Is Cam next?

Khan and Weidl aren’t messing around and they’re well on their way to clearing cap space ahead of free agency. Will addressing Cam’s contract be next? I don’t think Cam is in any danger of being cut (unless he uncharacteristically plays hardball) but there will need to be a significant restructuring of his contract in order for him to remain on the roster. Father Time is breathing down his neck and he is coming off a significant injury which required surgery. He was basically a non-factor in most games this past season.

Could Cam be the surprise move of the off-season? Could he, dare I say, actually be cut if they’re unable to agree to the terms of the restructure?

EDIT: I found this article after I posted this. It doesn’t appear that Cam will be in any mood to come back at a bargain basement price. This could get interesting.

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/02/y...hy-cam-heyward-looks-to-prove-doubters-wrong/

 

He needs to do the right thing if he is willing to give the team a chance to smell a championship.
Too much money for what he has provided recently.
Legacy

 

When it comes to stars, ARII will step in and not allow it.

 

ARII will not want him to leave the Steelers

His agent will not want him cut

The art of negotiation

But if Heyward thinks he has the upper hand he is badly mistaken

 

The easiest thing to do would be to extend him with void years. The only negotiation would be with whether he thinks he'll be playing past 2024. If he thinks he will, they include a base salary for 2025 (it gets comped back to them if he ends up retiring after 2024 anyway). If not, it looks something like this:

Current
2024: $16M (base) + $6.4M (prorated bonus) = $22.4M

Extension - convert $12M in base to signing bonus, add three void years
2024: $4M (base) + $9.4M (prorated) = $13.4M
2025: Void (base) + $3M (prorated) = $9M
2026: Void (base) + $3M (prorated)
2027: Void (base) + $3M (prorated)

Cam loses no money in this move and the team frees $9M in cap space for 2024, pushing it to 2025. (Or they declare Cam's retirement post-June 1 and split it to $4.5M each in 2025 and '26, similar to what they did with Ben.)

 

I don't know if I am reading the Date correct; Is this the date he posted this to his twitter account. Feb 23, 2024

Cam's I am not taking a paycut talk came from a statement a while back, but this statement is from yesterday.

 

Why does Cam deserve $22 million for this year? Ben took an actual $5 million paycut his final year he was here.

Cam should be looking at a paycut, not just a salary cap savings for 1 year that is going to come back to hit the Cap next year.

 

Cam is making to much for being injury riddled.

I know he said he can prove us wrong and how dare we think that. But all we have is that of the history and know what is generally like for player who are injury riddled.

If he wants to prove us wrong, do a team friendly contract with high incentives of doing x.

 

Who is he talking to/about

 

I like doing X

 

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=7888...jZS5jb20vcGxheWVycy9IL0hleXdDYTAxLmh0bQ&ntb=1

this sure doesn't scream injury history or washed up. he was injured last season it happens. for God's sake people.

 

Washed

 

wrung out

 

Cameron Heyward has 14 solo tackles, 5 assists and 1.0 sack in 8 games in the playoffs in his career.

 

this.

 

I think his salary is 16 million, but his cap hit is 22 million, maybe they do an extension with voidable years.

 

Why should he take a pay cut? Just because some fans want him to do it?

If the team wants him to restructure his deal or replace it, they are going to have to be ready to cut him if he won't. That is a business decision, but Heyward has no moral obligation to take less money just because he is getting old and he is coming off a season ruined by injury.

 

Not able to play 6 games last year. That doesn't scream injury to you?

Furthermore, he was taken out of other games.

Furthermore, some times he was even taken out of first and second downs. Just so he could do a third down.

Furthermore, some times he was removed for almost an entire drive until the end at goal on 3rd down.


Yeah, that screams injury riddled and old.


Edit:
It was not until week 10 that he had more snaps than Benton.
The Jedi was played more a lot of times (even when cam had games to play)
He had 38% less snaps compared to the previous year.
He had 50% less snaps compared to 2021








2022 season results




2021 results

 

That was all one injury. He wasn't healthy at all in 2023, not even in training camp. They tried to manage the groin injury, but he tore it worse in the opener. He wasn't 100 percent at any point after he returned.

 

You do Twitter

 

I think this accurately describes both sides. When Hines and Troy were 'excused for service' by the team there was evidence of decline, here the decision is not so much that, but the business of football. One issue is the recent draft choices for the D line have not elevated their play to show they can be starters, the depth is low and the position is coveted. Here the team needs to make the decision, pay the current CAP hit, try and extend the contract to add voidable years, or cut. Cam can agree or disagree with anything proposed, he is under no obligation, it is whatever he feels is in his best interest. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

I would suggest leave Cam alone and let him play out his contract in peace. He's earned it. He's 35 and probably retires after this one anyway.

If restructures are needed you can always go to the bank of Watt or Fitzpatrick. Restructuring those contracts makes more sense over time. Those guys carry just as big a cap hit as Cam yet are 7-8 years younger.

 

this could work. something to reduce his HIT this year. platoon him, maybe get another 2 years out of him....

 

no one 'earns' anything. You play and get paid. if you can't play, you don't get paid.

that is life in the big city.