another ring and some more bling As the Steelers' front office believes that by paying offensive tackle Max Starks like a blue chip lineman, he will perform like a blue chip lineman, the team dropped the Franchise Player tag on big #78 last night. By doing so, the team will commit approximately $8.4 million to the often underachieving mountain of a man for 2009. As the franchise tag is one of the numerous points of confusion in NFL labor bargaining, these are some bullets from my perspective regarding the overall impact to the team:
- The tag gives the Steelers the comfort of knowing that they have an experienced left tackle watching Ben's $102 million fanny for 2009, WITHOUT locking up big dollars long term.
- This move will help the team part ways with popular, yet chronically unhealthy, Marvel Smith.
- With the "non-exclusive" modifier placed on Starks' tag, the Steelers can dangle Mount Starks like a 400 pound carrot to other teams. Should any other GM be dumb enough to sign Starks, he would forfeit two first round picks to the Steelers...a serious win for the North Shore.
- Consider that Starks was probably the best overall Steeltown lineman in the playoffs, and the trivia guys will remind you that he was a starter for two superbowls, perhaps Max can finally get his crap together and earn a long term deal.
- The fact that team correspondent, JD McNugent, texted my ass at 1:00 am to break this news should tell you that the sun never sets on quality blog journalism.
1 comment:
Really good. I like how it is both down to earth and smart - content and style. I'm sure you're not surprised that I don't understand the trading aspects of team sports, so in the last paragraph when you write "Stark is not one of the key bricks to lay" you mean not one of the key brick to solidly lay on the wall they're building? That must be what it means - so well said.
Li
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