Some surprising information broke on Wednesday evening about Steelers veteran defensive deal with Cameron Heyward.
In accordance with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Heyward has not attended voluntary offseason exercises and doesn’t plan to attend OTAs as he seeks a contract extension, coming into the ultimate yr of his four-year, $64 million extension he signed in September 2020.
Heyward, who’s a longtime group captain and was simply named the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Yr, has since damaged his silence.
“To begin with, it is voluntary. Let’s get that straight. I am figuring out, doing all the pieces,” Heyward mentioned on his “Not Simply Soccer” podcast. “I’ve all the time attended these, however at the moment, it is simply contract negotiations, and I wish to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, however we’ll see what occurs.”
Heyward has spent his total 13-year NFL profession in Pittsburgh, and it could be stunning if he wore something apart from the black and gold earlier than hanging up his cleats for good.
Nevertheless, if he overestimates his worth, his contract holdout might lengthen into the summer season, leaving his future with the group unsure.
Heyward is 35 and coming off an injury-riddled season through which he tore his groin and had core muscle surgical procedure. He completed the yr with simply 33 tackles and two sacks in 11 video games.
The six-time Professional Bowler even debated retirement following the Steelers’ loss to the Buffalo Payments within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs final season however has since revealed he believes he has loads of fuel left within the tank.
“My objective is to play two to a few extra years. Principally three,” Heyward advised Alan Saunders of Steelers Now. “I am searching for a chance. We’ll see what occurs. I might prefer it to be right here, however my objective is to play. So we’ll see.”
Solely time will inform if Pittsburgh will give Heyward the long-term dedication he desires. He would not appear all for taking a hometown low cost, both.
