The sudden midnight trade of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sent shockwaves through Steelers Nation. Beyond losing a talent, the Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with a legacy player whose father is enshrined in the franchise's Hall of Honor.
As videos surfaced online of frustrated fans burning Porter's jersey, Steelers veteran Cameron Heyward addressed the situation, taking a strong stance against the fan backlash while highlighting the business reality of NFL contracts.
Speaking on his podcast, “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” the defensive tackle expressed understanding for the emotional weight of contract disputes, acknowledging the locker room’s desire for a resolution.
"It was a situation that all the players just wanted it to be done with,"
Heyward admitted. "We all wanted this to work out in Pittsburgh. I don't think there's anybody in our locker room that said Joey shouldn't be paid, but we don't make those decisions as players."
While fans reacted with outrage over Porter's exit, Heyward firmly rejected the destructive responses seen across social media. Pointing out the disconnect between fans' emotions and players' sacrifices, the veteran defensive tackle called out those burning jerseys.
"Like, grow up. This is just a waste of money," Heyward stated candidly. "Give the jersey away. There's kids that don't have jerseys. Sometimes fans take it way too seriously. You're burning stuff, that's not sending a good message."
For Heyward, trade dynamics can never dismantle the genuine bond shared between teammates who go to battle together. He emphasized that business decisions do not alter a player's history or sacrifice for the black and gold.
"The brotherhood is always having your players' back and always being a Steeler, because you knew that you were willing to sacrifice for your team," Heyward explained. "You'll never hear me ever question a player on that."
While the loss of Porter has created frustrations with the fanbase, it has also left the Steelers' secondary exposed. The Cleveland Browns took advantage of that weakness in Week 4. Now it will be up to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to fix the holes before they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Cam Heyward calls out Steelers fans burning Joey Porter jerseys
