Taylor Sounds Like He Wants to Stay in Pittsburgh

Maybe the greatest position of need on the Steelers heading into 2011 is that of cornerback. The team will enter free agency (whenever that may be) with starters Ike Taylor and William Gay both eligible to hit the open market.

It is starting to sound more and more like Taylor, who is the more desired of the two free agents, is preparing to ink a deal with the Steelers once he can.

The 31-year-old CB, who has been a Steeler since being drafted, told Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review that Pittsburgh is home, and he is looking to wear black and gold for life.

“I’ve been in Pittsburgh longer than any other city since I was born,” said Taylor. “That’s home to me. Steelers Nation is crazy. You’re going to find a Steelers fan at some bar, some mall, some college (anywhere). As a professional player you thrive off that. I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page. The ball’s in their court.”

The team doesn’t have a lot of quality depth at the corner spot, and there was some surprise that the club didn’t target a corner earlier in the draft. They did take Curtis Brown from Texas in round three, but he will have a long learning curve before he’s expected to make a big impact on the team.

That makes the signing eventually of Taylor all the more important. From the sounds of it, he wants to stay a Steeler, and now when the league gets back to business it will be up to the Steelers and Taylor’s agent to get to work to make a deal happen.