Franchising Starks Is a Wise Move

The Steelers decision to franchise Max Starks may seem puzzling, but for a team that just won the Super Bowl, it's a pretty logical move.

By tagging Starks, Pittsburgh ensures that it doesn't head into free agency with a gaping hole. With Starks locked up, Pittsburgh could start the season with Starks, Kendall Simmons, Justin Hartwig, Darnell Stapleton and Willie Colon. It's not a good line; in fact, it's a pretty poor one, but it's not really any worse than the one that won the Super Bowl.

But if the Steelers didn't franchise Starks, they could have headed into free agency with no plan B. If Starks did somehow decide to leave, Pittsburgh would have been left either to overpay among a pretty mediocre crop of free agent tackles, re-sign Marvel Smith in hopes that he can stay healthy for the first time in three years or count on a draft pick to step in and start. The Steelers would have potentially been stuck in an untenable situation with no reliable option to protect Ben Roethlisberger as they started their Super Bowl defense.

But maybe the best thing about the franchise tag is that it ties the Steelers to Starks for only one year. The Post-Gazette is reporting that the Steelers are looking to work out a long-term deal with Starks, but does Pittsburgh really want to do that? Starks is a player you're always trying to replace -- something the Steelers keep proving by benching him in each of the past two years. If the Steelers can draft a long-term left tackle, the franchise tag would allow them to move on to either a draft pick or Tony Hills in 2010, while letting Starks fill the stopgap role in the meantime.

But Starks is arguably the second best lineman the Steelers have (and Hartwig isn't much better than Starks). So by franchising him, the Steelers are able to slap a bandage on the paper cut at left tackle, while working on fixing the gaping wounds at guard and right tackle. Now the Steelers can try to upgrade the rest of the line with some draft picks. If they draft a tackle, they could see if he can beat out Colon, then slide Colon inside to compete for a guard spot. Or if they draft a guard or center, they could see if the draft pick could beat out Simmons or Stapleton. Or ideally, they can do both.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-19-2009 @ 8:45PM

peggy said...

Good idea!!! Shut up, Aquaboy 10!!! We don't want youre BS!!! bE NICE TO A LADY , I'll be 80 next week.

2-19-2009 @ 9:39PM

gcn said...

I agree, franchising Starks mades sense. If the O line was the weakest part of the team (it was), then you can't just let the best / second-best lineman leave. And there really should be some reinforcements coming through the draft. On paper, the 09-10 Steelers should be at least as good as this past season's version.

2-19-2009 @ 9:52PM

Happy 80th!

2-19-2009 @ 10:32PM

Thanks gcn I have been a Steelers fan since Chuck Noll was in diapers. LMAO!! I'm like granny on beverly hillbills. Someone needs a woopin! you know who!!!

2-20-2009 @ 7:28AM

Welcome,Clairway said...

The 0-line is by far the weakest link to our dynasty run...If we can get a steal at 32 in draft , do it...dont think we can get someone just as good in rd 2 and take the best player available like last year..Mendenhall has a long way to go in this league , and after getting put out his first year in his first BIG Rivalry game, lets hope he doesnt get gun shy..the team is perfect other than special teams , and we should walk into the playoffs next year with an easy schedule..if we can fix the line , we are unstoppable..especially with ben , troy and all the young bucks signed for a few more years..now focus on teaching Sweed to catch the ball...

2-20-2009 @ 10:26AM

marc said...

regarding starks, i think your right on. he's not the perfect solution, but he is serviceable. then see if one of the other free agent lineman stay, pick one up in the draft, and see how it all shakes out in camp. the line certainly won't be any worse next year than it was this year.

also, don't think this team will breeze thru next year. our d-line is another year older, our cornerbacks still don't do well when matched up one-on-one, our running game still has questions, and we need our young receivers to improve.

remember last time we won the super bowl and followed up the next season at 8-8. everyone will be gunning for us, we need to get better in all phases to maintain our success.

2-20-2009 @ 10:38AM

suicycle.com said...

The bottom line is Ben is getting knocked around far too much back there. His elusiveness is extremely exciting, but the fact that he has to get away from trouble so much is a serious issue. If pass rushers keep putting him on the ground, we might not be able to enjoy his talents for as long as we could.

2-20-2009 @ 12:24PM

KansasCitySteeler said...

Now that the Franchise Tag has been slapped on Starks, all we need is the Lions, Rams or Cheifs
to be stupid enough to sign him to a contract and give us 2 #1 draft picks!! O well, I think the move was a good one! Need to do something to improve the O-Line.