Heyward: 'We want to protect quarterbacks, but who's protecting us?'

Long have football fans been frustrated with how roughing the passer penalties are officiated in the NFL. 

This past Sunday, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones became the first player flagged for roughing the passer with the football in his hands. While that seemed to be the poster play for any alteration to the rule -- much like the Jesse James non-catch helped ignite a spark for change to how a catch is defined in the rulebook -- the league stood by how the play was called.

Since the rulebook is the NFL's sacred word, this play was penalized due to the section of the rule that states, "the defensive player must strive to wrap up the passer with the defensive player’s arms and not land on the passer with all or most of his body weight."

Yes, fans are tired of it. But players are tired of it too.

Cam Heyward is in his 12th NFL season, and has played throughout many changes and alterations to the rule. He was asked about how he feels about the recent calls that have put defenses in no-win situations, and the aforementioned play really stood out to Heyward.

"We're being taught we need to make a play on the ball," Heyward explained. "Chris Jones makes a play on the ball, has the ball in his hands and falls on top of Derek Carr. I don't know what else you can ask him to do. That's teach tape right there. For any defensive lineman, you should be doing that." 

Then, Heyward delivered the money quote: "I understand we want to protect quarterbacks, but who's protecting us?"

The Steelers host Tom Brady and the Buccaneers this Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Brady has long been in the center of quarterbacks believed to be most protected and been the catalyst for the rule's evolution. In addition to the Jones play, a hit on Brady this past week generated plenty of angst about how the rule is officiated:

The Steelers' pass rush has struggled mightily in the absence of T.J. Watt. Even if they are able to get to Brady this week, it could still be catastrophic for the defense.

"We just try to follow the rules as they've been presented to us," Teryl Austin said Thursday. "If the calls are not what we want for following the rules, we can't coach our guys differently. We coach our guys to what the rules are then we go from there."

But, what if the rules aren't always enforced the same?

"Are you trying to get me fined?" Austin laughed. "I'm not touching that one."