Heyward: Steelers in 'state of urgency'

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward knows his team's window to compete has an expiry date.

"I think we're in a state of urgency," Heyward said on "The Rich Eisen Show." "We have a lot of guys that, like myself, are in the latter stages of their career, and we all want to win. It's not just enough to win a playoff game, which we haven't won in a couple years, and there's a bad taste in our mouth because of that."

Heyward cited the need to maximize the likes pass-rusher T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The Steelers made a big swing this offseason, acquiring two-time Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and then signing him to a four-year, $132-million extension. However, Pittsburgh hasn't yet been able to secure a quarterback despite pursuing Aaron Rodgers. The 41-year-old visited the team's facility Friday but left without signing a contract.

Heyward made his pitch to Rodgers last week, stating "either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't." But the veteran defensive lineman says he didn't intend to call anyone out.

"Everybody gave me crap," Heyward remarked. "They said I called him out. I don't think I really called him out. I just said I was not going to go on a darkness retreat to recruit him, that if he wants to be a Steeler, he can be a Steeler. That's the pitch. I don't know why everybody thought, 'Oh, Cam's really going at him.'"

He added: "I'm not scaring anybody off. I just want to win games and play good football."

The Steelers have not won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017 when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. Their wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season marked their sixth straight postseason defeat.