As he enters the last year of his contract, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is making it clear that he's not happy with the fact that he hasn't received a new deal.
Heyward revealed on the Not Just Football podcast that he intends to skip the Steelers' voluntary OTAs next week for the first time in his 14-year career with the team.
"You gotta do what's right for you," he said, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. "I'm training hard. It's nothing I'm not doing on and off the field. I'm doing everything possible. We'll get there when we get there."
Heyward is set to make $16 million in 2024. If he sits out the entirety of the voluntary portion of the offseason workouts, he will miss 10 practice sessions. He will be subjected to fines if he misses Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 11-13.
In addition to being a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro, Heyward has also been a team captain for the Steelers for seven years. He was named the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his impact off the field and in the community.
The 35-year-old was limited to 11 games last season, but he's confident in his abilities to remain healthy and be productive this season. Pittsburgh would be wise to keep Heyward happy considering how respected he is in the locker room.
