Max Starks says neither he nor his agent knew what the transition tag was in 2008

The whole situation was "weird," according to ex-Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks.

In an interview with Rudy Rude Dog Reyes for 970 AM ESPN in Pittsburgh, Starks spoke openly about the process behind having received the transition tag, then the franchise tag, while not having been named a starter. So unique was his situation in 2008, he said even his agent was unaware of the rules surrounding it.

"It was really weird," Starks said. "I asked my agent, he didn't really know how it worked either. I had to call Charlie Batch (the team's union representative), he explained it to me."

Starks said he was at a bachelor party at the time, and needed to use the hotel's fax line to receive the transition tag contract.

As the story plays out, Starks signed that, then was given the franchise tag after he started at left tackle for the Super Bowl champion Steelers. He eventually would sign a four-year, $26 million deal with the team in 2009, but he was released in 2011, only to be re-signed for the final 12 games of the Steelers season. He then signed a one-year deal with the team in 2012, and played all 16 games at left tackle.

Few have had as weird of a career as Starks did, but certainly a memorable one. He became the only player in NFL history to start at left and right tackle on a Super Bowl championship team.