The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached a verbal agreement on a
contract with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Carnell Lake.
Lake will be in Jacksonville on Saturday to sign his contract and
take a physical. A media availability is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the
family waiting room at ALLTEL Stadium. Length and terms of
Lake's contract are not disclosed. He will be the second free agent
to sign with the Jaguars, following defensive lineman Gary Walker
of the Tennessee Titans, who signed a contract on Friday.
Lake, 31, is a three-time All-Pro selection and has played in four
Pro Bowls. He is a big-play defender who has started at both safety
and cornerback over 10 seasons with the Steelers.
In 1998, Lake started all 16 games at left cornerback. He made 63
tackles, four interceptions, one fumble recovery, one sack and 16
passes defensed. In 10 years, Lake has started all 154 games in
which he has played, missing only six games because of injuries
(and none since 1996). He has 16 career interceptions (three for
touchdowns), 16 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries (two for
TDs). Lake has also made 738 tackles (614 solo), as well as 21.5
sacks, the most ever for a Steelers defensive back.
Lake was a second-round draft choice of the Steelers in 1989, when
he earned first-team All-Rookie honors. He was a three-year
starter and All-America selection as an outside linebacker at
UCLA. He was an honorable mention All-America at Culver City
High School in Inglewood, Calif. Lake and his wife, Monica, have a
daughter, Siena.
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