While the Philadelphia Eagles brought back most of the roster that captured a Super Bowl last year, Darius Slay was one of the notable departures. As he prepares for this new chapter of his career, a former player threw the gauntlet down to the All-Pro cornerback.
Over the past few years, NFL veterans have created various "summits" for different positions. The biggest being "Tight End University," which features an array of the top players at the position. Cornerback is one position that doesn't have such a gathering, and many want to see that change.
Earlier this week, New York Jets star Sauce Gardner was a guest on The Pat McAfee Show. While speaking with Darius Butler, the two talked about him forming an offseason event for NFL defensive backs. Gardner admitted that it's something he's talked about with guys across the league, with Slay being one of the notable names.
Gardner proceeded to poke fun at Slay, saying that it's his fault such a spectacle hasn't formed. That said, the Jets' defensive back is eager to make it happen.
"I've always been for that," Gardner said. "I'm gonna blame it on Slay. His fault, but I'm definitely for that and I definitely want that to happen as well."
Following this interview, Butler took to social media to apply further pressure to Slay. He threw the gauntlet down to the veteran defensive back, imploring him to set an offseason training event.
Back in March, the Eagles decided to waive Slay. This ended a five-year run with the franchise that began when Philly traded for the star cornerback from the Detroit Lions in 2020.
During his time with the Eagles, Slay was a key piece of the team's defense. Along with racking up three Pro-Bowl selections during his time in Philly, he also helped the franchise capture a Super Bowl last season. With the front office investing in young players in the secondary, they've decided to move on from the 34-year-old.
Upon entering free agency, Slay landed a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This decision has worked out for him, as they've added multiple key pieces and are poised to contend. Following their recent blockbuster trade for Jalen Ramsey, Slay has a chance to form one of the NFL's top cornerback duos.
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