William Gay talking to steelers but no contract yet

[supersteeler]

William Gay rejoining Steelers
March 4, 2013 12:14 am
By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It appears that cornerback William Gay will be rejoining the Steelers after spending one season with the Arizona Cardinals.

Gay changed his Twitter account information to label himself a "cornerback of the Pittsburgh Steelers." Asked on Twitter by former teammate Ryan Mundy if he was returning, Gay answered, "Yea." He also wrote on Twitter that "I'm glad I didn't' sell my condo in Pittsburgh."

He will be at the Steelers facility on the South Side today.

Jerrold Colton, Gay's agent, said that there is interest in the Steelers but would not say whether Gay has come to contract terms with the team.

With the Steelers possibly set to lose starting cornerback Keenan Lewis as an unrestricted free agent, Gay would give them a veteran presence as a former starter and nickel cornerback. Gay started at left cornerback in 2009, lost his job to Bryant McFadden in 2010 and regained it in 2011.

He signed with Arizona as an unrestricted free agent before the 2012 season, and Lewis took his starting job on the left side.

Gay, 28, was a fifth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2007.

For more on the Steelers, read the blog, Ed Bouchette on the Steelers at [url]www.post-gazette.com/plus[/url].
First Published March 4, 2013 12:00 am


Read more: [url]http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/william-gay-rejoining-steelers-677820/#ixzz2MZNoowqJ[/url]

[supersteeler]

I'm sure there will be some speculation and questions if they do succeed in signing Gay, I have a few myself and how it affects our other corners.

1. I still believe they want to sign Lewis regardless if we sign Gay or not.


2. If we sign Lewis and Gay it might affect the other corners on the roster like Demarkus Van Dyke, Josh Victorian, or even Brown.


3. Signing Gay should help our special teams, he was a good special teams player.


4. Basically by signing Gay it gives the Steelers insurance should Lewis sign with another team, add to the depth at corner, and if injury occurs to a starter.


My preference is to sign Lewis and I'm sure he is a priority for the Steelers, adding depth to that position is a good thing so we'll see how this plays out in the coming days or weeks.

[steelblood]

If he'll sign for vet minimum or slightly more, I'm fine with it. Otherwise, no thanks.

[phillyesq]

If Gay is being considered as a depth player, that is fine, provided it is at or near a veteran minimum deal. He is ok in the slot, and if the Steelers run into a situation where they are decimated by injuries again, he would probably be less of a disaster than Victorian and Brown were last year.

I would hate the idea of bringing back Gay to compensate for the loss of Keenan Lewis. Hopefully, both will return.

[flippy]

Gay makes a lot of sense to me long term. Cortez and Keenan on the outside and Gay in the slot is a good long term combo.

We don't have a solid 3rd corner when Ike is done. Gay would give us the flexibility to part ways with Ike this year, next, etc.

And if Victorian eventually beats him out, which I think could eventually happen, then so be it. If Brown was any good, we wouldn't need Gay.

[MeetJoeGreene]

Gay makes a lot of sense to me long term. Cortez and Keenan on the outside and Gay in the slot is a good long term combo.

We don't have a solid 3rd corner when Ike is done. Gay would give us the flexibility to part ways with Ike this year, next, etc.

And if Victorian eventually beats him out, which I think could eventually happen, then so be it. If Brown was any good, we wouldn't need Gay.

It bothers me that we need Gay. That means that someone is not going to be resigned (e.g. Lewis), let go (Taylor, Brown). No way should he ever, ever start again.

[phillyesq]

Sounds official now:

Ed Bouchette @EdBouchetteRT Gays agent “[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/Jerrold_Colton"]@Jerrold_Colton[/URL]: Thrilled that William Gay has signed to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers."

[supersteeler]

It bothers me that we need Gay. That means that someone is not going to be resigned (e.g. Lewis), let go (Taylor, Brown). No way should he ever, ever start again.

I don't think anyone is considering him a starter, but he does add depth to the position especially if an injury occurs. Think of it as a better insurance policy. Brown hasn't shown much since he's been here maybe he would be the odd man out IF they sign Gay. Victorian is a young dude and could emerge as a quality backup or potencial to be one, it doesn't hurt to have depth at a position that is vital to a defense.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

If he signs for vet min, it is good signing. Signing cuts or vet min deals doesn't impact your comp picks the following year and you also get a cap credit. These are the bargains the Steelers look for. If they did sign gay & Breaston down the line, their cap hits would be minimal but what they provide on the roster would be maximized. Any coincidence they have been linked to a WR & CB with Wallace & Lewis as URFA? All this does is give their draft board some relief if both Wallace & Lewis leave.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

It was posted on NFL.com.

[supersteeler]

Ed: No Downside to Signing William Gay Monday, 04 March 2013 07:37 Written by Ed Bouchette Good morning,
There’s a surprising negative feedback on William Gay’s return to the Steelers, if indeed that happens today. Not long after word filtered out through Gay that he was coming back, fans began slamming the move.
Their reaction, judging by response on my Twitter account, had to be 10-1 negative.
Here are some of those responses:
--- “This has to be a joke. William Gay stinks!!!!”
--- “Nooo.’’
---“Nooooooo.’’
--- “Noooooooooooo.’’
--- “They’re going to let Lewis walk and take back the worst liability on the team in the last 20 years??”
--- “Gay is terrible!!! Are we giving up on the 2013 season? Ugh. Hope he fails the physical.’’
--- “Yo Steelers front office, YOU ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY.’’
--- “Say it ain’t so!!!”
Well, you get the idea. It’s not a popular move at the moment. But what would the Steelers be doing by signing Gay? Hurting themselves? Hardly. They will be better at cornerback, deeper, with more experience.
Signing Gay will have no effect on whether they keep Keenan Lewis or not. It might show they fear losing Lewis, and they’re trying to shore up the position any way they can. If Lewis receives an attractive offer in free agency, he’s gone because they Steelers won’t be paying him a ton to stay.
Where does that leave them? With Cortez Allen starting at left cornerback and Gay playing in the slot in the nickel – unless one of the young cornerbacks asserts himself and takes the job from him. It’s a no-lose situation for the Steelers. They have a 90-man roster through training camp, so where’s the downside?
Gay also is not old. He’s 28 and, if by chance he would start, he would be the youngest starter in their secondary. In my opinion, he was at his best when he played the nickel, but he did start 15 games at cornerback in 2010 and the Steelers came within six points of winning the Super Bowl that season.
Adding Gay to their mix at cornerback only helps the Steelers

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Gay was good in zone....maybe we are going to the 4-3 tampa 2

[flippy]

Heard it's a done deal.

[fezziwig]

I didn't like Gay before and I don't like him now for the team. I'm having less and less faith with the front office when they let players go, bring them back.... Gay, McFadden, Foote, Randell El. The only one that has worked out is Foote and still, he's nothing to get excited about. All this tells me is this, " they're not developing players as they should. They're not evaluating talent as they should. " That's two do overs we have from the Cardinals now. Pretty soon we will e Cardinals East lol.

I'm telling you guys, be prepared for a lot of 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 seasons with the Steelers. I see hardly any stars or stars on the rise player wise for our Steelers.

[supersteeler]

Heard it's a done deal.

The signing is confirmed per Tribune Review, a three year deal.