Cam Heyward makes Aaron Rodgers pitch clear as Steelers QB pursuit intensifies

Cam Heyward has two goals in mind as he enters Year 15 with the Steelers — even as the team has yet to solidify an answer at quarterback.During an appearance Friday on “The Rich Eisen Show,” the All-Pro defensive tackle spoke about Pittsburgh’s recent flirtation with Aaron Rodgers, who not only visited the Steelers’ facility Friday but was a topic of conversation on Heyward’s podcast earlier in the week as the free agency waiting game continues.“It’s funny.Everybody gave me crap, they said I called him out.

I don’t think I really called him out.I just said I was not going to go on a darkness retreat to recruit him, that if he wants to be a Steeler, he can be a Steeler.

That’s the pitch,” Heyward said, according to NFL.com.“I don’t know why everybody thought, ‘Oh, Cam’s really going at him.’ Some fans felt like, ‘Oh yeah, keep doing that,’ and the other fans felt like, ‘Oh, man, you’re really gonna scare him off.’ I’m not scaring anybody off.I just want to win games and play good football.”Heyward, 35, stirred buzz on Tuesday when he said he wouldn’t be game for a darkness retreat in an effort to recruit Rodgers, 41, to the Steel City.The ex-Jets quarterback, who has been candid about his unique offseason activities, is at the top of free-agent wish lists for both the Steelers and Giants.“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat.

I don’t need any of that crap,” Heyward previously said on his “Not Just Football” podcast.“Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t.

That’s simple.That’s the pitch.

If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch.Pittsburgh Steelers, if you want to be a part of it, so be it.

If you don’t, no skin off my back.”The Steelers are coming off a 10-7 campaign guided by Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.Fields, 26, opened the season at 4-2 when he filled in for an injured Wilson, who had won the starting job out of training camp.The 36-year-old Wilson to...