Congrats everyone! Very rewarding hanging out with you guys (and ladies).

Are the Steelers allowed to sign him to their own long term offer even if no other team makes an offer?  Or would they have to take him at one year for 6.9 million and then wait until next year if they want to sign him for the long term?

less pressure to chase one of the big 5 ots in the first round, maybe now we could trade down and pick up another day 1 selection.  I would like to see starks push smith for the lt spot.  

Starks and Smith battle at lt
Steelers take a 1st day ot and he battles Colon for RT
Simmons at RG
Mahan and Kemouatu compete for LG
Sign a free agent G who moves to C or day 1 pick for C who battles Stapleton for that spot

I like it--I think it gives us some flexibility with the draft as to moving down, but I still think the priority positions are T, DE, C, FS, RB

Guys, this transition tag on Starks was a big move for the Steelers going forward. This will allow the Steelers to continue to negotiate with Starks as well as letting him know that they seriously want him around.

This could give them the flexibility to move Colon inside and move Kendall Simmons to center. I think the Steelers no. 1 pick is going to be the guard from Virginia, Albert, who can also kick out to the tackle. By having Starks, M. Smith, Trai Essex, Jason Capizzi, and Albert, this OL could take a huge step forward.

I think the Steelers are going to work hard to wrap up Starks before free agency starts. This is a good move for the Steelers and their future going forward. Let's see what else they can do, like reupping Ben and signing B. McFadden to a modest extension.

Waste.

Paul Wiggins, is it? :-)

if we sign him to a deal we might not pay him $6.9 million.  i think this was basically a ploy to give us more time to "set the market" for Starks and buy the Steelers time.  With the caveat that they are confident they can sign him to a reasonable deal, and if not, they don't mind overpaying him for one year if they have to.

The big question in all of this is has Max Starks turned the corner to becoming a good OL? In evaluating his play this past year, I would say that he has. I don't think he necessarily got a fair chance to compete against Colon in training camp, but he played his best football during the season, starting games at the critical LT spot.

With your starting LT coming off of back surgery and in the last year of his contract, I think that you have to roll the dice on Starks if you think he is one of your five best OL. If he gets to the free agent market, you guys are going to be surprised to see the contract that he will get.

If middle of the road guards can land an $18M signing bonus, what do you think a young, OL that can play both tackle spots, has yet to enter his prime and has started on a Super Bowl winning team will receive?

Tomlin said he wanted young players on both of his line and he just already happens to have one that other teams want on his own team. A bird in the hand definitely beats two in the bush in this circumstance, particularly having a young franchise QB that you want to keep in one piece for the next 10 to 13 years.

I think K. Colbert and Tomlin gets it. Guys, this team is closer than you think to getting back to the show. They are miles ahead of where they were this time a year ago.

Your thoughts?

we are very close.  if we handle the OL situation correctly, we will be one of the teams to beat for sure.  

I think to securing the OL is getting things settled at center. When you had nearly 35 years of uninterrupted play from Pro Bowl to Hall of Fame caliber players it's easy to take that position for granted. OL plays as a unit. One person not pulling his weight, particularly at such a pivotal position can make the whole group look like a bunch of bums. Example: Fanaca didn't look a hell of a lot better than his linemates at times last year. I agree with Blitz and Datruth, I see Starks as a pretty good player. If you have any doubts, check out the games he subbed for Marvel. No drop off, none.