Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor made the rounds on radio row Wednesday in Arizona, the site of Super Bowl XLIX, and several times during his interviews he was asked if his career is now over after 12 seasons in the league.
“It could be. I don’t want it to be, but I’m not in charge of that,” Taylor told Jim Rome Wednesday on his radio show. “If it is over, I’m cool with it. iI not, then I’m going to leave the window open. But as far as exercising and working out, I’m still working out like I’m playing for the 2015 season.”
Taylor, who will be an unrestricted free agent come March, also told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on his show Tuesday that he’s not opposed to playing for another team in 2015 and especially if former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is part of that team’s coaching staff.
“If Coach LeBeau’s there, yes. If the time and money is right, yes,” Taylor said.
Additionally, Taylor told Florio that he’s not opposed to changing positions if it will allow him to play two or three more years in the league.
“Put me in at free safety. Get me ran over a few times, catch a couple of interceptions, be there for my corners, be the last man for defense,” Taylor told Florio.
If indeed Taylor’s career does wind up being over this offseason, he seems pretty content with what he’s accomplished over the course of the last 12 seasons after being drafted by the Steelers in the fourth-round on the 2003 NFL Draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette.
“I’m going to go out with a smile,” Taylor told Rome. “I’ve won two Super Bowls, been to three. I’m 2-1, that’s 75%, so I’m OK with that.”
75%? Man, I’m so going to miss Taylor if indeed his career is over. He may have had hands like feet, but he bled black and gold, was as honest as they come and was a great quote machine to top ii all off.
