Steelers keep OT Starks

Steelers keep OT Starks http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08052/859260-66.stm Steelers keep OT Starks Give lineman 'transition' tag From local and wire dispatches The Steelers took a big step yesterday toward trying to solidify their offensive line by placing the "transition" tag on unrestricted tackle Max Starks -- a move that means the team will have to pay Starks the average of the top 10 tackles in the National Football League. With the Steelers already expected to lose Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca in free agency, the move to keep Starks also means the team won't have to be as active in free agency in an attempt to rebuild their offensive line. Starks, a four-year veteran and two-year starter, lost his starting right tackle position last season to Willie Colon, a move that all but signaled the end of his Steelers career. But, when left tackle Marvel Smith was injured late in the season, Starks played so well at left tackle that he drastically increased his free-agent value and forced the Steelers to reconsider his value to the team. By placing the transition tag on Starks, the Steelers also have first right of refusal should another team try to sign the 6-foot-8, 345-pound tackle. Elsewhere Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark signed a new six-year contract.... The Green Bay Packers designated defensive tackle Corey Williams as their franchise player and cut veteran tight end Bubba Franks.... Tennessee tagged defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth as their franchise player.... The Oakland Raiders placed the franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Another Raiders cornerback, Fabian Washington, was released on bond after being arrested at the Florida home he shares with his girlfriend and charged with domestic battery.... Defensive end Bertrand Berry has agreed to restructure the remaining year of his contract with the Arizona Cardinals.... The Minnesota Vikings released seven-year veteran safety Dwight Smith. First published on February 21, 2008 at 1:48 am

Steelers place transition tag on Starks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_553414.html Page 1 of 2 Steelers place transition tag on Starks By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW INDIANAPOLIS - With All-Pro guard Alan Faneca all but gone, the Steelers moved to shore up their offensive line even before the start of the free-agent signing period and the NFL draft. The team placed the transition tag on Max Starks on Wednesday, though that doesn't guarantee the tackle will be with the Steelers for this season. By making Starks, who would have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month, a transition player, the Steelers have the right to match any offer that is made to the fourth-year pro. The team has a week to match any offers. If the Steelers do not match an offer that is made to Starks, they will receive no compensation if he signs elsewhere. If Starks does not sign with another team, the Steelers are required to pay him the average of the 10 highest salaries for offensive lineman in 2007 (roughly $6.9 million) next season. The sides, however, could agree to terms on a longterm contract extension. Starks lost his starting right tackle job to Willie Colon last season, but he filled in capably at left tackle when starter Marvel Smith was sidelined with back problems. Starks also played tight end in short-yardage situations in 2007 and also was on the kick-block special-teams unit. He missed the Steelers' 31-29 loss to the Jaguars in an AFC wild-card game because of a meniscus tear in his left knee. Using the transition tag on Starks signals that the Steelers want insurance at left tackle in case Smith continues to battle back problems. It could also portend shuffling along the offensive line as there has been speculation that the Steelers may move Colon to guard and that guard Kendall Simmons could be given a look at center. Faneca is certain to sign elsewhere, as the Steelers declined to use the franchise tag on the seven-time Pro Bowler. Had the Steelers used the franchise tag on Faneca, they would have had to pay him the average of the top five salaries for offensive linemen ($7.455 million) this past season in 2008, or they would have received two first-round picks as compensation if he signed somewhere else.

Steelers Q & A: Scott Brown answers your questions - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_535828.html Steelers Q & A: Scott Brown answers your questions By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tribune-Review Steelers writer Scott Brown answers your questions about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Q: I keep hearing that the Steelers need a WR? I don't understand this, they won the Super Bowl with Ward, Wilson, and Randle-El, then we drafted Holmes. I don't care if we have Superman out there, if Ben doesn't have time they can't get the ball! We need to do something in the draft to help the line. And here is my big question: why are we not playing Wilson at the three? He did not drop one pass this year. He catches everything thrown to him. Since he has been here I think he has dropped three passes. I watched him closely as a season ticket holder this past year and when he is in there he is usually wide open, he makes great play routes, why aren't we getting him more involved? - John Andrascik of Greensburg Couldn't agree more that it doesn't matter who is playing wide receiver for the Steelers if they can't protect Roethlisberger. You do have to admit though that if the "Man of Steel" suited for the Steelers Ben could just throw a jump ball to him every time and let him outleap the defensive backs for it! Wilson, as you pointed, out was largely forgotten in the offense last season, and I'm not sure why. With his hands and his quickness, he would appear to be an ideal slot receiver. But the coaches who see him every day in practice obviously didn't see enough out of Wilson to play him more last season. And since he isn't getting any younger, I wouldn't expect his role to increase next season, and he could well be the odd man out if the Steelers add a wide receiver through free agency or the draft. I do think they need to upgrade the position but I'm with you in thinking that the Steelers need to address offensive line early in the draft. They should also consider signing a free agent that can compete for a starting spot along the offensive line. As I've said many times, Ben Roethlisberger will become the highest-paid player in franchise history -- and sooner rather than later -- and the Steelers need to do everything they can to protect the investment they will make in him.

NFL union prez: HGH use not common - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_553520.html Page 1 of 2 NFL union prez: HGH use not common By The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS - The use of human growth hormone is more of a problem in baseball than in football, the president of the NFL Players Association insists. "We feel it's not something that's common in our space," former defensive back Troy Vincent said Wednesday before the start of the NFL scouting combine. The NFL and other leagues don't currently test for HGH. Vincent said the question of how soon a reliable test would be available was a topic of discussion at a meeting Wednesday involving commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw and more than a dozen players. New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison was suspended for the first four games of this past season after he admitted using "a banned substance," reportedly HGH, for the purpose of "accelerating the healing process." But Vincent doesn't believe that many other players in a violent game also are seeking to speed up their recuperation with banned substances. He suggested that recreational drugs are the greater challenge facing the NFL. "You don't usually find (performance-enhancing drugs) on the north side of Philly or in a rural Texas neighborhood," Vincent said. New York Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner claimed Monday that "football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs." "I don't know how they managed to skate by," he said. "It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players." Vincent contended that the differences between the two sports make football a less fertile ground for performance-enhancing drugs. Baseball players working their way through the minors or trying to stay in the league into their 40s are more likely to try to gain an edge, he said. "I'm dealing with 20-year-olds popping with God-given ability," he said. Congress' interest in baseball's anti-doping policy has caught football players' attention.

NFL union prez: HGH use not common - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_553520.html Page 2 of 2 "We did talk about steroids to the emphasis of how far ahead of the other sports we are," Vincent said of Wednesday's meeting. The NFL has had year-round random testing for steroids since 1990. The issue that was dogging the NFL at this time last year was a spate of players getting into legal trouble. Goodell and Vincent said that off-the-field incidents were down 20 percent in 2007 from the previous year. Goodell said he has seen "a particularly positive reaction from rookies." "I think a lot of it is you know what the penalty is and players are taking ownership," Vincent said. "Are you going to totally clean up the game and prevent guys from getting DWIs? No. But that's one of the things we wanted when we left here last year. "We don't want to be talking about Pacman Jones and Chris Henry," Vincent said of two players who were suspended. "We want to be talking about Peyton Manning winning the Super Bowl." The Associated Press can be reached at or. Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

.: Print Version :. http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/02/21/sports/steelers/doc47bd0798ebf38040449... THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2008 :: Last modified: 12:17 AM EST Starks contrast: Max back in fold By Mike Bires PITTSBURGH The Steelers may lose all-star guard Alan Faneca during free agency, but they ve made a bold move that figures to keep tackle Max Starks on their roster. On Wednesday, the Steelers tagged Starks as a transition player, which all but guarantees he ll play in Pittsburgh in 2008. Players with a transition tag will receive a base salary that matches the average of the top 10 salaries of 2007 at that player s position or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. The average salary for the top 10 O-linemen last year was $6.895 million, which is dramatically more than a 20 percent increase of Starks base salary of $1.850 million. So even though Starks lost his starting job at right tackle last season to Willie Colon, the Steelers obviously plan to play him this year. After all, in terms of base salary, he s now the highest-paid Steeler. Starks, a third-round pick in 2004, started for the Steelers in 2005 and 06. Last year, he started four of the last six games when Marvel Smith was out with a back injury. In all likelihood, Starks will start at right tackle again if Smith returns in good health. That would mean that Colon could move to either guard or center. Each team is allowed to designate one unrestricted free agent as a franchise player and a transition player. Those with a franchise tag are paid a base salary of the average of the top five players at his position. In Starks case, other NFL teams may bid for his services. But if another team makes Starks an offer, the Steelers can keep him by matching that offer. If they want, the Steelers can tag Faneca as a franchise player and pay him $7.445 million next season. But personnel director Kevin Colbert has said it s unlikely Faneca will be tagged.

Steelers tag Starks http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/print/2-21-steelers-tag-starks Steelers tag Starks By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com The Steelers took a step toward keeping at least one of their potential free agent offensive linemen, placing the "transition" tag on offensive tackle Max Starks. The move means that the Steelers will have the right to match any offer Starks, a four-year veteran, may get from another team when the free agent signing period begins March 1. But, should the Steelers not sign the 6-foot-8, 345-pound Starks to a new deal before the season begins, he would be due a salary that is the average of the top 10 tackles in the NFL, which would be $6.89 million. It's an interesting move for the Steelers for two reasons. First, Starks lost his spot as the team's starting right tackle last season to Willie Colon, though he started five games at left tackle - including the team's playoff loss to Jacksonville - in place of injured Marvel Smith. Secondly, after a much-publicized battle over transition players between Minnesota and Seattle in which both teams inserted "poison pills" into contract offers to keep the offers from being matched, the transition tag has largely gone unused in the NFL. For example, when Minnesota signed Seattle guard Steve Hutchinson, it included a clause that was triggered if he was not the team's highest-paid offensive lineman. Considering Seattle also employs All- Pro left tackle Walter Jones, the team was unable to match Minnesota's offer. The Starks move means that negotiations with Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, who is also set to become an unrestricted free agent, have likely gone nowhere and the team is beginning to look at life without its 1998 No. 1 draft pick. If the Steelers re-sign Starks or he chooses to sign his one-year tender, he would likely move back into the starting lineup at right tackle, with Colon possibly shifting to guard to help ease the loss of Faneca. Bringing back Starks, a third-round pick in 2004, would also give the Steelers insurance for Smith, who had surgery in December to fix a bulging disc in his back. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.