Cameron Heyward disputed a report regarding his handling of offseason plans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers star confirmed on his podcast last week that he won’t participate in offseason team activities amid a contract year. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Gerry Dulac later wrote that Heyward never told the team before sharing his decision on Not Just Football.
Heyward denied Dulac’s claim when responding to a social media post about the story from Steelers Depot on Tuesday morning.
“That is a bold face lie,” Heyward wrote, tagging Dulac’s X handle. “Just cuz I don’t answer your text doesn’t mean I don’t communicate with the team. You will not slander my name.”
Heyward, who’s entering the final season of a four-year deal, said he’ll continue to train away from the team while skipping voluntary OTAs, which start on Tuesday.
“First of all, it’s voluntary. Let’s get that straight,” Heyward said. “I’m working out, I’m doing everything but [OTAs]. I have always attended these, but at this time, it’s just contract negotiations. I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, but we’ll see what happens.”
Dulac wrote that there’s been “no serious discussion” of an extension for Heyward, who turned 35 earlier this month. The six-time Pro Bowler and 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year recorded 33 tackles and his fewest sacks (two) since 2012 last season.
Heyward missed six games after tearing his groin completely off the bone. It was just the second time in his 13-year career that the defensive tackle played fewer than 15 games in a regular season.