Bringing Back Ike Taylor the Biggest Priority of the Steelers When Lockout Ends

Re-signing veteran cornerback Ike Taylor will be the top priority of the Steelers when the lockout ends, writes Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The 31-year-old Taylor has spent his entire eight-year career with the Steelers, starting 91 of 125 games and recording 99 passes defensed, but with just 11 interceptions.

In addition to Taylor, William Gay, who has started 18 games over the last two seasons, is expected to become an unrestricted free agent when the lockout ends. The Steelers have veteran Bryant McFadden under contract through 2012, and have used early and mid-round picks in recent years on Keenan Lewis (2009), Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen (2011). As talented as the younger corners are, Lewis has not shown the ability to handle a starting job and it may be asking too much of the rookies to replace Taylor in Year One.

While Taylor would prefer to remain with the Steelers, the Louisiana native is open to playing in another NFL city.

“Time will tell,” Taylor said last month according to Hunter Paniagua of The Times-Picayune. “I’ve been there (Pittsburgh) for eight years. I’ve been in that city more than any other city in my whole life. But time will tell.

“I see myself being anywhere I need to be. Wherever you put me, I’m going to make home.”