AlliedNews.com - Grove City, Pennsylvania

Sports

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
March 6, 2013

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Does Willie Gay return mean Lewis is leaving?

By Corey J. Corbin Allied News Sports Columnist

OPINION — WELL, KEENAN LEWIS it was nice knowing you.

That was the exact thought that went through my mind Sunday evening when I heard William Gay was returning to the Steelers after being released by Arizona.

Well not exactly, but this is a family newspaper and I have to keep things PC.

As you can probably tell, I’m not a big fan of ‘Big Play’ Willie Gay — I have another notso PC nickname for him that’s unfit for print — or his capabilities as a starting cornerback.

I think he’d be OK as a nickelback, but honestly, I’d prefer the Steelers put more of an effort to bring Lewis back into the fold to compete with Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen, who was something of a surprise once the lights came on towards the end of the season.

The threesome of Taylor, Allen and Lewis would have made as fine of a cornerback trio as there is in the league for my money in terms of overall talent at shutting down the pass.

Notice, I mentioned ‘overall talent at shutting down the pass’ because I know there are better corners out there at intercepting passes, but don’t — or won’t — tackle as well as getting hands on balls.

Teams typically don’t test Taylor, but Lewis proved he was at least Taylor’s equal in his first year as a starter and I’d happily give him $7 million a year to keep him in Black and Gold.

Back to Gay, I had a feeling as soon as the news broke that Arizona had severed ties with him that he was coming back to the ’Burgh ala Larry Foote and the Detroit Lions a few years back.

Then I saw Steelers beat writer for the Post-Gazette Ed Bouchette’s tweet about Gay returning and my worst nightmares were realized.

No I take that back, my worst nightmare (sports wise) almost happened this year had we played and lost to New England.

As it stood, the Steelers lost to the Ravens (my most hated team), the Cowboys (my brother’s favorite team) and the Browns (the favorite team of many co-workers). The only thing that could’ve made that trifecta worse would’ve been a loss to the Patriots.

But I digress, it seems like the Steelers settled for familiarity with Gay instead of trying harder to coax Lewis back to Pittsburgh.

I don’t know if the market for Gay’s services would’ve been too great — maybe only Ray Horton and the Cleveland Browns, anyone? — and probably would’ve still been available had the Steelers waited to sign him until Lewis declared his intentions to sign with another team.

Maybe by signing Gay, the Steelers have hurt Lewis’ feeling and ultimately pushed him out the door, something I wouldn’t have done.

But what do I know, I’m just a lowly sports writer in Grove City, Pennsylvania.



Agree, disagree or just want to comment? Contact Corey at gcsportsguy@yahoo.com.

Text Only
Sports
  • STAIRWAY TO SEVEN: Mike Adams is an example about making good decisions

    ANOTHER OFFSEASON AND another Pittsburgh Steeler in the news for all the wrong reasons.
    This time, it was second-year offensive tackle Mike Adams, who was stabbed in the stomach and forearm last weekend during a reported carjacking.
    According to police reports, a witness flagged down police around 3 a.m. near Carson Street in Pittsburgh and Adams was found bleeding in a nearby restaurant.

    June 5, 2013

  • EXTRA INNINGS: Nobody hit home runs like Willie Stargell

    THE MOST IMPORTANT fact about Garrett Jones’ monster two-run home run Sunday is that it tied the Reds-Pirates game at 4 in the eighth inning. But the most historic fact about the achievement is that the shot made him the first Pirate in the 13-year history of PNC Park to hit a ball on the fly into the Allegheny River.
    Before Sunday, the only other player to reach the water on the fly was Houston’s Darryl Ward, when he connected off Kip Wells in July 2002.

    June 5, 2013

  • THE CHECKERED FLAG: Holtgraver doubles up at Mercer

    LAST FRIDAY I planned on taking in the World of Outlaw Sprint Car show at Attica (OH) Raceway Park, but Mother Nature had other ideas washing out the event for the second straight year.  Storms were all throughout the Buckeye State that washed out just about every venue including the first ever Patriot 360 Sprint Car event at Raceway 7. 
    The weather though was clear at Lernerville Speedway and I finally made my first visit of the season to the Sarver oval. 

    June 5, 2013

  • NCAA Football: Rock 6-1 after 17-3 win over Cal U

    Slippery Rock University rode a length-of-the-field scoring drive by its offense and a goal-line stand by its No. 1-ranked defense late in the first half of action Saturday to a 17-3 win over 14th-ranked visiting California (Pa.).

    October 19, 2011

  • steez pc.jpg NFL: Steelers top Jags as Mendenhall makes return

    Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are back. Not after watching his team sleepwalk through the second half against Jacksonville on Sunday.

    October 19, 2011 1 Photo

  • wheldon, dan pc.jpg IndyCar Racing: Crash takes Wheldon’s life

    Every race car driver heads onto the track understanding this race could be the last and hoping it won’t be. On Sunday, IndyCar drivers got a harsh reminder when the worst happened to one of their own.

    October 19, 2011 3 Photos

  • pens pc.jpg NHL: Sabres beat Penguins 3-2

    The Buffalo Sabres have had trouble with the Pittsburgh Penguins whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin play or not.

    October 19, 2011 1 Photo

  • canadiens logo pc.jpg NHL Quick glance: Montreal at Pittsburgh

    A breakdown of the National Hockey League game Thursday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and visiting Montreal Canadiens.

    October 19, 2011 4 Photos

  • High School Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011

    A look at the last few days in local high school fall sports action.

    October 19, 2011

  • washington, ron pc.jpg Leading Off: Oct. 19, 2011

    News and notes from the local, regional and national sports scene.

    October 19, 2011 5 Photos