(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
A day after Ben Roethlisberger advocated for the Steelers to pay T.J. Watt "whatever he wants," Cameron Heyward did the same.
"We all feel like T.J. should be paid," Heyward said. "He's putting in the time, the work. He's a productive player. He's been out here. He doesn't miss many games. He's a game-changer.
"This guy has been a contributor for us for a long time and where he got drafted, we were very lucky. We all knew he was going to be a player here, and he's answered the call and done more."
Watt was conducting a "hold-in" throughout training camp and the preseason where he would just practice during individual drills and not in 11-on-11 sessions. Yesterday was the first time that Watt was a full participant at practice, which suggests that he'll play on Sunday against the Bills whether he receives a long-term contract extension or not.
"It's not a distraction," Heyward said about Watt's hold-in. "This is what every person has to go through in their job, it just gets more publicized here. T.J. has been a professional. He's come out to practice. He's locked in during meetings. And that's where it's at."
Watt is seeking a contract that will make him the highest paid defensive player in the league. The hold-up with the deal is the guaranteed money aspect, as the Steelers have a long-standing policy where they don't give out guarantees past the first year.
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