Is Cameron Heyward following the same career path as LaMarr Woodley did?

... I hope not 

LaMarr Woodley was one of the best defensive players in the NFL in his early years. Drafted second by the Steelers out of the University of Michigan in 2007, he recorded 11.5 sacks in 2008 when the Steelers won their sixth Super Bowl. He followed that by recording 62 tackles and 13.5 sacks in 2009 and 50 tackles and 10.0 sacks in 2010 when they reached the Super Bowl but lost to Green Bay. He was in the running for NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards during those seasons.

The 2016 Steelers would love to have someone in double-digits in sacks like Woodley -- and James Harrison -- had during those years.

Woodley's downfall

And then, prior to the 2011 season, Woodley signed a huge contract, a $61.5 million deal over six years. It was one of the biggest contracts ever for a defensive player.

The 26-year-old player was on top of the world, his future secured, and he could not have been happier to remain in Pittsburgh. "That's something I wanted to happen when I first came in the door and saw the great linebackers who had come through here," Woodley told the AP after signing the deal early in training camp. "I wanted to be a part of that great tradition and history around here, but to do that I had to be around here. Definitely I have my opportunity to leave my stamp when I'm done playing here."

However, he never left his stamp with the Steelers. When James Harrison set a new sack record earlier this season, he did not break Woodley's record. It was that of Jason Gildon, who had 20 more than Woodley at 77.

In short, Woodley became fat and lazy. During the 2011 season, Woodley missed six games with a hamstring injury. Remember that injury since it is relevant to Cam Heyward.

Woodley did record 9 sacks in 2011, and he received some plaudits as he was voted 63rd best player in the NFL by its players.

His Steelers career, however, was over.

In 2012, he recorded 38 tackles and 4 sacks in 13 games.

By 2013, the Steelers placed him on IR in December for a calf injury after he recorded just 36 tackles and five sacks. He was cut the following March.

That leads us to Cameron Heyward.

Heyward's career

Cameron Heyward is the son of legendary college and NFL player Craig (Ironhead) Heyward, who played for Pitt.

Heyward was a first found pick, the 31st player selected, in the 2011 NFL draft. He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

A defensive end, Heyward did not start any games in his first two seasons. That is not unusual in Coach Dick LeBeau's defense, which was/is complicated. He recorded 11 tackles and a sack in his rookie season and followed that with 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2012. Those meager numbers had many Steeler fans concerned about his future.

However, Heyward finally broke into the starting rotation in 2013, starting 13 games as he replaced Ziggy Hood, who was a disappointing first-round pick. Heyward recorded 59 tackles and five sacks the following year and 55 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2014. He followed that with 52 tackles and seven sacks in 2015.

Prior to the 2015 season, Heyward signed a six-year deal worth $59.25 million.

Like Woodley, he had decent numbers after signing the contract, though he played all 16 regular-season games, unlike Woodley.

2016 an omen, or an anomaly?

The 2016 season for Heyward was one in which he has been plaqued by injuries, first a hamstring, just like Woodley had. Then he tore his pectoral muscle in the devastating Steeler loss to Dallas, leading Pittsburgh to put him on Injured Reserve and end his season.

Woodley's career ended in 2015 after her tore a pectoral muscle while playing for the Cardinals.

Hope for future

I hope that Heyward will return and continue to make progress with the Steelers. However, signing the big contract often serves as a death knell to many players. Woodley was one.

Hopefully, Cam Heyward will not follow that same path.