Cameron Heyward smiled and let out a quick chuckle.
But the Pittsburgh Steelers veteran leader let it be known that the shot Warren Sapp took at him on social media this week was anything but playful banter.
Heyward said Thursday he has “no relationship” with Sapp, four days after the verified Twitter account of Sapp seemed to make light of Heyward by posting an image promoting the upcoming “Sunday Night Football” game between the Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers. The graphic used Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Heyward, and Sapp wrote, “Who’s #97?”
Heyward’s verified account replied, “Bet!”
Who’s #97? pic.twitter.com/HSzpooG27k
— Warren Sapp (@WarrenSapp) November 15, 2021
Another user (a Kansas City Chiefs fan, according to his bio), replied to Sapp, “Bro? Cameron Heyward,” to which Sapp replied, “How many Sacks he got bro?”
Another fan who answered to Sapp that No. 97 was Heyward, drew a Sapp reply of, “He ain’t that.”
In his first media availability since the exchange, Heyward on Thursday took the high road.
“I’m not going to put words in his mouth,” Heyward said. “He said what he said. I’ll be ready on Sunday.”
Heyward is the highest-graded defensive player in the NFL this season by Pro Football Focus’ subjective analysis. He has been named first- or second-team AP All Pro defensive tackle three of the past four seasons, after which all he was named to the Pro Bowl roster.
Heyward’s 62½ career sacks are the most by a defensive lineman in Steelers history and the third-most by an active player known as a defensive tackle. Heyward ranks fifth in career sacks among Steelers and third since sacks became an official league statistics in 1982.
Sapp, 48, played 13 seasons in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. The 1999 NFL defensive player of the year and six-time first- or second-team All Pro, Sapp was seven times honored as a Pro Bowler. He had 96½ career sacks.
Sapp has a history of negative comments about the Steelers. A former NFL Network analyst, Sapp early during the 2011 season said of the Steelers defense, “They’re old and slow.” The Steelers that year finished with the NFL’s No. 1 total defense.
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