The Pittsburgh Steelers are not a team that usually participates in joint training camp practices, something that has been heavily debated within the last few weeks and this season as a whole with the amount of issues coming out of them. In fact, 2016 was the last time the Steelers held a joint practice. The Detroit Lions came to practice in Latrobe that week before a preseason game, and before then was 2014 with the Buffalo Bills also coming to Latrobe.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward (#97) participates in 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers star defensive tackle, Cam Heyward has been a part of the more vocal crowd when it comes to debating joint practices on Twitter:
Joint practices are dumb
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) August 17, 2022
That is not all that Heyward has said about joint practices:
"In theory, it sounds cool to see your team compete in a practice setting, but it’s basically a two and half hour wrestling match with no rules or technique which puts everyone on edge,” Heyward said. “Guys do things they would never do in a game that could lead to injury. Players fight for their team," Heyward argued on Twitter.
There have been multiple cases of what Heyward mentioned so far this season. Just this week, the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams got together to hold joint practices, and multiple scrums and full on fights broke out. Let's not forget, these two teams quite literally just faced off in the Super Bowl last season. Wouldn't it be a little naive to think that a joint practice week would actually go well between these two teams?
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 13: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Last week, the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers held multiple joint practices before their Week 2 preseason game at Gilette Stadium, and scuffles occurred on multiple days, even injuring a fan in the process. In the new episodes of Hard Knocks on HBOMax, we have seen players and coaches getting frustrated in the Detroit Lions joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts because of fights, scuffles, trash talk and more.
With the amount of fights that are going on with all of the joint practicing the last few weeks, questions have risen whether they are even worth doing. Heyward detailed just little pieces of the many cons that come with doing these practices. Of course, there are the pros as well. Coaches like them because it allows them to evaluate players at a different level. Players like them because they not only don't have to see the same faces, but they can hit guys who aren't teammates.
Steelers Seem to Not Like Joint Practices
The Steelers, just like I mentioned above, tend to stay away from joint practices. While we may not know the real reason why, player input may be a factor, especially if it's coming from one of their cornerstone pieces in Cam Heyward. It is a real possibility that Heyward is not the only player that could think that way in the Steelers locker room.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 19: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs onto the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field on December 19, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
If I were a coach, it would not ever happen. Coaches around the league that do like joint practices continue to enable stuff like this to happen when no discipline is handed down for acting out. The NFL does not have any ruling on what happens in joint practices. Why would the LA Rams, for example, discipline Aaron Donald for his behavior when they don't have to do anything and when their coach acts so nonchalant about the situation as a whole?
What do you think, #SteelerNation? Do you like joint practices? Do you like how the Steelers do not usually hold joint practices with other teams, or would you rather take the risks and let them do it? Do you think joint practices cause more harm or more good? Let me know in the comments below or @anthonyravasio on Twitter.
