EPSN.com is reporting that the NFL lockout should be lifted within 48 hours, ushering in perhaps the most chaotic period in the NFL’s history.

Going by the time table outlined by ESPN, free agency should begin by Saturday the 30th of July.

Teams will be able to negotiate with their own free agents beginning on Wednesday of this week.

The Steelers of course have a number of free agents, but none by any stretch of the imagination are more important than Ike Taylor.

The Steelers weakness, as exposed last season by Drew Brees and Tom Brady and ultimately Aaron Rodgers in Super Bowl XLV, is their secondary. Specifically speaking, the Steelers have one quality starting cornerback in a league where you generally need three.

Gerry Dulac and Ed Bouchette both have reported that Taylor remains the Steelers free agent priority and both report that the Steelers think they can sign him.

The Steelers in fact attempted to resign Ike Taylor before the NFL lockout began but were unsuccessful. Taylor says he wants to stay with the Steelers, but clearly the Taylor is not offering a hometown discount.

The NFL’s new salary cap might leave the Steelers struggling for space, although any reduction in overall cash expenditures will affect other teams as well.

The Steelers have succeeded in free agency because they avoid bidding wars and refuse to overpay.

But one thing is certain.

It is much more a case of the Steelers needing a Ike Taylor back than simply wanting him back.

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