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Team courts Aliquippa's Ty Law
Former Patriot Ty Law
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, March 11, 2005
The Steelers welcomed former New England cornerback Ty Law, an unrestricted free agent after being cut by the Patriots in late February, for a visit to their South Side practice facility on Thursday.
Law, 31, is a 10-year veteran, a four-time AFC Pro Bowl selection and a three-time Super Bowl champion.
He's also an Aliquippa High School graduate.
Law met extensively with Steelers head coach Bill Cowher and was walked to the parking lot by defensive backs coach Darren Perry and assistant defensive backs coach Ray Horton, who took Law to lunch.
Law walking anywhere was a significant development for a player who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc, or mid-foot fracture on Oct. 34 during a 34-20 loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field. He also had surgery to repair ligament damage in early January and is still wearing a soft cast as a part of his rehabilitation.
"You never get your hopes up in free agency, but I think the fact that he was here was very encouraging," said Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who also met briefly with Law.
The Steelers have released Chad Scott, who started at left cornerback in 2004 until suffering a torn quadriceps tendon on Oct. 17 at Dallas.
Willie Williams started at left cornerback after Scott's injury and has been re-signed by the Steelers out of unrestricted free agency.
"Willie left here as a starter, I assume he'll come back here as a starter, sure," Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert said this week. "But he'll have great competition from the two young guys (third-year pro Ike Taylor and second-year pro Ricardo Colclough)."
Signing Law would greatly alter that pecking order, although the Steelers would presumably have to get him at what amounts to a home-town discount to get him to play for his home-town team.
"I think a lot of teams could probably find a spot for him," LeBeau said.
Law was on the books to cost the Patriots $12.5 million against the salary cap in 2005, the last year of a seven-year, $51 million contract. He had been scheduled to earn $8.75 million in base salary plus a $1 million roster bonus.
Law had rejected a four-year, $26 million offer for an extension last year, calling it "a slap in the face."
The Patriots rejected a seven-year, $63 million counteroffer.
Law's agents, Carl and Kevin Poston, didn't return phone calls yesterday.
"I really can't say who, but a number of teams are interested," Kevin Poston told The Associated Press this week. "Ty's a top free agent. Everybody knows his situation. He'll be fine."
The Jets reportedly conducted talks with Law this week.
"This is bittersweet," Law had said upon being released by New England. "I always wanted to retire a Patriot. I've been around here for a lot of years. But unfortunately, a lot of players don't get a chance to finish their careers with their teams. I'm looking forward to what's ahead."
The Pats selected Law, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, with the 23rd overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft.
He played in 141 games with 133 starts for New England and recorded 648 career tackles, including four sacks, 36 interceptions (tying for the most in franchise history) for 582 yards and 142 passes defensed.
Law is New England's all-time leader with six career interception returns for touchdowns in the regular season. He also returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half of New England's victory over St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI.
In 2003, Law led the NFL with 23 passes defensed and tied for the team lead with six interceptions, earning him his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth.
Note: Kicker Jeff Reed signed a $7.5 million, five-year contract yesterday that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus to stay with the team.The deal was agreed to earlier this week.
Former Patriot Ty Law
By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, March 11, 2005
The Steelers welcomed former New England cornerback Ty Law, an unrestricted free agent after being cut by the Patriots in late February, for a visit to their South Side practice facility on Thursday.
Law, 31, is a 10-year veteran, a four-time AFC Pro Bowl selection and a three-time Super Bowl champion.
He's also an Aliquippa High School graduate.
Law met extensively with Steelers head coach Bill Cowher and was walked to the parking lot by defensive backs coach Darren Perry and assistant defensive backs coach Ray Horton, who took Law to lunch.
Law walking anywhere was a significant development for a player who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc, or mid-foot fracture on Oct. 34 during a 34-20 loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field. He also had surgery to repair ligament damage in early January and is still wearing a soft cast as a part of his rehabilitation.
"You never get your hopes up in free agency, but I think the fact that he was here was very encouraging," said Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who also met briefly with Law.
The Steelers have released Chad Scott, who started at left cornerback in 2004 until suffering a torn quadriceps tendon on Oct. 17 at Dallas.
Willie Williams started at left cornerback after Scott's injury and has been re-signed by the Steelers out of unrestricted free agency.
"Willie left here as a starter, I assume he'll come back here as a starter, sure," Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert said this week. "But he'll have great competition from the two young guys (third-year pro Ike Taylor and second-year pro Ricardo Colclough)."
Signing Law would greatly alter that pecking order, although the Steelers would presumably have to get him at what amounts to a home-town discount to get him to play for his home-town team.
"I think a lot of teams could probably find a spot for him," LeBeau said.
Law was on the books to cost the Patriots $12.5 million against the salary cap in 2005, the last year of a seven-year, $51 million contract. He had been scheduled to earn $8.75 million in base salary plus a $1 million roster bonus.
Law had rejected a four-year, $26 million offer for an extension last year, calling it "a slap in the face."
The Patriots rejected a seven-year, $63 million counteroffer.
Law's agents, Carl and Kevin Poston, didn't return phone calls yesterday.
"I really can't say who, but a number of teams are interested," Kevin Poston told The Associated Press this week. "Ty's a top free agent. Everybody knows his situation. He'll be fine."
The Jets reportedly conducted talks with Law this week.
"This is bittersweet," Law had said upon being released by New England. "I always wanted to retire a Patriot. I've been around here for a lot of years. But unfortunately, a lot of players don't get a chance to finish their careers with their teams. I'm looking forward to what's ahead."
The Pats selected Law, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, with the 23rd overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft.
He played in 141 games with 133 starts for New England and recorded 648 career tackles, including four sacks, 36 interceptions (tying for the most in franchise history) for 582 yards and 142 passes defensed.
Law is New England's all-time leader with six career interception returns for touchdowns in the regular season. He also returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half of New England's victory over St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI.
In 2003, Law led the NFL with 23 passes defensed and tied for the team lead with six interceptions, earning him his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth.
Note: Kicker Jeff Reed signed a $7.5 million, five-year contract yesterday that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus to stay with the team.The deal was agreed to earlier this week.