Mark Madden: Cam Heyward’s hold-in proves his own words hollow

When Aaron Rodgers was pondering whether to sign with the local football team, Cam Heyward spoke thusly: “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don’t. It’s that simple.”

For Heyward, those aren’t words to live by.

A master of the training camp “hold in,” Heyward is indulging his latest version of the art in unusual fashion: A “hold in” usually takes place when a player has one year left on his contract. The player wants security by way of an extension.

But Heyward has two years left on a contract he signed just 11 months ago. If that was a bad deal, why did he agree to it?

Heyward declined comment after Thursday’s practice, but he’s likely motivated by more than 20 defensive linemen making more than him, and by DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey arriving in Pittsburgh and getting higher compensation.

But NFL contracts don’t come with autocorrect. If somebody you don’t consider to be as good (or isn’t as tenured) gets more than you, there’s no clause for immediate renegotiation.

When edge rusher Micah Parsons gets a new pact with Dallas, he’s probably going to get more money than T.J. Watt just got. Will Watt immediately stage a “hold in?”

If Heyward played poorly last season, the Steelers wouldn’t be trying to take money back. The Steelers wouldn’t cut Heyward.

Heyward was frequently injured in 2023, missing six games. The Steelers extended him anyway. Heyward doesn’t need to be grateful, but he should remember that.

Heyward has leverage, even if it’s distasteful.

The Steelers are “all in,” or so we’re told. For Heyward’s sake, ironically. Heyward was first-team All-Pro last season. The Steelers need him.

The Steelers will cave. They always do.

But they shouldn’t.

Heyward is 36, with a lot of hard miles. He’s as likely to hit a wall as be All-Pro again.

He’s made plenty: Heyward has career earnings of $131.5 million. He’s already received a roster bonus of $13.45 million for this season. He got paid already but won’t work.

If you want to adhere to sports’ growing stupidity and pay athletes for what they’ve done, not what they can still do, consider: Heyward has made first-team All-Pro four times, second-team All-Pro once and seven Pro Bowls. But he’s also 1-8 in playoff games with one sack total. The Steelers defense has allowed an average of 32.8 points in those games.

Heyward is betraying his leadership role. The Steelers dodged a bullet by getting the Watt contract done, there were zero distractions, and now Heyward pulls this out of his backside.

I liked Heyward better when he was the strong, silent type.

But then he started a podcast. That either changed him or revealed him.

The usual suspects are stumping for Heyward to “GET THE BAG!”

But he got the bag just last year.

But keep simping for Heyward. Maybe he’ll see your tweet and send you $10k if he gets a pay bump. (Probably not.)

Heyward should either be a full participant in training camp or retire.

Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don’t. It’s that simple.