Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has been one of the more popular players with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past decade and a half. But it’s safe to say popular Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden isn’t a fan. At least, he isn’t anymore.
Madden significantly criticized Heyward on Wednesday even after the defensive lineman returned to practice Tuesday, which is expected to end his contract hold-in.
“Heyward wasn’t wronged even a little bit in this skirmish,” wrote Madden.
“Heyward had already received a $13.45 million roster bonus in March. He was withholding work already paid for.
“Heyward declined to bet on himself a year ago when he signed what he later deemed to be an inferior extension.
“Sure, he outperformed the contract. But NFL deals don’t come with autocorrect. (I love that line and will shoehorn it in whenever possible.)
“So, too bad for Heyward. (I’m also underpaid. I bet you feel like you are, too.)”
Heyward explained to reporters on August 11 the Steelers asked him to take a pay cut in contract negotiations during 2024. But in addition to the pay decrease, Heyward received the security of two additional years with the team.
The defensive lineman is signed through the 2026 season when he will be 37 years old. Madden mentioned it’s Steelers policy to not re-work contracts with two years remaining.
Mark Madden Names 2 Reasons Cameron Heyward Gave Up in New Contract Negotiations
The Pittsburgh sports personality argued Heyward “caved” in the contract standoff for two reasons.
“He was becoming the clear-cut bad guy in the eyes of the citizens. Heyward wants to be liked. Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, community service, blah, blah, blah,” wrote Madden.
“Heyward realized — or was strongly told — that the Steelers weren’t going to budge off their organizational policy of not renegotiating contracts that have over a year remaining. That’s a good guideline. You’d otherwise be reworking deals constantly.”
The first point is an opinion not all Steelers pundits and fans are going to hold. Heyward has been a popular figure in Pittsburgh in part because of his charity work, and no one has previously suggested the defensive lineman only performs his charity to be well-liked.
But football pundits have argued the two years remaining on Heyward’s deal was going to make renegotiation for the Steelers not possible. Even former Steelers rival and receiver Chad Johnson argued that point on his podcast.
“I’m gonna tell you how the Rooneys thinking. I’m gonna tell you what [Mike] Tomlin’s thinking,” Johnson told his co-host and former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe on August 14. “How old is Cam Heyward?
“They’re not doing it, they’re not doing it, they’re not doing it …. 36 [years old], come on now.”
When Heyward signed his contract last offseason, it was portrayed in the media as the last deal he would receive. The contract was also supposed to guarantee Heyward end his career with the Steelers.
Heyward Outplayed Worth of Contract Extension
The problem with Heyward’s extension a year later is ultimately a good one to have. The defensive lineman played so well in 2024 that he significantly outperformed the deal.
Heyward experienced arguably the best season of his career at 35 years old. He made first-team All-Pro with 71 combined tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits. Heyward also had eight sacks and a career-high 11 pass defenses.
That performance is why Heyward has argued he deserves a raise.
“I’m looking for my contract to be addressed,” Heyward said, via The Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Chris Adamaski. “When I look around, at my position, I’m like 22nd as a D-tackle, I’m 36th as a D-lineman. I know what I bring to this team and what I’m capable of on and off the field.”
The extension Heyward signed last year gave him an average annual salary of $14.5 million. According to Spotrac, that’s tied for 35th among all defensive linemen.
Obviously, Heyward is badly underpaid.
But that’s a moot point to the Steelers since there’s still two years remaining on the deal. As Madden mentioned, the team has also already paid Heyward a majority of his average annual salary with his roster bonus that was due in March.
Heyward practiced with the team for the first time Tuesday. The defensive lineman won’t play in the team’s preseason finale Thursday.
But that’s not all that surprising. Other Steelers stars such as T.J. Watt, DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers won’t play Thursday either.
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