Hines Ward chided some NFL players for their ignorance about gay athletes but added that they better wise up about dating women who have ulterior motives.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and current NBC television analyst went on Meredith Viera's talk show, TMZ Sports reported, and accused what TMZ labeled as "conniving" women of targeting single NFL players, falsely accusing the players in sex offense cases.

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"It's dangerous to be an NFL player, especially if you're a single guy and you're out there," Ward told Viera. "It's almost like you need a contract when you go out on dates, 'Hey, is this OK for us to do this?' so you don't get in trouble."

"It's like we're in a fish bowl. Everybody knows how much money you make; they know you're single and one thing leads to another, and that's how you have certain situations. Sometimes, football players, we're targets."

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Before that, Ward did say that he didn't think former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was caught on camera knocking out his fiancée, Janay Palmer with a punch inside a casino elevator in Atlantic City last February, should be allowed back in the league.

"For me, I wouldn't want him as a teammate because I wouldn't want to support Ray Rice," Ward said. "The league doesn't need Ray Rice. Ray Rice needs the NFL - something about a guy putting his hands on a woman is just weak to me."

Ward was much more supportive of gay athletes in response to a question by Viera, in another part of the interview shown on towleroad.com.

"Me, personally, I don't have a problem with someone being gay," he said. "...If you can help me win a Super Bowl, then I'm all up for it because that's what it all matters to me."