At his fifth annual "Shear The Beard" charity event, Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel addressed the mounting speculation on his future, and the subject of retirement.
"It's getting close," Keisel said. "That's the way this business goes. Been preparing for when that day comes. I'll be ready, and by 'that day' I mean the end. But right now, I am under contract and I'm going to rehab and we'll see where things turn out."
Keisel, Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and Ike Taylor represent the core of the Steelers defensive dominance over the past decade. While Keisel is still under contract for one more season, Taylor will be a free agent, and during an interview last week in Arizona, Taylor was asked if he would play for another NFL team. He didn't hide his willingness to leave the Steelers, especially if it meant following his former defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau.
"If Coach LeBeau was there, yes," he said. "If the timing and money was right, yes."
On Thursday, LeBeau was officially introduced as an assistant head coach for the Titans, so it's possible that Taylor could finish his career in Tennessee.
Harrison's future is also up in the air. He signed a one-year deal when he returned to the Steelers last September. While it's not impossible that Harrison could return at some point, it appears unlikely that he'll be with the Steelers for the start of camp, and Harrison could very well make the decision to call it a career.
Then there's Polamalu. With 12 years of a Hall of Fame-caliber career under his belt, and with his 34th birthday approaching, it's possible, perhaps even likely, that Polamalu will also choose to retire.
Polamalu and Harrison are each former AP NFL Defensive Players of the Year with 13 Pro Bowls between them. Keisel played in one Pro Bowl, but says the relationships with his teammates are what he values most.
"It makes you just appreciate what we had and what we did," Keisel said. "The friendships we have will last forever. It's so much more than just football. It's the bond that we have together."