Cam Heyward had been penalized for unnecessary roughness just two times in his career prior to last Sunday's 41-37 loss to the Chargers.
Yet because of one moment, he's now being painted as a dirty player for what happened at the end of a 36-yard scramble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in that game.
Heyward chased Herbert down from behind, landing on the back of the quarterback, something that is perfectly legal since Herbert was a runner. But several Chargers players come in and begin pulling at Heyward, whose hand was trapped underneath Herbert.
Heyward reacts by pushing their hands off of him. And as he tries to get up, he falls back down with his hand landing in Herbert's midsection.
wth is this pic.twitter.com/rKkbkIHRbQ
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 22, 2021
It looks like a punch. In slow-motion, it really looks like a punch. Heyward, as he did after the game, insists it was not.
"I’m never going to try to be a dirty player. I never want anybody to think I am," the four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and three-time All-Pro said. "I was tired running down there in the first place. I was more ticked off when I got pulled up. I was trying to catch my breath for a second. In slow-motion, it looks way worse. I honestly was just trying to catch my fall. That’s it."
While he was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play -- the third time in his career he's drawn that penalty -- he was not ejected. He also will not be suspended by the NFL for the action.
According to NFL vice president of officiating Walt Anderson, the play was immediately reviewed in New York.
"We looked at it here in New York and just did not feel that the action rose to the level of a disqualification and further action by us."
That has not made plenty of Chargers fans happy, with even some Steelers fans chiming in that they felt the play was "dirty."
"I never want to be looked at as a dirty player, but I can’t change anyone’s opinion," Heyward said. "I’m going to go out there and play the best for my team and stay focused on the task at hand."
Heyward said following the game he hadn't had a chance to talk to Herbert about what happened. But he did reach out to the Chargers quarterback on Instagram.
"I haven’t heard back. But they’re more worried about other things," Heyward said. "He’s a heck of a player. I have a lot of respect for him. If I do get a chance to reach out in person at some time, I will."
As for hearing from the NFL regarding the issue, Heyward has yet to hear anything in terms of a fine. The league already announced he will not be suspended.
Fines are typically announced on Saturday. The Steelers (5-4-1) play the Bengals (6-4) Sunday in Cincinnati.
Heyward, the team's defensive captain, has 49 tackles, 4.5 sacks and leads all NFL defensive linemen with seven pass defenses.
Does he expect a fine?
"Hopefully not, but you never know," Heyward said.
