Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward called the NFL's franchise tag "stupid" on Wednesday, arguing that the designation works against players.
"Why should any team be able to take advantage of a player for one year? It's used in negotiations, and I think between the player options, the franchise tags, the way they control rookies, I think it's kind of backward," Heyward said, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.
Heyward's comments come as his teammate Joey Porter Jr. negotiates a new contract with the Steelers, though the sides haven't found common ground. Pittsburgh has typically stopped contract talks once the regular season starts, and Porter, who's entering the final year of his rookie deal, could become a franchise-tag candidate next offseason if he doesn't sign an extension.
However, the franchise tag - a guaranteed one-year deal worth the average of the top five salaries at the position - often pays significantly less than what the top players earn at their respective positions.
"If a player is at the top of his position, he should be paid that way," Heyward said.
He added, "We truly want everybody to just be able to maximize what they can do and their potential.
"We understand this game isn't for long, and every player has to do that."
It's uncertain whether Porter will play in the Steelers' Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons, as the cornerback previously said he wasn't sure if he'd suit up without a new deal.
