LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – He was careful to say the Steelers are still a winning team, but coming from Philadelphia last year, corner Darius Slay said of why he thinks he and a few others are now Steelers.
“Mike T brought some guys that’s kinda like, not to say this is not a championship organization, this is a championship organization, but guys that have been to that championship before,” Slay said after practice was rained out Tuesday. “Bring that culture around guys that are younger. They have a young group that is coming in, got some very young talent and guys that are still trying to get them a Super Bowl.”
Slay believes they bring a championship attitudes with them from other organizations. Along with Slay and Kenneth Gainwell winning with the Eagles, Jalen Ramsey and Robert Woods won a title with the Rams, Juan Thornhill in KC and Aaron Rodgers a little while ago with Green Bay.
The 34-year-old said he’s here to be whatever the Steelers need him to be. He’s played mostly outside and as he put it, playing outside and man coverage is what got him paid. He’s also played in the slot years ago in Detroit. Slay is in the top 10 in interceptions among active players, four ahead of his new teammate, Jalen Ramsey.
Ramsey is the Charles Woodson of this generation according to Slay, saying he’s not him, but like Woodson in that he can play nickel, safety or corner and be great at all of them. For the Pittsburgh perspective, it sounds like Rod Woodson. Slay said Ramsey is a part of a group chat of elite corners across the league where they discuss everything, but more things ‘bigger than football’. Now these two champs are teammates.
“The fact that we get to play together now, I wish I was a lot younger,” Slay said with a smile.
“We all play the game the right the same way, the right way. I play it hard. He plays it hard, just in different ways. I laugh and giggle, a lot. I play a lot. Jalen is more serious at all times, trying to get in everybody’s mind. I’m more like, I’m excited playing football, trying to win this down.”
Slay said they will get Joey Porter into the chat as the three corners work to figure out how they will divide the snaps and positions.
“I’m here to do whatever I need to do to help the team win and be successful,” Slay said. “That’s why he brought us here for, guys who could get in the faces of elite receivers in this conference, in this division.”
“We are looking forward to the challenge.”