Steelers DT Cam Heyward Talks Browns Showdown, NFL Rule Changes & More w/Rich

Cam Heyward came back from Paris with a win, a long week behind him and a message for Cleveland. "Those are words that were said," the Steelers defensive tackle told Rich, "and they will be addressed."

Pittsburgh is 5-2, the Browns are 5-2, and first place in the AFC North is on the line. But first, Heyward had a trip to recap.

Paris, Ireland and Why the NFL Keeps Going Abroad

"The food was amazing. The people were great," Heyward said of the week in France. He added, with a straight face, that there were some riots going on, and he did not partake. Playing in front of a crowd full of Steelers and Saints fans was "awesome," and capping it with a win made it better.

Rich asked the question plenty of fans ask: why are we sending teams abroad? Heyward admitted he asks himself the same thing all the time. "But when you look at these games, you understand the appeal of so many different countries that don't get a chance to learn our culture and know what we're about." He compared it to how big soccer is globally and said he thinks the NFL is approaching it that way. He'd love to play in Tokyo someday, or in Germany during Oktoberfest.

Rich, who covered Munich games during Oktoberfest, backed him up. He walked through a beer garden the day before a game and saw fans of all 32 teams, and they weren't Americans. The Americans he did meet were service members stationed in the Middle East who flew to Germany because it was as close as the NFL had come to them.

Heyward said Ireland last year felt like a home game because of the Rooneys, and the lesson is that a team with an international home base can really grow its crowd. In Paris, there were Steelers fans everywhere. "When I saw the Eiffel Tower in person, I was just like, man, this is an unbelievable structure," he said. "I don't think we do a good enough job of just highlighting how cool our world is."

How the Steelers Started Stacking Wins

A couple of weeks ago in this same Tuesday spot, Heyward said the Steelers needed to start stacking wins. Now they are. Rich asked what changed.

"I've been saging the locker room," Heyward joked. "No, I'm just kidding."

The real answer starts with run defense. Heyward pointed to the past few weeks against Jonathan Taylor, Bucky Irving and now Alvin Kamara. On offense, Jaylen Warren "has come to play every single week. And you get that guy in space, he is making things happen." Heyward added his weekly fantasy minute: whoever has Warren "is eating right now."

He also likes putting the ball in Aaron Rodgers' hands in good situations, with two really good tight ends in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, and a receiver room that has been dinged up but keeps getting big plays from DK Metcalf.

Rich brought up rookie Germie Bernard, who NFL Network cameras caught in a sideline confab with Rodgers and Metcalf, nodding along and giving his two cents like a veteran. Heyward had Bernard on his podcast the week before and came away impressed. "He's so mature for his age. He's not getting caught up into the limelight. He just really wants to be good at football." After his first touchdown, the first thing Bernard did was give glory to God and credit Rodgers for the play call and everybody else for blocking. "That's the type of rookie you want on your team."

Inside Aaron Rodgers' Preparation

On that same podcast, Bernard mentioned Rodgers telling teammates late in the Tampa game that he'd start calling plays at the line. Rich noted that can set off an alarm bell, but quarterbacks do that, especially one who has worked with his coach as long as Rodgers has with McCarthy.

Heyward said the alarm would only ring with a younger quarterback. "Aaron prepares as soon as that game's done on to the next game. And we feel it throughout the week. He's asking the right questions. He's always challenging players." When Rodgers is checking plays at the line, Heyward said, "you feel as comfortable as you can. You feel like he's going to lead you to the right destination just because he is prepared."

Rich pointed out that Rodgers sealed the Paris win by picking up a first down with his legs. "Every old man has his day," Heyward said, "even in Paris." Asked about a race between the two of them, Heyward said he'd love it, and they'd raise a ton for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Rich asked if people are saying Rodgers might keep playing. "People were also saying he wasn't coming back this year," Heyward said, "so I'm not going to believe those people."

Then Rich asked about the photo from the flight home. Heyward clarified first that he was holding a ginger. Mason Rudolph wanted a picture with Rodgers, and Heyward didn't notice the outfit until later. The verdict from the room was something like a mix of Kirk Cousins, Flavor Flav and Willie Nelson. Heyward's explanation: "We had way too much time on that plane."

"Bring It On" for the Browns

Rich grabbed a spoon to stir things up and played a clip of Jared Verse from the last time these teams met, when Cleveland won. "I was talking crazy to them," Verse said. "Y'all double teaming, y'all sliding, y'all garbage." He added that he has no respect for anybody who plays too dirty or does too much after the game and that he can't wait to see them again.

Heyward's response was dry. Double teams, sliding and chipping? "I'm checking the rule book real quick," he said. "Those are legal." He's been on the business end of plenty of it himself. "I got the bruises to prove it, but we don't whine about it, baby. It's part of the game."

He does respect this Browns team. They beat Pittsburgh and then Baltimore, and they found their footing in last week's win over Tennessee. "Everybody likes to talk about the Myles Garrett. That does not matter with this team," Heyward said. He praised Deshaun Watson, Harold Fannin, Quinshon Judkins and an "electric" defense.

"As they say, the AFC North is on fire, and I'm glad I'm in the kitchen 'cause I like it that way," Heyward said. Cleveland put a Steelers pelt on the wall in Week 4, Rich reminded him. Heyward's answer: "They got a W. That's a W. But that has no indication on what the next game is, and the next game is them." Quoting Mike Tomlin, he called it a five-star matchup "'cause we're in it. So bring it on."

Replay, Roughing the Passer and Life at the Bottom of a Pile

Rich asked about the Packers, now with eight roughing the passer penalties this season, including a mind-boggling one in the Lions game where Devonte Wyatt's tackle of Amon-Ra St. Brown knocked the referee down and he threw a flag from his back. Heyward has seen the finishing picture and believes replay has to be a big factor going forward. "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?"

Rich and the crew had texted about a goal-line push in Paris with Heyward at the bottom. For a defensive lineman, Heyward said, it's about turning your feet, going forward and getting lower than everyone else, while offensive linemen often jump early so defenders can't get a running start. With a loose ball, it's worse. "There are hands everywhere. And if you have that ball, you will be violated." He described it as a rugby scrum, though you don't feel the full weight because everyone is moving. He has seen quarterbacks get concussed diving for a first down that turns into "a blood bath."

Cam's Rule Change: No More Kneel Downs

Heyward brought a preference and a rule change. The preference: every international game should come with a different jersey, like the black-and-white look Pittsburgh wore in Paris. Rich figured management would hear the cash registers.

The rule change: "No more kneel downs." As a defensive lineman, Heyward wants every snap to count. "Run a play. A play is a play." Rich asked if it's a player safety thing and whether Rodgers would approve. "He's gonna kill me for it," Heyward said. Rich noted defensive linemen are already jumping the spiked-ball snap and causing scrums. Heyward's reply: "Get rid of that. Get rid of it all." Someone on set went a step further and pitched no spiking either, and Heyward was all in.

Before signing off, Heyward shared his Halloween plans. He'll be a big minion because his daughter is going as one, and he's dressing as Fred Flintstone for his podcast. "That's girl dad right there," Rich said.