Heyward won’t win his game of ‘chicken’ with the Steelers

Now that, hopefully, the rain is behind us and a week of sunny days is ahead, here’s some food for thought:

• I am surprised that given his standing on the team and in the community that Cam Heyward has taken such a hard-nose stance with his demand for a new deal with the Steelers.

He has one year remaining on his deal that will pay him $16 million this season. The Steelers, unlike they have done with past aging stars (Jerome Bettis comes to mind immediately), have not tried to extend the deal and seek a lower salary. They are willing to give the veteran leader all the money he has coming to him in the last year of his deal.

The problem is, at age 35, Heyward wants to keep playing. And while he seeks a deal for another two or three seasons, he isn’t considering lesser pay.

Shame on him. This is a game of chicken he is playing with the Steelers that he can’t win.

Just ask Franco Harris, Rod Woodson, Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu and other stars who reached the end of their careers and wanted to keep playing.

The Steelers love their long-time players, but won’t overspend for less performance.

If Heyward stands firm he will undoubtedly tarnish a golden image he took years to build with the franchise and its fans.

Just play it out. If you have a decent year and want to play again in 2025, the Steelers will offer you a deal. But don’t expect a raise.

• I’m not going to complain long and hard about how the Pirates game ended with the Cubs Saturday because the Pirates have done so many things wrong, both on the field and in the front office. I don’t think they deserve many breaks.

But calling Cody Bellinger safe at the plate was wrong.

Bucs catcher Joey Bart clearly tagged him out and then turned to show the umpire he had the ball and Bellinger knocked it out.

Runners are allowed to knock the ball out of the hand or glove as the play is happening. Not after being tagged.

Just imagine if runners had the option of knocking the ball out of the first baseman’s hand AFTER they were out at first and were running by.

• Add Pirates: Speaking of bad moves by the club, with the emergence of Bailey Falter (yeah, I said it) as a solid starting pitcher, the Bucs now have four starters along with Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and Mitch Keller who can handle any batting order.

I’ve heard so many analysts and fans say how hard the Pirates will be to beat in the future with those guys in the rotation.

Huh? Have you seen this team play THIS season?

They have pitchers now and still lose because of an anemic offense that has been given no help from GM Ben Cherington via cheapskate owner Bob Nutting.

How many times can a pitcher give up less than two runs in a game and watch as hitters with averages like .191, .185 and .160 go to the plate time and again and expect to win?

• Why is Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton considered it comes to working with quarterbacks? He had Drew Brees his entire HOF career and generated one Super Bowl.

He had Russell Wilson less than one season and not only did he sabotage the veteran quarterback, but he jettisoned him from the team before the season even ended.

The way I see it, Payton’s next great development of a quarterback will be his first.

• If you are as completely tired of how big a role metrics and analytics play in pro sports as I am, raise your hand.

Bet there are a lot of hands up. Who cares about launch angle, how hard a ground ball comes off of a bat, what the “book” says is the right field position and distance to determine going for it on fourth down?

Just play.

• Whatever happened to Sammy Vasquez?

• I am surprised how many people just found out during the NFL Draft that Bill Belichick actually has a personality?

Didn’t anyone else see him on one of the shows he did with Peyton Manning a while back on ESPN? The guy was really funny and open, nothing at all like his dealings with the NFL media during his career.

• At some point this season, I think the Steelers will regret not signing Tyler Boyd. It was one of those things that just made so much sense on so many levels that it just didn’t happen.

• When Rowdy Tellez grounded into his second double play of the game Sunday in the sixth inning, the Pirates should have DFA’d him right then and there.

And it still would have been three weeks too late.

What a bum.

Anyone with any thoughts, opposing views or comments on this column can reach Jeff Oliver by emailing justjto@verizon.net.