Heyward Might Sit Out the Opener
Cam Heyward. Steelers legend. Defensive anchor. Team captain. And now? He’s reportedly thinking about sitting out the season opener against the Jets because he wants more money. Yeah, you read that right. The same guy who talks about winning a Super Bowl might not show up for the first game of the season.
He was back at practice Friday after a veteran rest day, but he’s still unsure about Sunday. “I’ve had conversations with my family about what’s best moving forward,” Heyward said. Translation: he’s deciding if he wants to play while trying to strong-arm a new deal mid-season. Pittsburgh doesn’t do that. Never.
Contract, Sacrifices, and Reality Check
Let’s be clear. Cam Heyward has earned his money. He’s in year two of a three-year, $45 million deal. Last year he even took a pay cut to stay in Pittsburgh. Head coach Mike Tomlin is confident he’ll play, saying, “Cam’s a competitor. He wants to be out there.” But if he sits, this isn’t about competing. It’s about leverage. And that’s not what a captain does.
History Repeats: Lessons from Le’Veon Bell
The Steelers have handled this before. Le’Veon Bell in 2018 sat out for a whole season over money, fractured the locker room, and left. Pittsburgh didn’t cave. They moved on. Heyward shouldn’t expect special treatment just because he’s a captain or a fan favorite. Steelers culture doesn’t bend mid-season.
Heyward vs. Aaron Rodgers: The Irony
Remember Cam Heyward calling out Aaron Rodgers in the offseason? “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. That’s simple, that’s the pitch.” Rodgers said he was hurt. “I was hurt, yeah. You didn’t reach out, you just wanted to make a statement in the media.” Now Heyward is literally doing the same thing, holding out to get leverage while the team is trying to move forward.
Leadership Under Question
Here’s the truth. If Cam Heyward sits, it’s a leadership failure. Captains lead by example. They show up. They fight. They set the tone. Sitting out a season opener for money does none of that. If he does this, strip the captainship immediately. Leadership isn’t a title. It’s showing up and putting the team first.
The Super Bowl Argument Falls Apart
Heyward has said over and over he wants a Super Bowl. So why risk that by sitting out? The Steelers are built to compete. Every game matters. Every snap matters. If Heyward really wanted that Lombardi, he’d be playing. Instead, he’s prioritizing his paycheck. And if he leaves, he’ll probably land somewhere with zero shot at a ring. The irony is brutal.
Stats Don’t Lie
Heyward isn’t just a locker room guy. He’s a game-changer. Career: 66 sacks, 25 forced fumbles, countless QB pressures, dominant against the run. Sure, Pittsburgh could survive one game without him. But the message it sends is huge. The Steelers have survived worse: Ben leaving, Antonio Brown leaving, Le’Veon Bell holding out.
Steelers Culture: No Mid-Season Deals
The rule is simple. No renegotiating contracts during the season. The Steelers have enforced this for years. If Cam Heyward pushes, the team needs to act. Strip the captainship, move on, and protect the culture that has kept Pittsburgh relevant for decades.
Heyward’s Choice
At the end of the day, Heyward has a choice. Play, put the team first, and prove why he’s a Steelers legend. Or sit, put himself first, and tarnish the legacy he’s built. Sitting out for money isn’t leadership. It’s leverage. In Pittsburgh, leaders show up, especially for the opener.
Bottom Line: The Team Comes First
Cam Heyward is a legend. But legends are defined by action, not negotiation tactics. If he sits, lose the captainship. Send him somewhere else and let him chase the money. He won’t win there. Pittsburgh has survived players leaving, holding out, demanding more. They will survive this too. Heyward’s choice will show if he’s truly a leader or just another player chasing a paycheck.
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