Super Bowl champion veteran or rookie, every player released this time of year is subject to waivers. For Darius Slay, that meant being claimed by the Buffalo Bills after the Pittsburgh Steelers waived him earlier this week. But Slay opted against reporting while he considers his football future. In his first interview since being cut, claimed, and declining to appear, Slay explained his situation.
“It was a little mutual decision, man,” Slay told Speakeasy’s Emmanuel Acho of leaving Pittsburgh in an interview posted shortly after midnight Friday. “Me and [Mike Tomlin] chopped it up. We just thought that was what’s best for us. Much respect to Mike T and that organization. It just ain’t pan out as it needed to be. It was all good, though. No bad blood with it. He’s a great dude, great coach. He did me the right way and 13 years in, we had a great understanding.”
Slay’s intent was to finish his career in Pittsburgh. But he struggled to fit in a Steelers’ scheme that intended to run more man coverage. With tired 34-year-old legs, Slay was exposed and too often beat in coverage while struggling as a tackler. Thanks to James Pierre’s career year, Slay’s role slowly reduced before becoming a full-on backup in Week 12 and healthy scratch in Week 13. Slay said he took no offense to being sat down.
Signed earlier this year, the Steelers got a look at Asante Samuel Jr. against the Bills and added him to the roster in place of Slay.
While Samuel effectively took Slay’s job, there’s no ill-will from Slay’s corner.
“He’s amazing man, by the way,” he said of Samuel. “He gonna be balling, for sure. I’m glad to see him back in the game.”
Buffalo and Philadelphia put in claims on Slay. With a grin, Slay said he wasn’t sure if he would’ve reported to the Eagles had they been awarded him. But it sure seems like there was a much better chance. Now a father with a family, living out of a suitcase in a new city for the final months of the season is more difficult than early in his career. Slay noted had this situation occurred five years ago, he would’ve gone to Buffalo.
“I’ve been missing out a lot of my kids activities,” Slay said. “Shoot man, mostly it’s a family decision kind of to it. We’ll just see how it goes though, but I’m gonna take it day-by-day. I just left my son’s basketball game. I ain’t see him play basketball because last couple times in Philly or whatever, I’m deep into the playoffs all into February. By that time, his season is over…that weighs on me heavy. That was a big thing with me.”
Slay thanked Tomlin for allowing him to attend a handful of his son’s games throughout the season, even when that meant missing the occasional practice. Slay also joked that Buffalo is “cold as hell” and makes for a less-appealing destination, though he praised the organization and its consistent winning seasons.
Though he failed to report, the Bills still hold Slay’s rights. He can’t voluntarily go sign elsewhere. He could ask Buffalo to release his rights in the hopes of landing somewhere like Philadelphia. But first, Slay is mapping out his future and if football still has a place in it.
“I’m not saying 1,000 [percent],” Slay said of his retirement certainty. “But your boy is so on that borderline sitting here just chilling.”
He backtracked those comments to call himself “50/50” of playing again but throughout the interview, seemed to strongly hint he was enjoying his time at home. If this is the end, Slay’s enjoyed a terrific career even if his time in Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, will become just minor footnotes.