Steelers sign 1st-round pick Cam Heyward
LATROBE 鈥� Cameron Heyward apologized for being late to Steelers training camp when he signed his first contract Friday.
Hard to imagine anyone will hold a grudge.
Heyward signed the four-year contract, but did not participate in the thunderstorm-abbreviated afternoon practice. It lasted about an hour before lightning sent one and all for cover and nobody wore pads, anyway.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL,鈥� said Heyward, who is a taller, leaner version of his father, former Pitt running back Craig 鈥淚ronhead鈥� Heyward. 鈥淪orry I鈥檓 late, but I鈥檒l hit the playbook tonight and stay in it.鈥�
Heyward said he feels fortunate to practice with what he called 鈥渢he best D-line in the NFL. I get to learn from these guys and it鈥檚 truly an honor to be coached by (Steelers assistant head coach) John Mitchell. I haven鈥檛 put on a helmet since Jan. 4 and I can鈥檛 wait to put one on here.鈥�
Heyward鈥檚 signing leaves the Steelers one draft pick (third-rounder Curtis Brown) shy of a full set. The length of his contract is dictated by the new CBA. The Steelers have an option for a fifth year that, if exercised, would pay Heyward the average of the top 10 defensive ends in the league.
Even in the best of circumstances, it is difficult for rookies to digest and understand the Steelers complex defensive schemes quickly, but Heyward will be asked to do so without the benefit of mini-camps or OTAs.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 really downplay it,鈥� Heyward said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a hard challenge. But I don鈥檛 have time to sulk or complain about it. I鈥檝e got to get in the weight room, get in the film room and get to work. I鈥檝e got a lot to learn.鈥�
HARRISON APOLOGIZES: Linebacker James Harrison verbally apologized to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for comments he made in Men鈥檚 Journal magazine. In the article, Harrison called Goodell several derogatory names and included a gay slur. He had issued an apology on twitter to the gay community.
鈥淭he interview that I did and the comments that I made about Roger Goodell were inappropriate, at the least,鈥� Harrison said. 鈥淭hey were way out of line. I was speaking out of anger and frustration at the time. Any comments that I made that offended anyone, I apologize.鈥�
PRACTICE NOTES: For what it鈥檚 worth (not much), rookie Aaron Bates boomed some high, deep punts during special teams work Friday afternoon. 鈥� The starting offensive tackles in Friday鈥檚 first team drill were Chris Scott and Kyle Jolly. 鈥� The heat index measured 92 before the storm hit.
HALF STAFF FOR SAMBI: The American flag on the practice field at Saint Vincent College flew at half staff Friday in honor of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who died of cancer Thursday. Sambi was Pope Benedict鈥檚 ambassador to the United States.