PITTSBURGH — Flashback to a year ago, when one of the most critical members of the Steelers’ defense was also the most disgruntled. A contract dispute that began with a training camp hold-in remained unresolved for weeks. With the first game of the regular season looming, the player was noncommittal when asked if he’d suit up for Week 1. Finally, on the night before the season-opener, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward agreed to a revised contract.The names have changed. This year, with just days left until the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, the Steelers and GM Omar Khan find themselves in the same place with Joey Porter Jr. The talented young cornerback is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is seeking to be part of an ever-growing market at his position. Like Heyward a year ago, Porter also was non-committal recently when asked if he’d play without a new deal.“Yeah for sure,” he said. “Maybe …”Taking negotiations down to the wire has become the norm under Khan. It took until the Thursday before the opener in 2021 for T.J. Watt to sign his four-year, $112 million extension. In 2024, Pat Freiermuth didn’t ink his deal until the Friday before the opener.“I don’t know why,” Heyward said when asked about what appears to be standard practice in Pittsburgh.“I’d like for everybody to get paid, and I’d like for everybody to be taken care of,” Heyward added. “I’m not going to act like I have every answer to negotiations as a player. Selfishly, I’d like everything to be done so we can focus and just continue to be locked in.”Cam Heyward on the Steelers taking negotiations down to the wireMike DeFaboDeadlines sometimes lead to resolutions and the Steelers drew a hard line many years ago when they decided to never negotiate contracts during the season. That’s a sound policy. The question now, as Khan wades into uncertain waters yet again, is if their tactic of letting contract matters linger — even fester — is working.