Ike and Troy to be cut?

[pittpete]

Hello, Gay plays CB doesn't he?
As long as Ike is starting, how does a CB get any playing time?
We all know that playing nickel/dime DB isn't the same as a starting CB in our base.
Ike IS NOT worth the $$$$$$ he will be due next year.
If he takes a major pay cut, then keep him and reduce his role to make way for younger players.

[SteelBuckeye]

So, you're contention is that Gay is better than Ike?
Also, it almost universally accepted that Ike will have to take a pay cut in order to stay. My personal belief is that he will take the cut, the team will draft a CB in the early rounds to learn from and eventually replace him and Gay will remain exactly what he has been ... a serviceable back up who can start in a pinch.
Interesting that you did not address how Ike starting has hindered Allen's development rather than the fact that Allen was hurt half of the year. Or the fact that Troy is not the "only" spark plug on Defense since Heyward and Worilds have played lights out since being elevated to starters at their natural positions.
Further, please understand that the team has spent numerous picks on Ike's eventual replacement: Keenan Lewis, Curtis Brown, Terry Hawthorne and Allen. In fact, I'd say that initially it was believed that the eventual CB duo would be Lewis or Brown and Allen. Lewis didn't develop until the last year of his contract, Brown never developed, Hawthorne just didn't get it and that leaves us with Allen and a pick (mostly likely two) this year as CBs of the future.

[Ernie]

So, you're contention is that Gay is better than Ike?
Also, it almost universally accepted that Ike will have to take a pay cut in order to stay. My personal belief is that he will take the cut, the team will draft a CB in the early rounds to learn from and eventually replace him and Gay will remain exactly what he has been ... a serviceable back up who can start in a pinch.
Interesting that you did not address how Ike starting has hindered Allen's development rather than the fact that Allen was hurt half of the year. Or the fact that Troy is not the "only" spark plug on Defense since Heyward and Worilds have played lights out since being elevated to starters at their natural positions.
Further, please understand that the team has spent numerous picks on Ike's eventual replacement: Keenan Lewis, Curtis Brown, Terry Hawthorne and Allen. In fact, I'd say that initially it was believed that the eventual CB duo would be Lewis or Brown and Allen. Lewis didn't develop until the last year of his contract, Brown never developed, Hawthorne just didn't get it and that leaves us with Allen and a pick (mostly likely two) this year as CBs of the future.

as far as Lewis' development goes...better late than never as I always say. As I stated previously, they should have kept Lewis and let Ike go, especially if he was drafted to replace him as you stated. Ike is likely gone at the end of the year anyways (unless he takes a pay cut)... so all we really did was groom Lewis for the saints. As for Gay vs Ike... Yea, I'd say Gay is as good or better than Ike this year.
As for Hawthorne.. it seemed to me like he was injured through much of preseason, so I'm not sure how he "Didn't get it'? I am with you all the way on Curtis Brown though... that was a bust of a pick. It happens from time to time.

[Töm87]

Neither of them will get cut. They'll both acept some sort pay cut and will stay. Surely they wan't make the same mistake that Harrison made.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Neither of them will get cut. They'll both acept some sort pay cut and will stay. Surely they wan't make the same mistake that Harrison made.

I don't see them making the same mistake Harrison made...but there's nobody on this board named "Surely."

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

I think they will go to Ike first for a cut...Then Troy. If they both take a 3 mil cut I think it can work. Ike or Troy are not what they use to be. Both have shown the age drop off this year. I actually think both will take a cut & stay.

How quickly many of us forget...Ward & Harrison were cut to. When the ugly business side shows up...NOBODY is untouchable. Being that Ike & Troy in the top 5 highest paid Steelers at 33 & 34 next year...They are on the table for discussion.

[Töm87]

Harrison could have stayed if he accepted the offer by the stealers. He made a huge mistake not taking that offer.

[B&GinNC]

Ike is valuable for a lot more than on field performance... his work ethic is something the team likes to have in it's locker room. Both he and Troy could be kept if they rework their deals in order to help the team save significant cap dollars... Ben's deal probably gets reworked as well to try to push some of his $18.5 mil onto future caps, and Heath's will be extended/ reworked as well to reduce his $6+ mil hit.

If they keep these guys, though, they have to find a way to extend Worilds, weather the cap hit that comes from releasing Woodley, and potentially extend Pouncey.

One piece of this puzzle that helps? Levi Brown, by all appearances, counts $6.2 mil against the cap next year, but can be cut with little or no ongoing ramification. That'll take care of about 40% of the dollars the team needs to get on the right side of the cap right there.

[pittpete]

They can't extend Worilds, because he is a free agent after the season.
It's either a new contract or franchise him.
No way in hell Levi Brown is here next year, he was a stop gap,low risk high reward pickup.

As far as Allen goes, yes i understand he had an ankle problem at the beginning of the season.
He is and should be a starter on this team.
He is our future at CB.
Keeping Ike Taylor because he is familiar with the defense keeps Allen off the field, i don't get why people don't understand this.
Ike is like that comfortable old pair of socks that have holes in them that you refuse to throw out.
Keenan Allen took 3 years to develop because he was a man cover corner in college.
It was obvious he wanted to play down south and not stay with the Steelers.
Having Ike return on defense next year does what exactly?
Ryan Clark is a great guy also, do we resign him also?

People keep saying over and over that it's not Lebeaus scheme, but the players that aren't playing well.
Ike has 3 INT's in the last 3 years.
It is time to move on.

Yes, Worilds and Heyward have been bright spots also on a rather dismal defensive unit.
I still think Troy has a lot left to give and is a lot more valuable than Ike to this defense.
Sorry if you don't agree.

[SteelBuckeye]

They can't extend Worilds, because he is a free agent after the season.
It's either a new contract or franchise him.
No way in hell Levi Brown is here next year, he was a stop gap,low risk high reward pickup.

As far as Allen goes, yes i understand he had an ankle problem at the beginning of the season.
He is and should be a starter on this team.
He is our future at CB.
Keeping Ike Taylor because he is familiar with the defense keeps Allen off the field, i don't get why people don't understand this.
Ike is like that comfortable old pair of socks that have holes in them that you refuse to throw out.
Keenan Allen took 3 years to develop because he was a man cover corner in college.
It was obvious he wanted to play down south and not stay with the Steelers.
Having Ike return on defense next year does what exactly?
Ryan Clark is a great guy also, do we resign him also?

People keep saying over and over that it's not Lebeaus scheme, but the players that aren't playing well.
Ike has 3 INT's in the last 3 years.
It is time to move on.

Yes, Worilds and Heyward have been bright spots also on a rather dismal defensive unit.
I still think Troy has a lot left to give and is a lot more valuable than Ike to this defense.
Sorry if you don't agree.

My point was not that Ike had more to give or was more valuable than Troy. That would be an insane statement. What I was saying was that I believe both will be back next year (after hopefully taking pay cuts) because at present there is no one available to take their places. We need to draft a couple of CBs this year; hopefully one early and one in later rounds. Keeping Ike allows either or both of those drafted CBs to develop and eventually (sooner rather than later) take over the CB spot opposite Allen; keeping Gay as the nickelback
Now, it's possible that either Golden or Shamarko is ready to step in for Clark (one of them better be because Clark is gone at the end of the season); I think it's Golden that they plan to plug in there. Troy starts the season as the starting SS and eventually gives way to Shamarko ... Just my thoughts and why I believe both Ike and Troy will be back next year (assuming they take pay cuts)

[phillyesq]

I think and hope that both return - I'm thinking a paycut for Ike and an extension for Troy, with the extension lowering the cap hit. I could also see something similar for Heath Miller. Hopefully, watching Harrison get much less on the open market will serve as cautionary tales to these guys when they are faced with the same issue.

[NorthCoast]

OMG, do any of you watch the games sober?
Troy is basically the only spark of life this mediocre defense has in it.
Ike has lost a step and keeping him only delays Allens development.
Ike is not and has never been a playmaker, his hands are stone.
He also seems to be half blind because he never picks up the ball in the air and rarely ever deflects a pass.
You guys fall in love with these vets and think the defense will suffer without them.
Maybe the defense improves without them.

The only thing I know is that the opponent's #1 WR rarely matches his game averages when playing against Ike. That means something to a defense. Dont see how Ike's presence is stunting Allen's development. Seems Allen allowed a key TD in the GB game on Sunday.

[Dee Dub]

Springsteen wrote it.

Blinded by the Light? Really? Wow...didnt know that.

[fezziwig]

Ike is good but he's getting up in age.

[Dee Dub]

Stupid idea to cut either.

How is it a stupid idea if this team is $20 million plus over the cap? I dont want them gone either but reality says this is a business and the franchise is more important than any one or two players.

DJ, not to attack you, but how do you propose to rebuild this team, get under the cap, without cutting popular (good), players who are overpaid for the age and skill set they have become?