Astutely aware the question was coming and deftly out to defuse any appearance of a problem, Mike Tomlin was ready.
He made an attempt to turn the absence of his longtime defensive captain from the first day of organized team activities into a positive development.
“It’s probably an easier day for me with him not being here,” Tomlin said of Cameron Heyward. “I think it thins the (positional drill) lines out, and (I) get to know some (of the younger players).”
The lack of Heyward at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday was not a surprise. The veteran defensive lineman had confirmed he was skipping OTAs, saying during his video podcast “Not Just Football,” that “it’s just contract negotiations.”
A 14-year NFL veteran, Heyward turned 35 earlier this month. He is entering the final year of his contract but has expressed desire to play multiple more seasons. Heyward’s salary ($16 million cash paid) and salary-cap figure ($22.4 million) for this season are second highest on the team.
While the possibility exists the situation gets contentious, a trusted veteran merely missing voluntary OTAs is of little overall worry to the Steelers.
“I’m not overly concerned, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “Cam is a guy with over 10,000-plus career snaps.
“I know Cam very well. We’ve shared a lot of experiences over the years. He and I talk often. As a matter of fact, we talked twice yesterday. That is not an irregular thing. It’s what we always do. We talk about not only where he is and what’s going on with him, but where this team is. As a leader, he needs information in that regard.”
Heyward won the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award this past winter. A three-time first-team All-Pro, Heyward missed six games last season because of a groin injury that required surgery. Before that, Heyward had not missed a game because of injury since 2016.
Heyward spent the past two seasons as the Steelers’ oldest player. New starting quarterback Russell Wilson, though, is about five months older.
“I’ve been able to play in the league for a long time. The reality is that if anybody is prepared, Cam Heyward is prepared,” Wilson said. “He’s one of the best to ever do it at his position. Take all that experience and family dynamics and the whole process — it’s a business, everyone knows that and goes through it and it’s a process — but if anybody has been here even though he’s not physically here, he’s here in spirit with us.
“That’s what we love about him. We’re going to support him no matter what. He’s going to be ready to go. We know that about him.”
