CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 14: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands on the sideline prior to the start of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
The Pro Bowl defensive end isn’t so sure that the preseason showcase should happen.
There are few things that signal the fact that football is indeed back quite like the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The annual Canton classic heralds not just the latest round of inductions to the NFL’s honor role of immortality, but the onward rush toward the kickoff of a new campaign.
Unfortunately, this year’s edition featuring two of the most storied franchises of all may not be able to take place at all given the unique challenges posed by these strange days of COVID-19. Just ask Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward, who was scheduled to compete in the August game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Cam Heyward doesn’t think the Cowboys-Steelers Hall of Fame Game will happen
Well, that’s a bummer.
“I think there’s a rule that you have to have 47 days of football and activities before you can even get to the first game, so we’re getting to the point where there’s not a lot that can happen,” he told ESPN insider Brooke Pryor. “I would say I’m pretty pessimistic when it comes to that Hall of Fame Game.”
No offense to Canton, but even during peacetime, it’s not exactly a vacation destination. With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine justifying the odd logistics of not just the game itself, but the Hall’s 2020 induction festivities given the difficulties of travel in addition to health and safety assurances.
Nobody wants to take their medicine. At the same time, never taking medicine means death. Cam Heyward wants to make sure he and the rest of us don’t die — but that doesn’t make his latest riff of real talk any less of a drag.
Way to kill the buzz, Cameron. I
know we should really be thanking you for your sense of clarity, but still.