Gay burned again.

[steelz09]

Right everyone gets old but there are plenty of players in the NFL that stave off the age through extra work in the offseason. Ike Taylor is one of those guys and I don't expect to see him released by the Steelers anytime soon. The day Ike goes is the day Ike retires. IMO

So sacrifice the future of the team to keep the high dollar non-playmaker, aging CB Taylor because he doesn't want to hang things up. I don't think so. Yes, hard work can certainly extend your career but come on....The extra hard work isn't going to magically drop 10 years off his age. I can't believe ANYONE would want to EXTEND Ike's contract at 34.5 years old. Your talking about a CB here.... not a QB, DL,OL or even linebacker.

[BURGH86STEEL]

It's the Steelers own fault that the CB situation is what it is....

If they resigned Lewis, they'd have their starting CBs locked up for several years in Lewis & Allen. Instead, they let Lewis walk for very reasonable money which was one of the dumbest personnel decisions in recent memory. You take years to develop a talent just to let him walk..... it's ridiculous.

This year, they COULD have had Ike, Lewis, Allen as the top 3. Next year, Ike will be gone but at least you'd still have Allen and Lewis as your #1 and #2. Instead, we CHOSE to have Ike, Allen and Gay as our top 3.

William Gay is a joke..... Good QBs will identify where he is and pick on him all day long like they've done in the past.

Colbert stated they couldn't fit Keenan Lewis into their current structure. I guess they didn't believe they could had resigned Lewis. It's possible that Lewis wanted to go home to play in NO. Can't afford to keep every good player.

[papillon]

I didn't see the game and haven't seen a replay yet, but I saw Troy and Clark both take responsibility on the long pass. Is there a different play where Gay got toasted?

Nope, he's just an easy target when things don't go the way some would like them to go. They aren't going to rag on Troy or Ryan, so Gay becomes the target, although, watching the game, it certainly appeared to be Gay's mistake and not Troy and/or Ryan.

The established vets are probably trying to cover up for Gay a bit.

Pappy

[steelz09]

Colbert stated they couldn't fit Keenan Lewis into their current structure. I guess they didn't believe they could had resigned Lewis. It's possible that Lewis wanted to go home to play in NO. Can't afford to keep every good player.

That's Colbert BS. They could have afforded to keep him.

[papillon]

So sacrifice the future of the team to keep the high dollar non-playmaker, aging CB Taylor because he doesn't want to hang things up. I don't think so. Yes, hard work can certainly extend your career but come on....The extra hard work isn't going to magically drop 10 years off his age. I can't believe ANYONE would want to EXTEND Ike's contract at 34.5 years old. Your talking about a CB here.... not a QB, DL,OL or even linebacker.

Since, there's no dead money next year, can't they cut him and then resign him to a more cap friendly deal that is commiserate with being a 35.5 year old cornerback?

Pappy

[BURGH86STEEL]

That's Colbert BS. They could have afforded to keep him.

I don't know if it was BS. I do know that the Steelers didn't have much money to spend based on the salary capp numbers. They were not going to move heaven and earth to sign a good (Lewis) player. They didn't move heaven and earth to sign a better player (Wallace). The Steelers over came the loss of good young players in the past. What's done is done. No point harboring on it.

[hawaiiansteel]

Just guessing but if we had a starting CB injured, I think Gay would stay in nickel and someone else like Victorian or Brown would elevate.

that's an even scarier thought...

[Captain Lemming]

That's Colbert BS. They could have afforded to keep him.

How?
As stated we still have a ton of dead money if cut Ike. We dont have that kind of cap space.

[steelz09]

I don't know if it was BS. I do know that the Steelers didn't have much money to spend based on the salary capp numbers. They were not going to move heaven and earth to sign a good (Lewis) player. They didn't move heaven and earth to sign a better player (Wallace). The Steelers over came the loss of good young players in the past. What's done is done. No point harboring on it.

The Wallace and Lewis contracts aren't even close. One signing would be like moving "heaven and earth" (Wallace - 5 yrs/60 mil, 27 million guaranteed) and the other (Lewis - 5 yrs/25.5 mil, 10.5 guaranteed) was affordable and decent for a #1 or #2 CB.

[Snatch98]

So sacrifice the future of the team to keep the high dollar non-playmaker, aging CB Taylor because he doesn't want to hang things up. I don't think so. Yes, hard work can certainly extend your career but come on....The extra hard work isn't going to magically drop 10 years off his age. I can't believe ANYONE would want to EXTEND Ike's contract at 34.5 years old. Your talking about a CB here.... not a QB, DL,OL or even linebacker.

If he stays around he will likely restructure and the Steelers don't usually keep players past their desired level of effectiveness. I also find your comment about him being a non-playmaker comical considering the guy has never been able to catch the football. He's a staple on this team for a reason. As far as your latter statement is concerned should I run down the list of corners that remained effective beyond 34.5 years old? It's not a enormous list but it's still a decent sized one and not one still has or HAD the speed Ike has in his arsenal.

[Snatch98]

How?
As stated we still have a ton of dead money if cut Ike. We dont have that kind of cap space.

He's residing on another planet currently.

[steelz09]

How?
As stated we still have a ton of dead money if cut Ike. We dont have that kind of cap space.

If not Ike this year, then old man Foote, Burress and possibly Keisel.

It's not that difficult.

[Captain Lemming]

The Wallace and Lewis contracts aren't even close. One signing would be like moving "heaven and earth" (Wallace - 5 yrs/60 mil, 27 million guaranteed) and the other (Lewis - 5 yrs/25.5 mil, 10.5 guaranteed) was affordable and decent for a #1 or #2 CB.

The Lewis deal WAS reasonable true.
"Affordable" is both a combination of cost (reasonable) and available funds (which we did not have).

[Captain Lemming]

If not Ike this year, then old man Foote, Burress and possibly Keisel.
It's not that difficult.

Buress gets nada.....so it is meaningless.

Dump Foote AND Keisel? creating talent drops?

Lewis has value for the future once Ike is gone true.

But Ike STILL is the best cover guy and Cortez made more plays IN THREE STARTS than both starters COMBINED last season.
Cortez created five turnovers in three games.
Ike had ONE pick.....Lewis created ONE fumble.....starters had two turnovers TOTAL

Takaway, Cortez and Ike would have been starting EVEN IF LEWIS WERE SIGNED.

Lewis and his contract would be on the bench.

Losing Keisel and Foote hurts the team more.....at least in the short term.

Restructure Ike for the value of a mid 30s corner and we have a couple of years to draft a partner for Cortez after Ike is gone.

[BURGH86STEEL]

The Wallace and Lewis contracts aren't even close. One signing would be like moving "heaven and earth" (Wallace - 5 yrs/60 mil, 27 million guaranteed) and the other (Lewis - 5 yrs/25.5 mil, 10.5 guaranteed) was affordable and decent for a #1 or #2 CB.

You assume that Lewis would had signed with the Steelers for that amount. I don't know if Lewis would had. It appears that Lewis gave NO a home town discount. It's very possible that Lewis didn't want to remain in Pittsburgh or play for any other team. Several teams courted Lewis. That suggests to me that a bidding war could had taken place if Lewis allowed it.

Here is what Lewis stated,"Those guys were trying to offer more money, but I had it set in my mind the whole time if the Saints offered me I was going to come home. I had to get it done," "I looked at it like I'm home. I'm from Algiers. I went to O.P. Walker. A lot of guys don't really have that opportunity to play for their hometown team. Then when I had the opportunity to sit down with Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, Rob Ryan and my position coach, (Wesley) McGriff, they really made me feel at home. And that's something I had in Pittsburgh." "When I first walked in there I felt like I was at home. I had opportunities to go to teams that offered me a lot more money. But everybody can't say that they had the opportunity to play in their back yard. Even when I was in Pittsburgh I would go back and watch four or five Saints games just to get acquainted with what they were doing." Lewis' affinity for the Saints almost cost him on draft day. "I almost didn't get drafted because I told all the teams my wish was to play for the Saints," he said. "I let that be known when I was coming out of college at the Senior Bowl."

Sounds to me that Lewis was dead set on playing for the Saints. I hope this puts an end to the discussion.