Steelers' Walter Payton Man Of The Year Cam Heyward Happy To Give Back
By Christina Rivers
In a week that has been a mixed-bag of discussion about the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks as well as how the Steelers will move forward in preparing for the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field in week 13, there has been some positive buzz. Concerns over the status of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had to leave the game in Seattle due to a head injury, and the announcement that Cam Heyward was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year award by the Steelers dominated social media.
What Roethlisberger had to say on Wednesday
The veteran quarterback met briefly with members of the media after taking the necessary concussion protocol test on Wednesday morning. "I don't know the results of the test," Roethlisberger said. "But I was told I could practice. Until Coach Tomlin announces something different, I am preparing to practice." And practice he did. Roethlisberger is preparing as if he will be the starter on Sunday against the Colts.
Roethlisberger's self-reporting of the injury has garnered attention. Not all professional athletes are willing to admit they aren't physically capable of continuing, especially in a big game. "As a competitor it's hard not to want to be out there. Like I said, I was literally standing there for the first time thinking that it's bigger than just me," Roethlisberger said. "It's about my family, my wife and my kids. It still would have been hard, but I still told the doctors what had happened." Roethlisberger added that he feels blessed to be able to be an example to other athletes when it comes to handling concussions appropriately. "That's the one part of your body you shouldn't mess with. You really shouldn't."
Roethlisberger was open about how he would not have self-reported when he was in the beginning of his professional football career. "We need to be smarter as football players. It's hard because people ask me how long I want to play," Roethlisberger explained. "And I say I don't want to think about the end because I am cheating the right here and now...You don't want to think about after football with your head, but you have to. You have to think about the type of man, husband and father you want to be when you are done playing, because this is such a short part of our lives." He added that he felt that players having each others' backs and interests was a huge part of the game and playing smart.
The son of 'Ironhead' becomes a Steel hero
Cam Heyward never saw Walter Payton play a down of football. In fact, Payton retired two years before Heyward was born. His father, the legendary running back Craig 'Ironhead' Heyward, did not enter the league until a year after Payton played in his last NFL game. Payton was a man Craig Heyward felt meant a lot to the game and introduced those ideas to his son. "To even be mentioned with a name like Walter Payton is an awesome thing," Heyward said when he was told that he was being named the Steelers Walter Payton Man of the Year and that he could be voted to be the NFL's winner as well. "He was one of my dad's heroes and he is one of mine. He was a great person off the field as well."
The yearly award recognizes players that participate in off-field community services and playing excellence. In his third year with the Steelers, Heyward has spent that time as the franchise's representative for the United Way following in the footsteps of Steelers like Franco Harris and team found Art 'The Chief' Rooney, Sr. Heyward has spoken to local businesses and organizations and attended events that focus on helping the Pittsburgh community, from young children to the elderly.
"(Payton) was a humanitarian," Heyward said, expressing his desire to emulate the man and get involved in similar endeavors. "It's so important to be involved. There are so many people who helped me get where I am today. I am very blessed and in a humbling position. I want to have a chance to give back to my community."
"With great success comes a lot of responsibility," said Heyward, a phrase that sound similar to something from a Superman movie. "That is something you have to cherish. Not everybody is as privileged as us today. You should always have a chance to give back because you can affect people's lives in ways not a lot of people can."
Christina Rivers has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers and National Football League professionally as a journalist and photographer for over a decade. Rivers studied Exercise Physiology and Sports Psychology at Brigham Young University as a student-athlete. Christina is a freelance writer covering all things NFL as well as a published author. Her work can be found on
Examiner.com.
