Cam Heyward would welcome Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh Steelers, says initial pitch was 'misconstrued'

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward said his initial pitch to free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers was “misconstrued.” Heyward said last week on his podcast, “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don’t. It’s that simple. That’s the pitch.”

The Steelers have interest in the four-time NFL MVP, having hosted him at the team facility this past Friday. Heyward said Wednesday it would be “really cool” to have Rodgers in Pittsburgh.

“Yes, it was misconstrued. From my point of view, I was asked the question of, ‘Would you go to the lengths of going to a darkness retreat to recruit Aaron Rodgers?’ I said, ‘I’m not doing that,’ ” Heyward said on Good Morning Football, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “The pitch is: If you wanna be a Steeler, be a Steeler.

“It wasn’t meant that I don’t like Rodgers or I’m against it. I think when I look at our team right now, it would be really cool to have a guy like Aaron Rodgers, but I can’t be the guy who gets it over the finish line. I think he’s got to make those decisions for himself.”

Aaron Rodgers running out of options

Rodgers, 41, doesn’t have many options if he wants to return for a 21st season. The Minnesota Vikings have taken themselves out of the running. The New York Giants signed both Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson.

Right now, it appears it’s Steelers or bust. And for the Steelers, it feels like it’s Rodgers or bust. But a deal hasn’t yet come to fruition. Heyward hasn’t had communication with Rodgers and didn’t run into him during his visit. But if he had the chance to speak with the Super Bowl champion, the sell would be simple.

“I have not had any communication with him,” Heyward said. “I was actually with some strength coaches that day he was in the building. Think they were trying to get everybody out of the building so they could just have a conversation with him. But what I would say to him? I would just say, you know, if you come to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the goal is to win.

“You know, we haven’t had the success we want, but the goal is still in mind to raise a Lombardi and bring that seventh one to Pittsburgh. We don’t really care about the glitz and glam of New York, but the focus is on good hard football, competing every day, challenging each other, trying to go from there.”