Cam Heyward Open to leaving Steelers.
Cam Heyward stated that he is willing to leave the Steelers to finish his career.
Pittsburgh — As the Pittsburgh Steelers approach the 2024 season, the organization must resolve a number of contractual issues. The most important decision is whether to choose Cam Heyward as defensive captain. Heyward is in the final year of his current contract and is looking for a final contract extension to finish his career.
It seems impossible, but the Steelers may not sign the future Hall of Famer to a contract extension. Heyward spoke with Mark Kaboly of The Athletic about the harsh reality he faced. During his conversation, he shared two interesting pieces of information. First and foremost, Heyward made it clear that he intended to play in the NFL.
“We’ll see what happens. But I can assure you that I will be playing in 2025,” Heyward said.
Second, he stated that he may not finish his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His career began in 2011, when the Steelers selected him in the first round. After 13 seasons, Heyward may be looking for a new home after reaching the age of 35.
“I’ve spoken with my wife (Allie), and we know the truth,” Heyward said. ” We had those discussions, and she said it might be fun to play somewhere else. If that is what needs to be done, so be it,” he said.
Now, it must be acknowledged that Heyward may be working from an angle. Cam’s comments are concerning, but the reality is that this is part of the contract negotiation process. The two parties appear to be far apart in their negotiations, and applying pressure through the media is an excellent strategy.
Heyward, understandably, wants to end his career with a big pay day. Regardless of his age, he is an elite defensive lineman, and every NFL team would kill to have him on their roster. From 2017 to 2023, Heyward had 53.5 sacks, three first-team All-Pro selections, and six Pro Bowl appearances. He had a difficult and injury-filled 2023, causing his statistics to drop, but he is on track.
The Steelers, on the other hand, do not compensate their aging stars. They once parted ways with elite players and Hall of Fame members such as Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, and Troy Polamalu. While Heyward, if healthy, is more productive than those players in their twilight years, it may not matter. Fortunately for Cam, he is open to whatever occurs after 2024.
Leave a Reply