Max Starks according to Sirius today

[pittpete]

Dont know if anyone else heard this but a caller asked about Max Starks today.
They said he was in the best shape of his life,looked really healthy for a guy after surgery and his upperbody was well defined.
Just putting it out there.
Could make this team in place of Scott as a swing tackle.

[steelz09]

It's possible if Adams isn't ready, I wouldn't mind Starks playing. He's still relatively young, just turning 30. Surprisingly, because he seems like he's been here forever.

I wouldn't even be surprised if Starks comes back as a backup.

[pittpete]

Adams,Colon,Pouncey,DeCastro,Gilbert
Starks,Essex,Legursky,Foster
2 backup tackles,3 backup guards & 3 backup centers
Lot of versatility with this group of subs.
Not looking to shabby if we get Starks back...
It is a well known fact that Max loves the city of Pittsburgh as well as the Steelers even though hes been cut and benched.

[pittpete]

Man is looking thin

MS4_profile_photo.jpg

[TD386Steel]

Love to have Max back. He is our security blanket if Adam isnt ready.

[hawaiiansteel]

FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2012

WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE

--- Many people have asked me if the Steelers plan to re-sign Max Starks, who had ACL surgery in January. I was told they would look at him again in June to see what kind of shape he’s in and how his recovery is coming along. I was told that before the draft and really have not talked to anyone about him since then. They have nothing to lose by taking a look at Starks but I don’t know if they want him as a backup. They do have depth at tackle when you consider Jonathan Scott along with Trai Essex and even Colon.

[URL="http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/116414-ed-steelers-all-defense-team-of-21st-c"]http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/i...team-of-21st-c[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

Starks awaits another chance in NFL

by Mark Kaboly - Tribune Review
Saturday, May 19.2012



The Steelers' Max Starks back in the fold during practice on the South Side Oct/ 5, 2011. (Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review)

Here are the Steelers’ current left tackle options:

Player Age Ht Wt G GS

Max Starks* 30 6-8 345 107 79

Jonathan Scott 29 6-6 310 59 29

Trai Essex 29 6-4 324 75 28

Mike Adams 22 6-7 323 0 0

* — Unrestricted free agent

When the Steelers decided to move Willie Colon to left guard and keep Marcus Gilbert at right tackle, the one person they didn’t have in mind to fill the void at left tackle was Max Starks.

The veteran free agent has yet to be contacted by the Steelers, seemingly further solidifying the team’s intentions of giving rookie second-round pick Mike Adams every opportunity of winning the left tackle job in training camp.

“I have not had contact with management or anybody like that,” Starks said Friday while on his way to rehab his surgically repaired knee in Phoenix. “I guess eventually I will hear something from them … or maybe not.”

The Steelers seem intent on revamping their offensive line, even if that means doing something they rarely do: Start rookie offensive linemen.

The Steelers have started a rookie up front to open the season three times since the 1970 merger — Tom Ricketts in 1989, Marvel Smith in 2000 and Maurkice Pouncey in 2010.

They could have two — Adams and first-round pick David DeCastro — in the starting lineup Week 1 in Denver.

The Steelers plan to have Adams, Jonathan Scott and Trai Essex battle for the starting left tackle spot during camp.

“As for myself, I don’t see (me being a part of that battle) unless there is something I don’t know,” Starks said.

Starks likely won’t be ready for the start of training camp anyway.

It’s been about four months since Dr. James Bradley repaired the ACL Starks tore in his right knee during the wild-card playoff loss to Denver.

“I am pretty good, actually,” Starks said. “I am starting lateral work movement with my ACL, and everything is moving along nicely.”

Starks has a follow-up visit with Bradley soon during which he will get a better grasp on how far along he is. An ACL tear typically carries a nine-month recovery. With that time frame, Starks would be ready close to opening week.

“It would be pushing it to be in training camp,” Starks said. “It is not unfeasible. Athletes push it to be ready in six months, but my mindset is to be ready to play by Week 1. That’s a realistic goal for me.”

If Adams doesn’t catch on quickly, the Steelers could call on Starks like they did last season.

Starks was cut two days before training camp in a salary dump. After struggling up front during the first month, the Steelers signed Starks heading into Week 5. Starks started the remaining nine games at left tackle and played well.

Starks doesn’t know whether, if called upon again, he could replicate last season’s performance, mostly because of having a new offensive coordinator in Todd Haley.

“I would need a week or so to get the plays down and the terminology,” Starks said. “It would be a different situation even coming back to the Steelers. I just want to get healthy and play for somebody. I have the mindset of rehabbing and make sure my knee is in the best possible shape and be ready to go when someone calls.”

As for the Steelers making that call?

“If the situation arises, it is something that I would definitely be interested in,” Starks said.

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/1820967-85/starks-steelers-camp-ready-tackle-adams-training-week-acl-offensive[/URL]

[Oviedo]

Not being there to learn the new offense will be challenge and will make it difficult for him to do what he did last year. They need to get him in sooner rather than later.

[MeetJoeGreene]

“I would need a week or so to get the plays down and the terminology,” Starks said. “

... Either he is a friggin genius or doesn't know how complex the new playbook is yet!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Last year, you didn't have Starks until week 5, but he saved your season.

This year, he's injured and may not be ready for the start of the season.

Why not sign him now to a minimal one year deal, let him learn the new system during OTA's, and if his ACL prevents him from being able to go from day one, just have him start the year on PUP like Mendenhall. We'd then be guaranteed to have him after 6 weeks this year (not all that different that lucking into him still being available in week 5 last year).

[pittpete]

I like ur thinking Ruthless

[Flasteel]

Last year, you didn't have Starks until week 5, but he saved your season.

This year, he's injured and may not be ready for the start of the season.

Why not sign him now to a minimal one year deal, let him learn the new system during OTA's, and if his ACL prevents him from being able to go from day one, just have him start the year on PUP like Mendenhall. We'd then be guaranteed to have him after 6 weeks this year (not all that different that lucking into him still being available in week 5 last year).

Agreed 100%. Why have J. Scott and Essex battle the rookie, when a guy who was clearly superior to both of them is right there. If Adams struggles, then we are in the same position at LT that we were in last year before Starks came in. We almost lost Max to the Vikings and he clearly wants to play somewhere, so we can't sit around too long. However, I think he'd have to medically cleared before signing a contract and that won't be happening any time soon.

[hawaiiansteel]

Trai Essex and Jonathan Scott to compete with Mike Adams, Starks not contacted

May 19th, 2012

The Steelers have a vacant left tackle position at the moment. The best bet is that Mike Adams is going to fill that void. He will have competition at that spot according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Veterans Jonathan Scott and Trai Essex will compete with Adams for the starting spot.

I do not like when guys are handed jobs without winning them out. Even if I want Adams to start and am excited about it he needs to compete for the spot. Competition in camp is a good thing. To me though even with competition what this says is it is Adams job to lose.

We saw how awful Jonathan Scott was last season. The Steelers pulled Max Starks off the street just to get Scott out of the line up. What made it worse was that Scott was given the job last year. He had no competition. Gilbert was not ready and still is not ready to play left tackle. He is a right tackle and there was no one else left on the roster. I do not even have Scott making the team this year. He is not on my 53 man roster.

Essex is a good back up. He is not a starter in this league though. He is a good enough stop gap when a player gets injured but can not be a full time guy. If could have been he would already be that guy. So really this is Adams job if he wants it. The other prospects are not up to the task of a starting left tackle.

The other option the Steelers have is Max Starks. Starks has yet to be contacted by the team though. Starks does not see himself being in the mix for the Steelers left tackle position. He also does not plan to be ready to play in training camp. He is shooting to be fully healthy by week 1.

The Steelers could do what they did last season though. They could see how Adams does and if he struggles they could reach out to Starks and bring him back. It is unlikely Starks will be signed by anyone before the season starts. He is still recovering and until teams can work him out fully he most likely will not get a job. So he should be out there if need be.

Mike Adams is going to be the starting left tackle for this team though. He would have to really screw up not to start for this team. It is his job to lose.

[URL]http://bleedblackandgold.com/blog/2012/05/19/trai-essex-and-jonathan-scott-to-compete-with-mike-adams-starks-not-contacted/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaig n=Feed%3A+BleedBlackAndGold+(Bleed+Black+and+Gold)[/URL]

[Shawn]

I would much rather have a healthy Starks starting over Adams. I think fans and Bens backside are in for a rude awakening. Adams was crazy inconsistent in college. What makes anyone think he is ready to start LT in the pros?

[Shoe]

While I agree that he solidified (possibly saved) our season, and he proved me wrong BIG-TIME last year... and he's proven me wrong his whole career... and it probably wouldn't be much to bring him back... and Ben's his buddy...

I guess I'm saying it makes sense, but I still wouldn't invite him back. And for the record, I can't recall the last time I saw a OL get abused like I saw Aldon Smith (a rookie) abuse him last year.