Scott Brown of ESPN.com had a story today on Ike Taylor after sitting down with the cornerback at the Super Bowl.
Taylor reiterated that he wants to finish his career with the Steelers and is willing to move to safety to do so.
That's not likely to be in the cards. The Steelers want a player at free safety who's capable of creating some turnovers, something Taylor hasn't shown a propensity to do in his career.
Taylor is scheduled to earn just over $11 million this season, and though he's no longer capable of covering the opposing team's No. 1 receiver all over the field as he did early in his career, he's still a capable NFL cornerback, even at 34.
But that $11 million salary is too high and Taylor will be asked to take a pay cut sometime in the next month if he wants to stay in Pittsburgh.
That will likely be the first move the Steelers make as they begin the process of readying for free agency, which begins March 13.
Dale, the team is obviously going to be tight lipped about their intent to sign any free agents beyond their own. Do you see them bringing in another team's free agents early or doing some bargain hunting after the other teams set the market? If the go early do you have any potential targets in mind?
ReplyDeleteI have to think they are going to try an fill some gaps with a mid tier Fa or Two
ReplyDeleteLook at both SB rosters. There are bargains-o-plenty out there for any team with a few bucks in their cap wallet.
ReplyDeleteThey will be bringing in at least one or two free agents from other teams.
ReplyDeleteThere are 2 positions which would really help put this team over the hump that free agents would help with. One is ILB, the other is S. Ryan Clark and James Farrior are 2 guys we went out and got when needed and they played great for us for years.
ReplyDeleteCB could be a position we do the same with, assuming Ike is cut.
Worilds says he's open to re-signing before FA starts...if he's confident that he's secured a starting position -
ReplyDeletehttp://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10384781/jason-worilds-open-re-signing-pittsburgh-steelers-named-starter
I think they'll be OK at ILB. Williams got better as the season went on.
ReplyDeleteI would expect a FA defensive lineman and safety. WR would also be a possibility
i see a lot of talk about picking up a safety, either in fa or at 15. what is the plan for shamarko ? was he that unimpressive to the coaching staff ?
ReplyDeleteJoe...in relation to Shamarko.
ReplyDeleteHis long-term potential IMO is that he is a SS, which means he will eventually replace Troy.
At some point, we still need someone to replace Clark...that is what Dale is talking about.
And even if they do decide to make Thomas the starter at free safety, they still have two safeties who are going to be unrestricted, Clark and Will Allen.
ReplyDeleteI'd bet will allen and troy on a new cap friendly, about to retire deal, are the starting safeties next year.
ReplyDeleteIf they don't re-sign Cotch, they have to bring in a FA WR or it will be a funny assortment of WR's for our 31 year old franchise qb.
same goes for RB if they don't resign one of Dwyer/LSH/Jones
i realize clark is going to the tv booth, just not sure why so many were talking about safety at 15 after they made some moves for shamarko
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