Cameron Heyward says Ben Roethlisberger’s feedback about present NFL gamers ‘rub me the improper means’

Pittsburgh Steelers captain Cameron Heyward took exception to Ben Roethlisberger’s latest assertion that too many present NFL gamers have “a me-type perspective,” saying his former teammate’s feedback “rub me the improper means.”

Roethlisberger, in a wide-ranging interview printed Friday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, stated “the sport has modified” and “individuals have modified” when addressing variations he observed between his early years and later years with the Steelers.

“The crew was so vital,” Roethlisberger stated, referring to his first few seasons with Pittsburgh. “It was all in regards to the crew. Now, it is about me and this, that and the opposite.

“I is perhaps standing on a soapbox a bit bit, however that is my largest takeaway from once I began to the top. It turned from a team-first to a me-type perspective. It was exhausting. It is exhausting for these younger guys, too. Social media. They’re handled so properly in school. Now, this new NIL stuff, which is unbelievable. They’re handled so particular. They’re coddled at a younger age as a result of school coaches want them to win, too. I do know coach [Terry] Hoeppner by no means coddled me. Neither did [Bill] Cowher.”

Heyward was Roethlisberger’s teammate from 2011 till final season, when the long run Corridor of Fame quarterback retired. In the latest version of his podcast, Heyward stated he disagreed with Roethlisberger’s commentary, saying it made him “a bit bit upset.”

“It seems to be as if we’re checked out as egocentric gamers, and I do not assume that is the purpose,” the veteran defensive lineman stated on the “Not Simply Soccer with Cam Heyward” podcast. “We’ve got a whole lot of younger gamers that come from completely different backgrounds, have skilled various things from what others or I’ll have skilled. That does not make them egocentric or extra of a me-type perspective. … There are much more team-first guys than me-type perspective. I took offense to that.”

Heyward, 33, cited a number of present and former Steelers — together with Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyson Alualu and Brett Keisel — who made a optimistic impression on the locker room and group, referring to them as “team-first guys” regardless of criticism over their personalities.

A crew captain since 2015, Heyward additionally stated “it is as much as the management, myself included” to assist acclimate younger gamers to the NFL and the tradition of the Steelers, who gained two Tremendous Bowls with Roethlisberger.

“I am accountable for these guys,” Heyward stated. “Clearly we’ve not had a Tremendous Bowl in a very long time, and possibly that is the place Ben is like, ‘Man, if these guys would have grown up.’ But it surely’s as much as the older guys to step up and maintain guys accountable. … It is as much as a vet to place you below your wing and pull you throughout and say, ‘Hey, that is what it is prefer to be Pittsburgh Steeler.’ And that is what I am making an attempt to do.

“Possibly Ben did not see it that means, however man, I’ll shield my guys. You simply cannot say it is a ‘me-type of perspective’ now. Everybody’s out to be a Tremendous Bowl winner, generate profits, at some point be an MVP. However when all of it comes collectively, we care about one factor, this emblem proper right here. … I’ve at all times tried to increase that to my youthful teammates. I believe Ben was a bit out on that one.”

Roethlisberger, 40, performed his total 18-year profession because the Steelers’ beginning quarterback earlier than retiring this previous January. He was a six-time Professional Bowler, completed his profession with the fifth-most passing yards (64,088) in NFL historical past and led the Steelers to Tremendous Bowl championships after the 2005 and 2008 seasons.

Heyward emphasised that he wasn’t “throwing shade” at Roethlisberger, saying he was “explaining my facet.”

“Do not say Cam is looking out Ben — it is not like that,” Heyward stated. “However I’ll say, I will shield my crew. I’ll ensure that all people is aware of that we care solely about soccer on the sector and fewer about off the sector. We are able to all perceive Ben has been a heck of a QB. You do not do that recreation and develop into a Corridor of Fame quarterback and do it at a low degree.

“Ben has taken some hits not a whole lot of different groups may do. He saved us, he gained video games we weren’t speculated to win, and he is at all times stepped up. But it surely was the crew round him that helped him do it, and I do not need anybody to ever overlook that the entire crew gained — not simply Ben.”