Steelers ink OT Starks to four-year deal

Sports Network | June 23, 2009

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed offensive tackle Max Starks to a new four-year contract that will keep him with the club through 2012.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The Steelers put the franchise tag on Starks back in February, which guaranteed he will be paid the average salary of the top five players at his position, or 120 percent of his 2008 salary. However, by signing the contract he no longer carries the franchise designation.

Starks, a Florida product, was originally selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He made 30 consecutive regular-season starts at right tackle from 2005-06, before missing the final two games in 2006 with a knee injury.

Starks then shifted to left tackle, starting 15 games there from 2007-08 in place of an injured Marvel Smith. He was the starting left tackle in all three 2008 playoff games, including the team's win over Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII. Starks is expected to be the Steelers' starting left tackle in 2009.