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                                  Starks Signs 4 Year Deal

By Ramona Dye                                                                                  

Our Steelers have signed starting tackle Max Starks to a four year, $26.3 million dollar contract with a $10 million signing bonus.

Our offensive line now has a crucial player in place for the next couple of seasons. Starks gets his money and the Steelers trim about $3 million off our salary cap.

Starks was the starting RT on the 2005 Super Bowl team. Due to weight issues the next two seasons Tomlin gave his job to rookie Willie Colon in 2007. After Marvel Smith continued to have problems throughout the 2007 season, Tomlin gave Starks the opportunity to finish out the year at LT.

A back injury to Marvel Smith forced the Steelers to put the franchise tag on Max, which made him the highest paid backup OL on the team. 

After only 5 games, Smith went down due to his back problems. Once again Max stepped in to the LT spot.

Max performed well as the team went on to win their record sixth Super Bowl title.

During the 2008 season, Starks lined up against Pro Bowl caliber LBs and DEs almost every week. Yet he surrendered the second LEAST number of sacks. I'd say that's pretty impressive.

Following the season, once again, our Steelers placed the franchise tag on Starks, which set his salary for 2009 at approximately $8.5 million according to the collective bargaining agreement.

Starks has taken some criticism for accepting an extra $1.55 million in guaranteed money in lieu of free agency during an uncapped year, but the deal must have made sense to him. And it's a good deal for the team, as it frees up cap space. A win all the way around for us.

Since he was due eight with the franchise tag, we're getting him for an extra year at less than half price. Plus the last two seasons (worth about $16 million) are optional.

As always, Here We Go!