This probably isn’t how Darius Slay thought this was going to go.
Slay, who won a Super Bowl last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, made a shocking move and decided not to report to the Buffalo Bills after he was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers one day prior and picked up the Bills on waivers.
“Breaking: Veteran CB Darius Slay, whom the Buffalo Bills claimed on waivers Thursday, is unsure if he wants to continue playing and will not be reporting to Buffalo,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Thursday, December 4.
“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Slay’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter and ESPN.
Slay, 34 years old, was likely betting on no team picking him up on waivers, which would have allowed him to pick whatever team he wanted — which could have meant a reunion with the Eagles.
“Six-time Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay informed the Bills he is contemplating retirement and will not report after being claimed off waivers, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account. “Slay, 34, was cut by the Steelers on Tuesday. Buffalo retains his rights for now in case Slay changes his mind.”
Social Media Reacts to Slay Ghosting Bills
Slay’s less-than-brief tenure with the Bills was quickly turned into social media cannon fodder.
“Darius Slay and Drew Rosenhaus are essentially forcing his way to the Eagles by threatening retirement as he ‘contemplates his future,’ ” The Philly Special’s Anthony DiBona wrote on his official X account. “Yet the Bills don’t technically have to comply with anything that Slay or Rosenhaus want. But things are tricky with such a powerful agent.”
Slay signed a 1-year, $10 million free agent contract with the Steelers in March. The Eagles have been desperate to find a competent outside cornerback to play across from second-year star Quinyon Mitchell all season.
“I think it’s pretty simple,” Buffalo Plus YouTube’s Mike Catalana wrote on his official X account. “The Bills claimed Darius Slay because they know he can still play (man and zone) A year ago an injury forced the Bills to play Kaiir Elam in the AFC title game. Slay was playing in the Super Bowl. No surprise the Eagles wanted him back. Don’t go by anything the Steelers did.”
Slay Was Great for Eagles in Super Bowl Run
The Eagles released Slay, a 6-time Pro Bowler, to save an estimated $4.3 million in salary cap space.
The 34-year-old Slay sure didn’t seem like a player toward the end of his career during the Eagles’ dominant run to the Super Bowl — especially when he racked up 6 tackles and 3 pass deflections in a 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
Slay finished the postseason with 14 tackles, 5 pass deflections and 1 interception.
“A near reunion: The Eagles also put in a claim for CB Darius Slay, source said, hoping for their former starting CB to return to Philly,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “But Buffalo had priority and got him.”
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