Steelers DT Cam Heyward on “Silly” Penalties, NFL Piles & Banning Kneel Downs

Cam Heyward wants every snap to be a real football play. Even the last one.

The Steelers defensive tackle closed his weekly visit with Rich by proposing a rule change that would end the kneel down entirely. But first, Rich had some questions about flags, piles and what it is actually like at the bottom of a goal-line scrum.

Rich started with the Lions and Packers. Green Bay now has eight roughing the passer penalties this year, he said, including a couple of flags on Sunday that were "just mind-boggling." One came after Amon-Ra St. Brown got up and Devonte Wyatt tackled him, knocking the referee over. The official threw a flag from his back, even though there had been no whistle. Heyward said he had only seen "the finishing picture," with the official on the ground throwing the flag.

Asked where he stands, Heyward pointed to replay. "I think replay does have to be a big factor going forward in some of these calls," he said. New York can be an advantage at certain times, he added, "but if we're not going to make sure that our game is played the right way, our game is not held up by silly penalties, then what are we doing?"

Next, Rich brought up the Steelers' game in Paris, where Heyward ended up at the bottom of a tush push on the goal line. Rich wanted to know what that is like. Someone in the studio sharpened the question: with a fumble or without?

Heyward took both. On the push itself, it's about technique for a defensive lineman: turning your feet, going forward instead of backward, staying low. He said offensive linemen are often jumping before the snap because they don't want to face a defensive lineman with a running start.

When the ball comes loose, it's another world. "When the ball's on the ground, there are hands everywhere," Heyward said. "And if you have that ball, you will be violated. It is not a good feeling." He said a couple of players have told him, "I didn't know whose hand that was, but I felt uncomfortable." There is a rule against picking guys up off the pile, yet guys do it all the time. "It's a rugby scrum," he said, "and it gets very, very chaotic."

Rich figured it must feel like a ton of weight on top of you. Not really, Heyward said, because everybody is moving and nobody is just falling straight down on you. "But it is wild." He has seen quarterbacks get concussed thinking they were just diving for a first down or a touchdown, only for it to turn "into a bloodbath."

Then it was time for Heyward's weekly rule change, and he came with a preference too. The preference: every international game should feature different jerseys. The Steelers got to wear their black jerseys with white tops, and Heyward thinks every team should provide some international flair for its fans. Rich asked if that meant a kilt in Scotland. Heyward just wants an alternate jersey, something a little different. Rich suspected management would hear the cash registers.

The rule change was bolder. "No more kneel downs," Heyward said. "Get them out of the game. It's not a football play."

Rich was stunned and asked whether kneel downs are about player safety, one less collision. Heyward didn't budge: "Run a play." Rich asked whether he had run this by Rodgers. "He's going to kill me for it," Heyward admitted, to laughter in the studio.

He knows where he's coming from. "You're asking a defensive lineman," Heyward said. "A play is a play. It's always got to count."

Rich noted that defensive players are already jumping the snap on spikes to try to catch the ball, creating pushing and shoving the league may want to address. Heyward's answer: "Get rid of it all." The studio took it one step further with no spiking, either, and Heyward was on board. It was, Rich said, always food for thought at the end of a Cam Heyward chat.