The late spring and early summer of 2024 has featured a more aggressive Pittsburgh Steelers team making moves to build a competitive new roster ahead of training camp. There has also been a bit of a dance between the organization and longtime defensive captain Cameron Heyward over his contract. While there are some who think it may be time for the parties to part ways, this isn’t unfamiliar ground for anyone involved in this type of deal. In fact, it’s been merely four years ago that the Steelers and Heyward were in a very similar situation.

Hype or hidden meaning?

The Steelers posted the following message on X (formerly Twitter) that got fans and NFL insiders talking. Did it mean the team was going to make a big announcement? Was it related to Heyward, 35, who’s been allegedly waiting for the Steelers to make an offer to keep him in Pittsburgh? Was the team hinting they were moving on from Heyward?

Brewin' up something good ♨️ pic.twitter.com/WE4diqdhz8

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 28, 2024

Admittedly, I personally found the energy this particular post created as purely speculative in what it’s intended message was. It could mean nothing more than the public relations department was hyping fans up for training camp with a spectacularly shot photograph (kudos to the team photographers!) It’s not even a photo of Cam, so I was not buying into it having anything to do with his contract or negotiations.

In fact, there’s been no hard confirmation that there is an ongoing prolonged negotiation underway. Both Heyward and the Steelers have been relatively private about it.

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Is it time for Heyward to fold or walk away?

Those who’ve made contract talks between Heyward and the Steelers a major point of concern – like a multi-million dollar poker game in an old Western or in a modern online casino site listed by casinoalpha, or lyrics from Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” – point out that the defensive end has to know when to hold, when to fold, and when to walk away.

They heavily focus on his age and that Heyward is coming off of a 2023 season that involved injury and a drop-off in performance.

I’d argue that Heyward came off of the groin injury that required surgery and gave the Steelers what they needed in leadership and a much-improved run defense. His individual stats did drop, but pro football is still a team sport the last time I looked.

They also infer that the mid-thirties is the age that would-be suitors around the league become more concerned about mitigating circumstances, like injury potentials. Suggestions continue that, by sticking with negotiations in Pittsburgh, Heyward maybe hurting his brand as an individual and presenting himself as a risky investment.

I realize that the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner receives the honor for their off-field community service, but it does take into account their excellence in the game, too. And what the Steelers organization shared in an article, in January, certainly gave no indication that they see Heyward as a dull penny.

On familiar ground

In September 2020, the Steelers and Heyward made a new agreement that seems to point at a similar situation happening later this summer.

As part of his four-year extension (or five-year new contract), the #Steelers are giving Cam Heyward a $17.5M signing bonus. Within the first four months, he gets his signing bonus, $2.75M in a roster bonus, and $1.5M base salary — $21.75M in all. https://t.co/aqX0cBtVWo

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2020

The amount of money, guaranteed or not, may not be the same. That will be something only the parties involved can decide. The opinions of fans and NFL analysts will have zero part to play in determining factors and amounts.

Heyward’s situation is also not unique, and honestly should not create a sense of panic.

Hines Ward held out in 2005, missing the first two weeks of training camp, only to join the team for the first preseason game and ink a new deal on September 5th.

In 2031, T.J. Watt entered the fifth-year option period of his rookie contract and attended camp (avoiding NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement penalties for missing training camp). He did not participate in team drills, though, opting to warm up with teammates and then do his own practice routine before he signed a new deal on September 9th.

Minkah Fitzpatrick similarly remained on the sidelines during mandatory minicamp in 2022. By June 16, the Steelers had worked out a four-year deal.

The common denominator in all these cases is that there is precedent in when the Steelers organization typically get down to serious business on new or extended contract deals: summertime. Granted, some readers may not feel September is “summer,” but we can all agree it’s not in the period of an NFL year that makes or breaks a season.

I find it highly unlikely that Heyward desires to fold or walk away from Pittsburgh or the Steelers. Likewise, I see nothing but respect for Cam from the Steelers organization.

I’m excited to potentially see Heyward back in black and gold making plays like this …

I temper my expectations a bit due to the number of years Heyward has played, but I think he’s got gas left in his tank. Plenty, in fact, for the Steelers to want him around in at least the next two years.