Cam Heyward isn't practicing because he wants a raise

And that is exactly the conundrum. A player essential to making the postseason and then is easily defensed when they get there.

 

He really doesn't have to worry
I believe he has gotten paid

 

My hunch is he plays.

 

On one hand I understand it, but it's not something the Steelers have ever done and the way it has played out (at least on media) it just seemed a very weird wat to approach it, especially saying about Aaron, either you want to be a Steeler or you don't. The same applies to you Cam, just do it or do not.

Personally I have no great feelings for the team this year, can they actually win a PO game or better, but a QB that age as only went to the PO's 4 times in NFL history, 2 actually winning a game, one winning a SB. So yes it can be done, maybe we add to that stat, but this team the D on paper is the best it has looked in years, in all departments. At this point in his career that alone should excite Cam to be part of something that may be special, but as I have no real knowledge of how he thinks, WTH do I know, lol.

 

‘it was like working from home, everyone loved it until mgmt didn’t miss them or saw their value. Now every job is mandatory in house or hybrid, watch what you wish for…..

 

I keep reading about this 'defense is the best in years' but I have to temper this by saying that it is maybe the best collection of talent. However, they defense hasn't really played together all that much and we know 'communication' was the bugaboo word last year with them. Remains to be seen whether this collection of talent is a 'team' or not.

I go back to an interview with Ryan Clark years ago who talked about the transition to PIT and learning to play along side of Troy. He said it took some time to understand how Troy played his position so that Ryan could play his position better.

I see a month of growing pains on both sides of the ball as players learn each other's tendencies and styles.

 

I agree with you but the issue is our schedule is much softer the first 5/6 games. If we have too many growing pains this will be MT first losing season. Of course I’m predicting 9-8.

 

correct - any early season hiccups will bite us in the ass at the end of the season, that last 6 weeks presents challenges.

better stack wins early!

 

correct

talent does not equal performance.

our coaching remains below par.

you can get great performance out of lesser players, see what Spagnola did in KC last year.....

 

If only the Steelers had hired Flores instead of Austin. Defense could look a whole lot different.

 

Tomlins pride wouldn’t allow that hire.

He has to be the smartest guy in the room. Which sucks for us because he thinks he is a lot smarter than he is.

 

I was listening to a recent podcast with Ray Lewis....he gives a huge credit to Marvin Lewis. Lewis as our LB coach in the mid-90s...

Just imagine if we had a position coach as consequential as Lewis again.

 

The steelers had a great coaching staff for much of the time under Bill Cowher!

He had also Bruce Arians as WR coach from 2004 to 2006!

 

I know Bill had his playoff struggles as well but maybe this is why he went deeper in the playoffs on many occasions.

 

I get the frustration of the situation, but don't understand this kind of vitriol being spewed at Heyward over it. He certainly has blame, but IMO this has been handled poorly on both sides. If we take Cam at his word (which, since it could easily be re-buffed by the team, I do) he wasn't offered any performance bonuses - "not a lot of players get those over here" - and told the FO he'd be back to discuss things if he turned in an All-Pro type of year. Who wants that hanging over things?

Heyward's is a model scenario for performance incentives, and I fault both sides for walking away from the table without them. An organization can't expect to foster a productive environment if they're not open to incentivizing contracts anymore than a player can expect to sign one only to hold out every year expecting renegotiation.

 

He did have some great ones on the coaching staff, LeBeau in particular. He almost won a SB with Neil O'Dummy.

 

Russ Grimm had similar impact.

 

The offense didn't help out that KC team any.
Do you know what our record is in the last 5 year if we just score 20 points??? Yeah they can't coach the D. LoL

 

Who cares . When the ultimate prize is SBs. They both have 2 SB appearance, and one SB win. I will never understand the fascination with a playoff win if you don't make it to the SB. I would totally get it if we weren't making the playoffs all the time. I freaking promise, but a team that just wins a playoff game doesn't make you make a SB. If there actually was a such thing as a stepping stone, I would get it, but as I have given plenty of examples, there isn't. You make the playoffs, and you either make the SB, or You don't.

 

I do not disagree, the individual talent certainly needs to gel as a team, my take was (at least on paper) the debth in nearly every position is something this team has not seen in ages. The concerns you noted are real, as well as the things 'beyond paper', on a long season will the older guys holed up, will the younger guys develop etc. As some have noted the seconed to third part of the season gets a lot harder, this is where the D in past years seems to fall apart.

 

A RAISE ???

RAISE # 7!!!!!!!

 

I’ll take that as a no

 

Players and some owners dig in after they feel it gets personal.

 

Thor, I stand by every word. The Steeler Organization signed him under good faith when he had a down year, they honored their commitment, now since he had a great year he wants to go back and hold their feet over the fire. Not to mention all the money they paid him over his career. I might understand if this was in May but 1 week before season starts, no way and being the Leader of the Team is even worse. He said he has do what’s best for his Family, how much money is enough.

 

A guy sitting out practices and games shouldn’t be a team captain.