Cortez Allen and Steelers Agree on New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

September 7, 2014   ·   Tim Keeney   ·   Jump to comments

With less than 24 hours until the first Sunday of the NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have eliminated at least one potential distraction. 
The team's official Twitter feed announced Saturday night they have locked up 25-year-old cornerback Cortez Allen with a five-year contract extension:
After playing sparingly in nickel and dime defenses and on special times as a rookie, Allen has started 11 games over the past two seasons, including eight in 2013. Over that span, he has four interceptions and 23 pass deflections, per football-reference.com. 
Those obviously aren't overwhelming numbers, but stats hardly ever tell the entire story for defensive backs. In reality, Allen has continually been improving since being drafted in the fourth round in 2011 and has established himself as the team's best player at a position where the Steelers are extremely thin. 
With Ike Taylor aging, Mike Tomlin and his staff weren't going to be able to afford to let Alle...

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