Cam Heyward says Goodbye to Steelers as he confirms this is his last season as he is now going to….
Pittsburgh Steelers a dramatic turn in the season gave them a surprise playoff spot and a blowout to the second place Buffalo Bills.
But after a 31-17 loss at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, the team faces a host of questions.
Defensive back Cameron Heyward, who is expected to turn 35 before the 2024 season, added to those questions with an emotional postgame news conference where he left open his future in pro football.
“In my heart I want to play, but it was difficult, andquot; Heyward said. andquot;I have to take the offseason to heal again and fight my way back through my groin.
It is one thing to walk behind the groin, and another thing to play football, and there was something else.
But there was definitely another season where I just wanted to put my hand in that pile.andquot;Heyward said he was in more pain in his body than the public could know.
He injured his groin and was sidelined for six games. Heyward then had to deal with the injury and discomfort in his knee throughout the season. Preparing for each game was difficult, andquot; Heyward said.
I didn’t choose not to exercise. It was to get me into the game and I don’t like that – I don’t like playing football that way. I never want to cheat the game and I never want to think I can’t get 100%, but these are the cards I got this year.
There was a lot of it.andquot;Heyward played in the final 11 games of the season with 39 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss and a pass defended.
And while the wear and tear on his body has Heyward questioning how much longer he can last a full NFL season, he’s still chasing the kind of success that made the Steelers one of the NFL’s biggest franchises.
He knows teammates who like those kinds of wins, and that’s what keeps him coming back.That the thing that bothers me the most at night, because I have no chance of winning the Super Bowl, Heyward said.
Seeing all his teammates before that win, seeing all the culture and tradition here, every guy should feel that. It looks like I’ll miss the playoffs, he has no chance to advance and I’m not ready to give it up.
