Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver Hines Ward ended his 15-day holdout. The thing is though: he didn't receive a new contract yet.

Ward may have been encouraged by head coach Bill Cowher to return to the team to boost team spirits.

"For me, I needed to hear that from my head coach, this support -- that's all a player can ask for. If your coach doesn't have confidence in you as a ballplayer, maybe you need to part ways," said Ward. "It's been a long time since we had a conversation like that. ... That's why I'm here, showing good faith, because I want to retire a Steeler."

Ward has one year remaining on his contract worth $1.66 million. Now that Ward has ended his holdout, it may be better for the team to make him happy and give him a new deal. The Steelers already lost Plaxico Burress during the offseason.