Cornerback William Gay set to return to Steelers?
By Matt Shetler
NFL free agency doesn’t officially begin until March 12, but it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers have already inked their first player of the offseason by bringing back a familiar face.
All signs point to cornerback William Gay returning to the Steelers after spending just one season as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
At least judging by Twitter that appears to be the case.
Gay has changed his Twitter account information to label himself a “cornerback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.” He was also asked on Twitter by former teammate Ryan Mundy if he is coming back, Gay answered “Yea.” Gay also tweeted that “I’m glad I didn’t sell my condo in Pittsburgh.”
Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
His agent though didn’t go as far as to confirm that.
Gay’s agent, Jerrold Colton said (via Post Gazette’s Ed Bouchette) that there is interest in the Steelers but would not say whether Gay has come to contract terms with the team yet.
There is a good chance that the Steelers won’t be able to re-sign cornerback Keenan Lewis, it makes sense for them to target a veteran corner, although given their cap restraints, they won’t be able to get a good one as there is a significant drop in talent from Lewis to Gay.
Gay was a fifth round pick of the Steelers in 2007 and started at the left corner in 2009 before losing his job to Bryant McFadden in 2010, but reclaimed it in 2011.
After he signed with Arizona in 201, Lewis took the starting left corner job and ran with it.
There seems to be a pipeline with the Cardinals and Steelers involving cornerbacks as Arizona likes to sign former Steelers corners to big money deals and then release them after a year so they can return to Pittsburgh, as the same thing happened to McFadden.