, and probably has more of a future with the club than Batch, who will turn 37 during the season and looks ready to move on to greener pastures.

Pittsburgh isn’t going to have much luck finding an amicable partner for this potential pact right now, anyway. The start of the regular season is nearly three weeks away; at this point, teams — for the most part — have their quarterback situation figured out already. And should Ben Roethlisberger go down? They could do a lot worse than Byron Leftwich as his direct backup.

Things could change as injuries around the league are bound to happen, but it’s a good bet the Steelers will open Week One having made not a single change to their QB depth chart.

Per ESPN, the Steelers have signed Woodley to a six-year, $61.5 million contract. Under the new deal, Woodley will earn $18.1 million in 2011 and $27 million over the first two years as he becomes the second highest-paid Steeler in team history — trailing only Ben Roethlisberger and his $102 million pact he signed in 2008.

Understandably excited, Woodley shared the news on Twitter, and even posted a picture of himself putting his John Hancock on the papers.

Wanted u 2 hear it here 1st- drafted here… super bowl here.. will retire here!! time 2 get u #7!! @STEELERS 4 LIFE!!

Formerly Pittsburgh’s franchise player, Woodley signed his one-year, $10 million tender in February. But the organization was intent on doing what they usually to all of their young talent, and that’s lock him up for the long haul.

Woodley, the team second-round pick in 2007, has proven to be a terror off the edge in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense, accumulating 39 sacks in the last four seasons. The 2009 Pro Bowl selection is the bookend in a linebacking corps that’s one of, if not the best in the NFL, and obviously is an integral member of coordinator Dick LeBeau’s group.

Still only 26, Woodley will continue to cause nightmares for the league’s opposing offenses as he’ll be staying in Pitt through the prime — and possibly the duration — of his career.

According to TMZ.com, Ward — a native Georgian and University of Georgia alum — was busted in DeKalb County in the wee hours of the morning. After being booked for a charge of DUI, Ward posted a bond of $1,000 and was released from police custody.

The local sheriff’s office hasn’t released any other details, and there’s been no comment from the Steelers organization.

This is the second incident in the last couple of months for the former Super Bowl MVP and newly-minted Dancing With The Stars champion.

In May, Ward was handcuffed at gunpoint when police thought he and a female passenger were driving around in a stolen car. Unlike today’s mishap, however, Ward wasn’t at fault and was free to go shortly thereafter.

This is still a developing story, so stay tuned for further details.

UPDATE: Below is a statement from Ward’s marketing agent and attorney, Andrew Ree.

“(Ward) cooperated fully with the police and truthfully answered all of their questions … From our preliminary investigation we can tell you that we are confident that the facts will show that Hines was NOT impaired by alcohol while driving,” the statement read. “However, Hines is deeply saddened by this incident and apologizes to his fans and the Steelers organization for this distraction.”