When we last left Ike Taylor, his name was being etched into the Tebow scriptures after a bad beat on Demaryius Thomas' 80-yard touchdown in the playoffs.
Taylor has moved on, and so have the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in the process of a delicate restructuring of their roster.
Longtime wide receiver Hines Ward was cut and later retired. The veteran exodus continued with James Farrior, Aaron Smith and Chris Keneoeatu all being shown the door.
"You know the change is coming you just don't know when," Taylor said Tuesday in a sitdown with Around The League at NFL Network studios. "As a player you can't really control that, so you have to know coming into the NFL, it's a business and you have to understand that part of it."
Asked who the Steelers will miss the most next season, Taylor didn't hesitate.
"I'm going to go with James Farrior, because he's like a big brother to me," he said. "He's a natural-born leader who doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Just being a stand-up guy on both ends, offensively and defensively, showing young guys and older guys how to be a professional. That's who James Farrior was."
Taylor said he talks to Farrior every week, and didn't rule out the linebacker trying to return elsewhere for a 16th season.
"He's chillin'," Taylor said. "He said don't call him about no workin' out. He's on vacation."
