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I would not give the Steelers too much credit just yet. They could be paying 6.9 mil this year for a back up tackle coming off a knee injury. If that turns out to be the case, then it was a dumb move on their part.

i believe they would be able to re work his contract so they're not paying him that much. i, personally, would've let him go. he's slow and useless. watching him play truely hurts.

Remember he is still a baby. A huge baby, at that. Let him get healthy and learn the position, he may develop into a nice player. The Steelers have a great reputation of recognizing talent and developing it. They are patient. I believe he will be okay in time. Most offensive lineman (unless they are lottery picks) take a few years before becoming completely comfortable in the pros.

I hope the Steelers know what they are doing with Starks because paying 6.9 million dollars for a back up is rediculous. Maybe he will develop into the player the Steelers think he will, but I'm not sold on him.

steelcurtain32 ....You cannot rework a ttransition or franchise tag . It is a contract written in stone for one year. You could sign the player to a new contract, but you did not or could not agree on one with the player, which is why you tag him..Starks is not walking away from 6.9 GARUNTEED money. It is his if he gets hurt and never plays again, including training camp..

since when is Max Starks worth 6.9 million? ridiculous.

Steelers you better keep him ... your running game is awesome!

Steelers just bought themselves a year toeither groom a replacement (rokie acquired in draft) and did not feel like overpaying someone for 5 years. So, they overpad for one year and take only a caphit for this year. Fat Max Starks will be motivated to play well and will get him big contract and leave after 08 and whomever the Steelers have chosen to groom will be ready. The Steelers do notstart rookie tackles. Guards like Faneca yes. This was the most practical alternative.

this way they can get a blue chip guard like Branden Albert and start him.

you need to get this big brother mad and fired up and he can flatten some folks. Dude went to Iraq toisit vets a few years back and damn almost flooded the Tigris and Euphrates

One out of one hundred - well you get it right once in awhile !!!

50yearfan - Any team can rescind a transition tag no matter how much the player won't want them to. Since the Steelers can say "nope" to Starks, they are then in a position to offer him a contract more commensurate with his ability.

I think the Steelers have built a pretty respectable track resord of player development. 5 rings say they have a clue.

They will probably lose him like they lost Faneca and totally be screwed on the O line this year

If you think that the Steelers can't get it right, look at the Raiders, Redskins, Cardinals, Niners...

HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO!!!!

here we go...they just signed a new center, Justin Hartwig to a 2 year $4 million deal. He will be the starter with Mahan being backup for guard and center...thank GOD

I stand corrected..more like 2 years $3,725,000 with $975,000 signing bonus