Even for a player who has been and wants to be a Steeler for life, the NFL is still a business and is treated as such.
Cam Heyward knows he has value. Even at age 35 and coming off of an early-season groin surgery and subsequent offseason procedure on his other groin, Heyward is seeking a contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through the end of his career. He made his return to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Tuesday for the start of the Steelers' third week of OTAs after skipping the first two weeks of the voluntary sessions.
He clarified after Tuesday's practice that his presence is not indicative of the progress on the ongoing talks about his extension. Rather, it is more about fulfilling his obligation as a team leader right before the mandatory minicamp begins next week.
"You always have to treat it like a business because one day it's going to end," Heyward said. "That's with any job. It's not like in college where you get four years guaranteed ... but I still have love for this game and I still work my tail off and I still put everything to it and that's not going to change, but you have to know what you bring to the team and know what your value is."
Heyward is scheduled to account for a $22.4 million cap hit this season before hitting free agency in 2025. He is in the final year of his four-year, $65.6-million extension signed in September of 2020. He missed six full games with a groin injury and subsequent surgery in the Steelers' Week 1 game against the 49ers and played, basically, on one leg for the rest of the season.
He said the injury and surgery in-season were to his groin on his right side, and the surgery in the offseason was to his left groin to help tighten a muscle. Every week last season was a "game-time decision" for him, he claimed. He said the groin feels "great" and that he's able to do everything he wants with no limitations, and he has most of his strength back but wants to improve his cardio and conditioning. He trained this offseason with former Steeler Tyson Alualu, as he has in the past.
With his contract status, Heyward reinforced he has been in communication with the Steelers but there's "really nothing to report on right now." He said he plans to be at the team's mandatory minicamp next week and at the Steelers' training camp when it opens in Latrobe, Pa.
"I'm not looking to be like anybody else," Heyward said. "My game is different from everybody else in this league. I like to think I can play in the run and the pass and that's why I'm different. I remember last year Mike (Tomlin) brought to my attention the thing that's really cool is you watch power lifters and my game's built off power and technique and those guys go into their 40s. That's the kind of research I'm doing behind the scenes. We'll see what happens. There's not a lot of history (of players 35 and older getting paid lucratively) but I'm here to make history and I'm here to win another Super Bowl here and have a great season."
Heyward reinforced he wants to be "one of those one-helmet guys" through his career, but he maintained he feels he has three years left. He wants to finish those three years in Pittsburgh at a value he feels he should be paid.
"I'm looking to be here," Heyward said. "The value is what we decide but I think, for me, I bring value at my position. I understand I came off of a rough season but I don't think that's a step down of where I can play. I think I'm at the top of my game, I'm still a top-five player at my position. I play in the run in the pass and I bring leadership."
