Max Starks Sighting

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 10:59 AM EDT

Bumped. Interesting piecing together of facts and speculation by TMVT.

-Blitz-

Let me preface this by saying a couple weeks ago there was an article in the Tribune-Review about Starks and the fact he wasn't taking part in off-season workouts because he didn't have a conract with the Steelers.

Well, my spies in the Steelers organization took these pictures (aka, they were on the Steelers website). Looks like Starks has started working out at the facility (this is from this weeks off-season work outs photo album--he was not in any of the previous ones) with the team.

Not positively sure what to make of this, but my hunch is this, there was another Another article saying we would address Starks after the owners meetings. As those meetings have just ended, is it possible a contract is very near complete? Thus Starks agent/the team gave him the go ahead to begin working out with the team again. This is speculation on my part but I find it unlikely his agent would say go ahead and workout with the team without a contract being finished, or near finished. Furthermore, he wasn't involved in any of the prior off-season workouts, so something must have happened for him to come into town.

Personally, I don't see any other meaning, whenever a player begins working out with the team, in the past it meant a deal was near complete (think when Hines Ward ended his holdout and returned to camp before contract was actually done/signed). One other thing to note, Starks looks pretty svelte for him in these pictures. As we all know if his weight is down, that is when he is capable of playing at a Marvel Smith level. What do you guys think?

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Blitz

the link for the 2nd photo leads to a file not found error so I didn't add it. whenever you get the chance can you throw that in there.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 11:03 AM EDT 0 recs

nevermind

cgolden fixed it up.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

Encouraging

I think my "Starks is gonna be here long term" feeling is rising from 'fat chance' to 'cautiously optimistic.' Don't know what to make of him working out with the team now, but it can't be a bad sign. Every day that passes makes me think he'll be back even more. Still can't believe he hasn't visited a single team (officially).

by cgolden on Apr 4, 2008 11:11 AM EDT 0 recs

agreed

and the biggest thing for me was just a couple weeks ago the story that ran said he WASN'T participating in the off-season workouts because he didn't have a contract with the team. now he suddenly shows up? be scanning the newswire fellow BTSCers, i think a contract is imminent.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 11:13 AM EDT 0 recs

I really hope your right MVT

That would make for a pleasant weekend.

by cgolden on Apr 4, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up 0 recs

Mahan

Geez, he even looks like a pansy working out. Starks is behind him trying not to grin.

by BadMaafala on Apr 4, 2008 12:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Mahan

looks to be struggling to curl 5 pounds.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Apr 4, 2008 1:22 PM EDT 0 recs

lol

That's what I said when I saw the pictures? I knew it looked like Mahan, but I didnt think he looked big or was lifting enough weight to be an OL.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 4, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ed McCaffrey,

the old Broncos WR, had bigger guns. :)

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 4, 2008 1:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

It is sad

If you can get both pics in the same same screen, just compare the size Starks arm to Mahan's. It's easier to understand why he lacks the strength to stand up to NTs now.

by cgolden on Apr 4, 2008 1:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

indeed

but in fairness to Mahan, Starks is one of the biggest humans I've ever seen.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good news

I thought that he would be back. I just don't think anyone is willing to pay him big right now, and certainly not more than what he would make if he is paid the Transition Tag amount for this year.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 4, 2008 1:24 PM EDT 0 recs

one way or another

we know he is going to be a Steeler this year, so the thing that excites me the most is that it looks like he's kept his weight down and stayed in shape this off-season. he can be an above-average starter in the league when he is in shape like this. i think thats some of the best news our O-line has got this summer, a healthy, motivated Max Starks.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 2:19 PM EDT 0 recs

good point

Here's the real question though: If Starks is in shape and ready to be a solid offensive tackle, does that change this years draft strategy?

Here's my thought process: If Starks can step in and play an above average RT and Colon moves inside to compete at guard, I'm not sure what they do in the first round. If that scenerio plays out they won't need an new offensive line starter until 2009 (assuming Marvel Smith isn't resigned). I'd feel somewhat comfortable with a 2008 OL consisting of Starks, Colon, Hartwig, Simmons/Chris K, Smith and the Steelers could draft an OT later in the draft with hopes of him developing into a starting left tackle (like Duane Brown or something like him). That really opens up the first round to BPA, at least in my mind. Does that make sense to anyone else?

by cgolden on Apr 4, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

completely agree

if anything, the position we will draft for OL is guard and/or center. Hartwig is on a short deal and we aren't positive what we have with him, other than an upgrade over Turnstile Man (Mahan). As far as guard, again, somewhat of an unknown moving Colon inside and Chris K. This will test Tomlin's coaching ability as this will be our "flux" year with the line, and one way or the other our line should be settled/resolved by the '09 season. If he can make them gel and play well this year, we'll be in great shape this year and for the future.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

very true

And if they choose to pick a guard or center, the second round is probably the earliest that they'll have to start looking, unless somehow miraculously falls to 23. Maybe we'll all end up getting shocked with a first round pick on a CB or WR. My money is still on Balmer though if they don't go OL, he'd look good opposite of A Smith.

by cgolden on Apr 4, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

also completely agree

If Starks is on board, our primary need shifts to DL, not OT. Next is definitely C. It would be stupid for us to turn down a top flight LT, but it would also be stupid to use our first pick to draft Jeff "Max Starks" Otah or reach on Gosder "Max Starks" Cherilus when we already have a Max Starks. I'd take Williams, Clady, or probably Albert, but if they're gone, as projected, I hope we look somewhere else like DL, OLB, or CB.

by BadMaafala on Apr 4, 2008 3:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mahan is a

girlie man!!!

seriously I hope we cut him (not sure of contract implications)

if he's not strong enough to play center, how is he strong enough to play guard?

just a question that pops into my head...

by SteelerMike on Apr 4, 2008 2:41 PM EDT 0 recs

i was thinking

the same exact thing earlier. Centers are smaller than guards. early in the season when Mahan kept his weight up he played OK, not great, not bad. as the season wore on he started to fall of a cliff, particularly in the Jets game, he couldn't keep his weight up. if he's small for a center he's tiny for a guard.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 4, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up 0 recs