On Wednesday night, some startling information regarding veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward of the Steelers surfaced.
Entering the last year of a four-year, $64 million contract he signed in September 2020, Heyward has not participated in voluntary summer workouts and does not want to attend OTAs, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Since then, Heyward—a longstanding team captain who was recently awarded the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year—has spoken out.
It is, first and foremost, voluntary. Let’s be clear about that. On his podcast “Not Just Football,” Heyward stated, “I’m working out, doing everything.” “I have always attended these, but at this time, it’s just contract negotiations, and I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, but we’ll see what happens.”
Heyward has played in Pittsburgh for his entire 13-year NFL career; it would be shocking if he decided to hang up his cleats somewhere else than the black and gold.
If he overvalues himself, though, his contract holdout may go into the summer, casting doubt on his future with the franchise.
After the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round last season, the six-time Pro Bowler even considered retiring, but he has since stated he thinks he still has a lot of gas left in the tank.
“I want to play for another two or three years. Mostly three,” Heyward said to Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders. “I’m trying to find a chance. We’ll have to wait and see. My intention is to play, but I would want it to be here. So let’s see.”
Whether Pittsburgh will offer Heyward the long-term commitment he seeks remains to be seen. Nor does he appear to be interested in accepting a hometown discount.
