Jason Mackey: Cam Heyward can read offenses, but he's apparently not very good at reading a room
Published in Football
PITTSBURGH — Cam Heyward has done so much for the city of Pittsburgh off the field. His Steelers resume is pretty darn impressive, too. At least on an individual level.
But I disagree with nearly everything Heyward said Monday following a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College, the Steelers’ longest-tenured player discussing his hold-in as he tries to get the team to address his contract.
They did.
Last summer.
Heyward has also made more than $131 million in his NFL career, which is why I don’t have any sympathy for lines like the following:
— “It’s hard for me, after the year I had, to justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”
— “I value being valued.”
— “I just wish I could be out there not having to worry about this.”
Now, those are just snippets. Heyward also said there are active conversations with general manager Omar Khan and others; he was asked to take a pay cut following his injury-plagued 2023; and that he’s “been busting his ass all offseason” and has contributed in other ways here in Latrobe.
I’ll go with Heyward to an extent. Given his outstanding work in the community and impressive individual tenure with the Steelers, there’s some benefit of the doubt here — but only so much.
Not valued? You can’t justify playing? Come on.
Being named the Walter Payton Man of the Year is awesome. I love how Heyward has represented our city for a long time. But it doesn’t net you a password to the Steelers’ bank account, nor does it make contract negotiations an annual thing.
What Heyward said Monday also likely didn’t change public sentiment around what he’s doing, at least from what I’ve seen and heard. And right now, it’s not great.
It felt like Heyward on Monday was trying really hard to play the sympathy card, but it’s really friggin’ hard to feel that bad for someone who’s made that much money playing a sport.
“When I look at the market and what I’ve done, it’s hard to really wrap my head around playing at a number where I’m not even half of what the rest of the market is,” Heyward said, citing his spot as the 22nd highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
Whose fault is that?
Heyward could’ve signed a one-year, prove-it deal and ... wait for it ... proved it. He could have also insisted on a deal filled with incentives tied to having the type of season he did in 2024. No issue there. Players should be paid for their performance.
That not happening was either Heyward’s fault, his agent’s or probably both. This also can’t be a yearly thing, no matter the context.
“For me and my family, we value stability,” Heyward said, explaining his decision to sign the deal he did. “At the same time, I value being valued, as well.
“I’ve had conversations with my wife as things have started to pick up. I can’t complain about what happened because I was coming off an injury, which I chose to play through and be there for my guys. Because at the end of the day, I want to be there for them regardless if I’m on this team. Can’t cry about spilled milk.”
Yet here we are, very much crying about spilled milk. Or at least the assertion that not enough milk came out of the jug.
Here’s another question I can’t help but ask: Would Heyward voluntarily adjust his pay if he wasn’t a first-team All-Pro? I highly doubt it.
Yes, the Steelers could’ve cut him, and they would’ve been within their rights to do so, the same way guys who are eligible to renegotiate contracts should try to juice every dollar out of their employer. Nothing wrong with that.
But there’s a time and place for that sort of thing, and it’s not now. The current focus should be camp, defensive improvements, being better against the run, jelling as a team and the New York Jets. Any combination of that stuff.
Not someone scheduled to make $14.75 million in cash upset because he might not make upwards of $20 million.
Read the room.
The economy’s not great. Steelers fans, the same crowd Heyward seemed to court for sympathy on Monday, face real-life and serious issues every day. Plus, there are third-graders who haven’t seen the Steelers win a playoff game.
If anything, what I heard Monday felt depressing.
On one hand, I do understand Heyward’s point with this: If it’s about simply advancing him money, which he seemed to hint at, how and why did it come to this?
Heyward said these discussions date back to February. We’re talking about an advance of a little north of $6 million of his 2026 roster bonus. As much as I disagree with his comments, he does deserve that much after what he did in 2024.
“While being respectful to the process of what both sides are trying to accomplish, I would definitely say that’s something I’m thinking about,” Heyward said when asked whether advancing him some of bonus money would solve this.
That’s probably the way this is resolved, honestly.
But it should not result in Heyward getting a new contract.
If that’s been the demand and Heyward legitimately threatens to sit out regular season games to pursue a new contract, I’m sorry, I have no sympathy or patience for that. The Steelers have been crushed in the playoffs with Heyward. That can certainly happen without him.
And I really don’t think I’m alone in feeling that way.
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