Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward has voiced strong opposition to the NFL's franchise tag system, labeling it "stupid" and "backwards." Heyward, who also serves on the NFL Players Association executive committee, expressed his frustration with the system's ability to tie players to teams for an additional year without their full consent, hindering their ability to reach their market value.
"It hampers players. Why should any team be able to take advantage of a player for one year?" Heyward told reporters on Wednesday, as reported by ESPN. "It’s used in negotiations, and I think between the player options, the franchise tags, the way they control rookies, I think it’s kind of backwards."
The franchise tag, a mechanism in place since 1993, allows NFL teams to retain players with expiring contracts for one more season at a predetermined salary, preventing them from becoming unrestricted free agents. While it provides teams with additional time to negotiate long-term deals, it has frequently drawn criticism from players for its perceived unfairness.
Heyward's public comments come amidst ongoing contract extension negotiations between the Steelers and teammate Joey Porter Jr., who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Heyward acknowledged the situation, advising Porter to view it as a process and to remain prepared for the season.
"I just told him it’s a process," Heyward said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He has to understand things are done differently here. Keep your head up, stay involved and stay ready because the worst thing is to not be ready."
It remains uncertain whether Porter will participate in the Steelers' season opener against the Falcons if a new contract is not reached. When asked earlier this month about playing in the game, Porter stated, "I don’t know. I got to talk to the guys upstairs and my agents about that."
Heyward emphasized his support for players seeking to maximize their earning potential. "If a player is at the top of his position, he should be paid that way," Heyward stated. "We truly want everybody to just be able to maximize what they can do and their potential. We understand this game isn’t for long, and every player has to do that."