Steelers franchise Starks

[Steelhere10]

in postgazette

[Steelhere10]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

Steelers franchise Starks
Thursday, February 19, 2009
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Steelers have placed the franchise tag on offensive tackle Max Starks, a move that will keep him from entering free agency and guarantee him $8.451 million in salary -- the average of the NFL's top five offensive linemen -- in the 2009 season.

The Steelers will try to work out a long-term deal with Starks, a No. 3 draft choice in 2004 who started 11 games last season at left tackle.

It is the second year in a row the Steelers have used a tag to keep Starks from becoming an unrestricted free agent. He was named a transition player last season, even though he wasn't a starter, and was paid $6.9 million.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

Steelers franchise Starks
Thursday, February 19, 2009
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Steelers have placed the franchise tag on offensive tackle Max Starks, a move that will keep him from entering free agency and guarantee him $8.451 million in salary -- the average of the NFL's top five offensive linemen -- in the 2009 season.

The Steelers will try to work out a long-term deal with Starks, a No. 3 draft choice in 2004 who started 11 games last season at left tackle.

It is the second year in a row the Steelers have used a tag to keep Starks from becoming an unrestricted free agent. He was named a transition player last season, even though he wasn't a starter, and was paid $6.9 million.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, Oviedo, I have now left Fantasy (Is)land and am now LOST!!!!

[AkronSteel]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks



It's a good move! Secure what we can secure and try to either work out a long term deal or draft his replacement in April and let it play out for another year. It gives the team security considering all of our OT's are FA's!!!

[Steelhere10]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

i have no problems with it, as long as they discard both guards , center and right tackle.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

I would wait until after the draft to start talking long-term deals with Starks. If one of the stud LT's starts to fall and we have the opportunity to trade up and get one, I would be happy to have Starks for one year and then have the rookie take over after that (perhaps the rookie tackle could start his first year on the right side before moving over to the left side in year two, allowing us to move Colon inside). If we aren't able to get a decent LT prospect in the draft, then start talking long term deals with Starks.

[AkronSteel]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

i have no problems with it, as long as they discard both guards , center and right tackle.

Thats pretty good!!! It does give the team options though! I would personally go like this!

LT: Starks
LG: Colon
C: Hartwig
RG: Stapleton/Simmons
RT: Rookie

Would probably be a much better situation for our $100 million dollar Super Bowl Clutch QB!

[calmkiller]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

/sigh

I would have rather signed Smith to a one year deal and drafted a Rookie as a replacement. Personally I think Max is a bum, but this is a smart move as it doesn't back us into a corner. We now have a LT under contract for next season, Hopefully we draft his replacement this year.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

The tagline on ESPN.com reads "But will he start? Starks franchised by Steelers"

Steelers tag Starks for second time
By John Clayton
ESPN.com

For the second consecutive season, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks received the team's franchise tag -- even though he isn't guaranteed a job as a starter.

Starks became the 13th NFL player tagged before the 4 p.m. ET deadline for such designation. He received a one-year tender at $8.451 million. Last year, Starks had a $6.985 million franchise tender. The franchise number given to Starks this year was based on the average of the top-five cap numbers of offensive linemen around the league from last season.

Any team wishing to sign Starks would have to surrender two first-round draft picks, but the Steelers would have seven days to match any offer and, thus, keep him.

Despite being franchised last year, Starks started the regular season on the bench. Left tackle Marvel Smith had back problems during the season and Starks took over the position and helped the Steelers to their sixth Super Bowl title.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

Clayton's numbers are correct, but he incorrectly states that we used the franchise tag on him last year...it was the transition tag.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

i have no problems with it, as long as they discard both guards , center and right tackle.

Thats pretty good!!! It does give the team options though! I would personally go like this!

LT: Starks
LG: Colon
C: Hartwig
RG: Stapleton/Simmons
RT: Rookie

Would probably be a much better situation for our $100 million dollar Super Bowl Clutch QB!

Now that we have Starks, I'd like to see:

LT:Starks
LG: Mack/Robinson
C: Hartwig
RG: Simmons/Stapleton/Urbik
RT: Hills/Colon

[Iron Shiek]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

Yup Ruthless I agree. No need to rush to a long term deal just yet. We get some stability and flexibility to go in whatever direction we want to at this point. Fine move by me.

Its interesting what a difference a year makes. Last year we transition him and he gets almost 7 million and you woulda thought this guy took the Michael Vick thing a step further and televised the dog fighting/killing and was getting a contract still.

Now, he gets an additional 1.5 million but most of us are pretty cool with it. Way to reform yourself Fat Max.

[WoodleyofTroy]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

I like it. We get continuity on the line, especially when we know he'll be playing at high level again fighting for his big day. All while bringing along some more talent through the draft at the same time.

[AkronSteel]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

i have no problems with it, as long as they discard both guards , center and right tackle.

Thats pretty good!!! It does give the team options though! I would personally go like this!

LT: Starks
LG: Colon
C: Hartwig
RG: Stapleton/Simmons
RT: Rookie

Would probably be a much better situation for our $100 million dollar Super Bowl Clutch QB!

Now that we have Starks, I'd like to see:

LT:Starks
LG: Mack/Robinson
C: Hartwig
RG: Simmons/Stapleton/Urbik
RT: Hills/Colon

I would take that but I just really don't wanna see Colon starting at RT! The guy gets Ben killed every time we face an above average speed rusher! I just think we could move Colon inside and it would make for a better situation. I still would like to get Mack or Unger early in the draft and get another tackle in either Round 2 or 3! This line needs rebuilt all the way across! Max did however play pretty good this season when given the opportunity!!!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

i have no problems with it, as long as they discard both guards , center and right tackle.

Thats pretty good!!! It does give the team options though! I would personally go like this!

LT: Starks
LG: Colon
C: Hartwig
RG: Stapleton/Simmons
RT: Rookie

Would probably be a much better situation for our $100 million dollar Super Bowl Clutch QB!

Now that we have Starks, I'd like to see:

LT:Starks
LG: Mack/Robinson
C: Hartwig
RG: Simmons/Stapleton/Urbik
RT: Hills/Colon

I like the idea of guys like Alex Mack and Kraig Urbik improving our interior o-line.

[MaxAMillion]

Re: Steelers franchise Starks

This takes a chunk out of that 19 million that the Steelers had under the cap. Hopefully the team can negotiate a long term deal. I wonder if this means BMac is gone. Oh well, can't keep everyone.