As five-time All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward continues his holdout from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp over a contract dispute, teammates Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay have publicly called on the organization to meet his demands.
Appearing on Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast, both cornerbacks urged the team to secure their defensive leader.
“We can’t wait to be on that field with you Week 1 after everything…gets situated,” Ramsey said, adding a direct message to the front office. “Cam is next. We’ve got potential to do something great if we’ve got all our guys out there happy and feeling like they’re valued.”
Slay was more direct: “We need you out there, like, now. Tell them to stop playing right now.”
This marks the second consecutive offseason Heyward has sat out of practice during negotiations. Although he has two years remaining on his contract, a wave of high-profile signings has reset the defensive market, prompting Heyward to seek an amended deal. He is scheduled to earn $14.75 million this year and $14.5 million in 2025.
“I know what I bring to this team…on and off the field,” Heyward said recently. “So, it’s hard for me to, after the year I’ve had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”
Heyward’s stance is bolstered by a stellar performance last season, where he earned first-team All-Pro honors. He matched his personal best with 36 tackles, recorded eight sacks, and batted down a career-high 11 passes.
With the regular season less than a month away, the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year has indicated he is prepared to extend his holdout into the season if a new agreement is not reached. Last year, a similar situation was not resolved until September.
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