The 6-foot-5, 295-pound player will be conspicuously absent from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ organized team activities the next week.
In the final season of his current deal, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, a six-time Pro Bowler, intends to skip the Steelers’ optional off-season activities for the first time.
Heyward stated in his Not Just Football podcast, which was released on Thursday morning, “I have always attended these, but at this time, it’s just contract negotiations.” “Ya know, I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, but we’ll see what happens.”
Heyward, whose 2024 salary is projected to be $16 million, was reacting to and reiterating an ESPN report that he will not be present at the OTAs, which start on Tuesday and go for ten sessions in all through June 6.
Pittsburgh’s required minicamp is scheduled for June 11–13. Heyward stated of OTAs, “Let’s get one thing straight: it’s voluntary.” “I’m working out, I’m doing everything, but [going to OTAs].”
Heyward stated that OTAs are voluntary, so he won’t be fined. However, if he decides to forego the required minicamp, the Steelers may decide to penalize him monetarily for his early departure.
The current Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year is a three-time All-Pro player on the field, a well-known leader in the Steelers locker room, and a seven-time team captain.
The dependable defensive tackle missed six games due to a groin injury he sustained last season, which was the first extended absence off the field since 2016.
Heyward had six consecutive Pro Bowl seasons after the 2016 campaign, which came to a stop in 2023. It makes reasonable that Heyward wants to sign one more huge contract after recovering from an injury and into his 35th season.
2020 saw him sign a four-year, $65.6 million contract deal, but things have moved very quickly since then. Heyward is one of the inside defensive linemen with an average yearly income of $16.4, barely outside the top 20.
Heyward’s desire to stay in Pittsburgh is evident, but he also wants to be taken care of, and missing OTAs for the first time is his first action outside of the negotiation framework. “You gotta do what’s right for you,” he stated. “I’m working out hard.
I don’t do anything differently both on and off the field. I’m exerting every effort. When we arrive, we’ll make it.” We’ll see if, among the NFL’s finest defensive lineman, he gets compensated as the spring progresses.
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