If the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t flip within the card with Ohio State DL Cameron Heyward’s identify on it, the New England Patriots would have as an alternative. Interviewed on The CW’s Contained in the NFL in an episode that aired Wednesday, Invoice Belichick revealed Heyward was on the Patriots’ radar.
“Hey Cam, I believe again to 2011,” Belichick advised Heyward. “Man, we virtually had you. We had the primary decide within the second spherical and also you went 31 and we couldn’t commerce as much as get you.”
Belichick smiled in making the remark and it’s onerous to inform if he was totally honest. Referencing being unable to commerce up hints that he was making a critical play to take Heyward. Blogs and retailers on the time speculated concerning the thought, although I can’t discover any indication he was introduced in for a pre-draft go to. This record from Professional Soccer Discuss solely notes the Tennessee Titans bringing him in, although it is probably not an exhaustive group of names.
A prospect like Heyward would’ve match the Patriots’ beliefs. Large, sturdy, robust, with a excessive soccer character and glorious blood strains, the Steelers have been lucky sufficient to have Heyward nonetheless be on the board. An elbow damage restricted his pre-draft participation and probably brought about him to slip into the tip of the primary spherical. Even Heyward thought on the time he wasn’t going Spherical One.
Pittsburgh performed the worth sport and snagged Heyward with the thirty first decide. There wasn’t an instantaneous want however the group had the foresight to develop the long run behind an getting older Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. It took till Heyward’s third NFL season to start out, listening to calls of being a bust these first two years, however he grew to become probably the greatest draft picks of the Kevin Colbert period. A borderline Corridor of Famer, Heyward is likely one of the biggest defensive linemen in staff historical past and face of the franchise, nonetheless going sturdy at age-35.
After listening to the remark from Belichick, Heyward had the proper response.
“You had an opportunity within the first spherical. You took Solder.”
With the seventeenth decide, the Patriots chosen Colorado OT Nate Solder. He was an excellent participant, beginning 95 video games for the New England, however he didn’t have near the profession Heyward’s posted. It’s a reminder that each participant is aware of precisely who received drafted forward of them and Heyward was no completely different.
As a substitute of touchdown Heyward, Belichick drafted Virginia CB Ras-I Dowling with the thirty third decide, two alternatives after Heyward heard his identify known as. His profession was transient and unsuccessful, showing in simply 9 video games with two begins for New England.
Whereas Belichick may be questioning about what might’ve been, he tipped his hat to Heyward for all his Pittsburgh success.
“Man, what profession you’ve had. Congratulations. You will have had an amazing profession.”
Had Belichick taken him, Heyward would’ve outlasted Belichick’s personal tenure. But it surely all labored out for Heyward, drafted by the staff within the metropolis he was born and attending to spend his total profession in a single helmet. Belichick might need regrets. Heyward positive doesn’t.
