Free agent Ike Taylor suggested Thursday that he will give the Steelers first dibs on re-signing him once the league year begins.

"I'm pretty sure we're on the same page," said Taylor. "The ball's in their court ... I've been in Pittsburgh longer than any other city since I was born. That's home to me. Steelers Nation is crazy." Beat writer Scott Brown notes that Taylor is "father-son close" to owner Dan Rooney, and the Steelers are "too smart to try and lowball him."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook believes the Steelers decision to not draft a cornerback at No. 31 assures they will re-sign free agent Ike Taylor.

The Steelers actually took cornerbacks in both the third and fourth rounds, but after opting to pass on both Ras-I Dowling and Aaron Williams at No. 31, the odds are indeed high they will do everything they can to bring back Taylor. Since it's believed he wants to stay, there's little reason to think a deal won't get done.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review predicts that the Steelers won't struggle to re-sign free agent RCB Ike Taylor.

"The reason? Simple," writes beat reporter Scott Brown. "The veteran cornerback wants to stay in Pittsburgh and the Steelers want him back." Taylor, 31 in May, may want to consider a deal similar to the one signed by Sheldon Brown, 31 at the time, in Cleveland last spring. Taylor is better than Brown, but the three-year, $15.25 million pact could be a jump-off point.

Director of football operations Kevin Colbert confirmed Thursday that the Steelers have begun preliminary discussions with impending free agent CB Ike Taylor.

The Steelers balked at forking out $11.817 million for the transition tag, but they're confident they will be able to bring him back regardless. Taylor is now No. 1 on the team's list of priorities.

The Steelers will not use the transition tag on free agent CB Ike Taylor.

According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the Steelers hope to be "competitive" for both Taylor and RT Willie Colon as they enter free agency. Taylor is one of the team's top priorities, but they won't want to get into a big bidding war. He turns 31 in May and has been inconsistent much of his career.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review suggests the Steelers may apply the transition tag to free agent CB Ike Taylor.

Taylor is an eight-year veteran, so he's eligible for the tag. The transition tender hasn't been used as much the past five years because it now guarantees a player the average salary of the 10 highest-paid players at the position when accepted. Taylor is expected to draw plenty of interest if he hits the open market, and the Steelers could be worried about losing him to former DBs coach Ray Horton, now coordinating in Arizona.

RCB Ike Taylor "could draw multiple suitors" if he hits the open market this offseason.

The Steelers are expected to make keeping Taylor a priority, but the National Football Post's Dan Pompei calls the Cardinals a "likely suitor" should he make it to free agency. His former DBs coach Ray Horton is now coordinating Arizona's defense, and the Birds certainly need to upgrade their secondary.

PFT's Mike Florio refutes a report that the Steelers have begun contract negotiations with impending free agent Ike Taylor.

Florio suggests the Steelers "planted" the original story in a local paper in hopes of discouraging potential suitors. As a general rule, the organization does not negotiate during the season. Taylor and OLB LaMarr Woodley are expected to be the Steelers' top priorities this offseason.

The Steelers have begun contract negotiations with impending free agent RCB Ike Taylor.

It's a telling move, as the Steelers make it a policy not to negotiate during the season. Taylor has emerged as a shadow corner this season for a pass defense that led the league with just 165 yards per game over the final seven weeks. His next contract is expected to allow him to finish his career in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette expects the Steelers to "try hard" to sign impending free agent RCB Ike Taylor to an offseason extension.

The franchise tag is being reserved for LaMarr Woodley, so if the Steelers don't transition-tag Taylor, they'll need to sign him to a multi-year deal. Taylor, who turns 31 in May, told the Post-Gazette that he would "love to retire as a Steeler." Still easily the team's top cornerback, Taylor is expected to cover Greg Jennings for most of Sunday's Super Bowl.

The Steelers allowed just 165 receiving yards per game over the final seven weeks, best in the NFL.

Teams have largely given up trying to run on Pittsburgh's stout front-seven, but they're still not having much success through the air. One big reason is that DC Dick LeBeau has allowed Ike Taylor to begin shadowing top receivers. Taylor surrendered just one touchdown pass all season, zero in the final seven games.

Steelers CB Ike Taylor left for the locker room with an undisclosed injury early in Thursday night's game.

Taylor had been shadowing Steve Smith before leaving. We'll update his status as information becomes available.

The Steelers will use CB Ike Taylor to shadow opponents' No. 1 receivers this season.

Bryant McFadden or William Gay will cover "No. 2." Taylor is far from a shutdown presence, so we'd hardly steer clear of using receivers in fantasy when they're playing the Steelers. Taylor is entering a contract year, though.

The Steelers have not offered a contract extension to CB Ike Taylor, who is entering the final year of his deal.

Taylor, 30, is coming off a down year but has all the motivation as an impending free agent this season. He's smartly not going to hold out of training camp or make a fuss about his contract. Taylor excels in run defense and should have a better year against the pass with Troy Polamalu back healthy in the secondary.