Cam Heyward: Aaron Rodgers Joining Steelers Would Be 'Cool' Amid Contract Rumors

After previously declaring that he won't be recruiting star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward clarified his stance on the situation.

During an appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, Heyward admitted that he would welcome Rodgers to the Steelers if the two sides agreed to a contract this offseason.

"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. "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."

Heyward stirred up some drama last week when he said on his Not Just Football podcast that he was "tired of talking about the quarterback situation" before he gave a blunt message to Rodgers, saying, "Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t."

Rodgers visited the Steelers on Friday, though he left the building without signing a deal. ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that sources said Rodgers "met with the team's coaches in what was described as a positive visit, with the two sides agreeing to stay in touch."

Following his release from the New York Jets this offseason, Rodgers is running out of options for his next landing spot. The New York Giants solidified their quarterback room by signing backup Jameis Winston and former Steelers signal-caller Russell Wilson within less than a week of one another. The Minnesota Vikings publicly stated that they're not pursuing the 41-year-old at this time.

That leaves the Steelers as the most ideal destination for Rodgers if he hopes to return for his 21st season in the NFL. While it remains unclear when Rodgers will make a decision, Heyward said he hopes Pittsburgh figures out its quarterback situation "sooner rather than later" so the team can start to build chemistry in preparation for a playoff chase next season.

"I would just say, you know, if you come to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the goal is to win," Heyward said. "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."