Ike Taylor Agrees To New One-Year Contract With Pittsburgh Steelers
By Matt Gajtka
Dec 8, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline (82) keeps both feet in bounds to score a four yard touchdown against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor (24) during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Miami Dolphins won 34-28. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier Monday, I asked if the Pittsburgh Steelers’ reported interest in Dolphins free-agent cornerback Nolan Carroll indicated that Ike Taylor‘s time in western Pennsylvania was short.
As it turned out, only the speculation was short, as Taylor and the Steelers agreed to a new one-year contract to replace the final year on his previous deal. The news was reported Monday evening by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Ed Bouchette, among others.
The “revised” contract for Taylor will pay him $2.75 million this year, as opposed to the $7 million he was scheduled to make. Taylor’s amenability saves the Steelers $4.25 million against the salary cap with the NFL’s free-agency signing period set to begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
It’s likely that the Steelers gave the 33-year-old Taylor an ultimatum: agree to a lower salary or be released. Taylor obviously values his role in Pittsburgh, where he’s spend all 12 years of his pro career, over testing the market.
Taylor’s reduced pay gives Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert more space with which to work in the coming weeks. Part of Colbert’s task will be augmenting an aging secondary that includes Taylor and longtime Pittsburgh strong safety Troy Polamalu.
Fellow thirtysomething Ryan Clark is expected to retire, so more change is certainly coming to the defensive backfield.
Keep it here on City of Champions for more coverage of NFL free agency from a Pittsburgh perspective.