Cam Heyward Calls Out Aaron Rodgers amid Steelers Rumors, Rips Darkness Retreat 'Crap'

If Aaron Rodgers wants to be wined and dined by the teams pursuing him in free agency, he might want to steer clear of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward.

Appearing on the Not Just Football podcast (starts at 12:00 mark), Heyward called out Rodgers for the darkness retreat "crap" and said his recruiting pitch to the four-time NFL MVP would consist of saying "either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t."

"That’s simple, that’s the pitch," he added. "If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers—if you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back."

The Steelers are one of three teams Rodgers is considering joining, along with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants.

Per The Athletic's Michael Silver, Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis, Rodgers' preference is to sign with the Vikings and he's waiting for them to decide if they want to pursue him.

The report also noted Rodgers could decide to retire if the Vikings don't want him, rather than play for the Steelers or Giants.

Pittsburgh is essentially at the mercy of Rodgers right now. Russell Wilson is a fallback option as he also remains unsigned, but he at least seems to be trying to force the Steelers to make a decision by visiting with the Giants and Cleveland Browns last week.

The Giants at least have the potential to select one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft with the No. 3 overall pick. There were also rumblings they could try to trade up for the No. 1 pick, though that is starting to look like less of a possibility.

Pittsburgh is stuck in no man's land when it comes to quarterbacks because its first pick doesn't come until No. 21 overall. Both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders—the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 class—are expected to be off the board before that pick comes up.

Rodgers is arguably the best of the available free-agent options, but there's no definite timetable for when he might make a decision. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted on Monday there's a possibility he could wait until the draft.

Rapoport pointed out two years ago Rodgers still hadn't been officially traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets until draft day, but a key difference is everyone knew he was going to the Jets because he said he intended to play for them.

This situation involves three teams waiting for Rodgers' decision, two of which don't have an obvious starter currently on their roster. The Vikings at least have the benefit of 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy on the roster.

It's hard to imagine the Steelers waiting that long to figure out the quarterback position for 2025, but they may not have a choice if he's their preferred target and still available.

Heyward's not wrong for feeling the way that he does, but history has shown teams will bend over backwards to accommodate a quarterback they think can help make them a contender.