"The Steelers have been saying since March that signing offensive tackle Max Starks to a long-term contract was one of their top priorities.They finally made it happen Tuesday.
The Steelers and Starks agreed to a four-year deal that can be worth as much as $26.3 million and includes a $10 million signing bonus.
Starks, 27, had signed a one-year, $8.451 million deal at the end of February. His new contract, which replaces the old one, allows him to stay with the team that drafted him beyond the 2009 season.
In addition, it provides the Steelers with some stability at left tackle where they don't have an experienced player behind Starks.
"It also gives us (salary) cap flexibility to possibly get some more things done," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said.
Indeed the Steelers still have a number of key players who will be unrestricted free agents after the 2009 season. The list includes nose tackle Casey Hampton, running back Willie Parker, defensive end Brett Keisel, free safety Ryan Clark and kicker Jeff Reed.
Tight end Heath Miller and right tackle Willie Colon are also going into the final year of their contract. The two, however, will only become unrestricted free agents next February if the owners and NFL Players Association agree on a collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The two sides have been without a CBA since the owners opted out of the previous deal in May 2008. If they don't agree on a new CBA, Miller and Colon will be restricted free agents following the 2009 season.
When asked what the Steelers may do next in regard to locking up their own players to long-term deals, Colbert said the Starks signing "gives us the flexibility to at least explore possible signings. I wouldn't say we've determined anything other than that."
Starks, a third-round pick out of Florida in 2004, has started at both right and left tackle for the Steelers.
He lost his starting job at right tackle to Colon in 2007 and opened last season as a backup to Colon and starting left tackle Marvel Smith."
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