Mike Florio has written his 10 worst offseason moves , and the Steelers have made the list with what he writes is the 7th worst move. Florio writes that the Steelers placing the franchise tag on Max Starks was a bad move, and here’s his take on it:
7. Pittsburgh Steelers using franchise tag on Max Starks
Last year, the Steelers inexplicably opted to apply the transition tag to tackle Max Starks. Given that there was no significant market for his services, he promptly signed the tender... Read Full Story
March 11, 2009
By Donald Starver
Note: This is the sixth installment in a series. If you haven’t already read the earlier installments, please click the links below
Part 1 ,
Part 2 ,
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
In the last two installments in this series, I suggested that the Steelers’ first priority in the upcoming draft should be defensive line, and their second priority should be defensive backs. Now I plan to discuss what I believe should be the Steelers’ third priority... Read Full Story
Before reading this week’s key match-ups, please read my Steelers-Cowboys Preview . Also, you may want to read our reports on the Steelers and Cowboys historical rivalry by clicking here .
Each week I look at the key match-ups that will most likely impact the outcome of the game. Here are this week’s key match-ups.
Steelers’ linebackers James Harrison vs. Cowboys LT Flozell Adams
Last week, James Harrison faced off against the Patriots’ Pro Bowl left tackle Matt Light. After 2 sacks... Read Full Story
So far, the Steelers have gone according to their usual script during the free agency period. The Steelers typically seek first to re-sign their own players. Then, once the big spenders have left the pool, the Steelers will usually make a free agent signing or two that cause little splash. The Steelers never sign big name free agents, but the ones that they sign often make a big contribution.
Recent Steelers free agent signings include Justin Hartwig, Keyaron Fox, and Ryan Clark. James... Read Full Story
February 19, 2009
By Donald Starver
Steelers’ offensive tackle Max Starks must have been born in a field of four leaf clovers. And he must carry a rabbit’s foot in his pocket. And he probably throws about 10 pounds of salt over his shoulder each morning. If you can think of anything else that brings good luck, Starks probably does that too.
Last year, the Steelers placed the transition tag on Starks, and ended up paying him $6.9 million, even though he wasn’t able to win a starting... Read Full Story
Offensive tackle Max Starks was designated as the Pittsburgh Steelers' franchise player on Thursday, the second successive year they have retained the two-time Super Bowl starter by placing a tag on him. Starks made $6.9 million last year as a transition player, although he didn't begin the season as a starter. He ended up starting 11 games at left tackle after Marvel Smith was injured. "We were happy we had Max Starks available to us when he was needed," Steelers director of football... Read Full Story
The Steelers today made sure that they would for all intensive purposes not lose tackle Max Starks, as they placed the franchise tag on him. The tackle had the transition tag on him last season, and had an interesting year in which he started the year on the bench, only to end it on the field in Tampa with a Super Bowl title.
“We were happy we had Max Starks available to us when he was needed,” Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said. “We were fortunate that he was... Read Full Story
Looks like the Steelers are making their decisions about what O-linemen they want to sign before free agency starts on February 27th. Today’s Pittsbugh Tribune-Review says that it will come down to either Max Starks or Marvel Smith. Here is the report:
The Steelers will likely make a push to retain either Max Starks or Marvel Smith prior to the start of the free-agent signing period at the end of the month. Both are unrestricted free agents, as is Trai Essex. If the Steelers lose all... Read Full Story
We have talked already about the Steelers issues on the O-line, and when it comes to free agency, the team has a couple O-lineman they are going to have to make decisions on. Today’s Tribune-Review thinks that Max Starks should be a player that gets a long look in free agency:
The worst thing about the Steelers winning Super Bowl XLIII is that their players are likely to be more in demand from other teams looking to sign them as free agents. There’s a very real possibility that either... Read Full Story
The Steelers will have right tackle Max Starks back in 2008, albeit at a whopping deal worth about $7 mil for one year. Starks, who was marked with the transition tag by the team, didn’t get much interest on the market, and signed his one-year deal with the team on Sunday. The one-year deal will make him $6.9 million, he’ll be the second-highest paid player on the team next to franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger.
Starks was the Steelers third-round pick from Florida back in 2004. Last summer... Read Full Story
