Is it possible...

[FlaStGrad]

Ok, so the Steelers have approximately $7 million tied up on the transition tag with OT Max Starks. If they draft an OT who they can groom to take over as a starter in a year (either LT or RT), is it possible that they remove the transition tag and then they do nothing with the money? FA is basically dead. Perhaps they resign a couple players, not spending the majority it.

Let us not forget, they just gave Big Ben the largest contract in team history. That $7 million would go directly into Ben's pocket as part of the signing bonuses owded to him.

Could the Steelers have found a way to pocket some extra cash while looking like they are maxed out against the cap?

Food for thought.

[leftcoaststeelerfan]

Unless you are drafting Jake Long, you still need a tackle. We have a bunch of unproven "tackles" on the team right now. Say they draft a tackle in the first, I can see them pulling the transition tag off the table and then offerring a "take it or leave it" deal to Starks.

[Steeltime]

If the Steelers wanted to save $7 million on this year's cap, they could have simply let Starks go. Then, they would not face the prospect of having to pay that money to Starks.

Right now, they are at risk of being forced to pay nearly $7 million to Starks if he signs the agreement. Letting him walk means they would have owed him nothing, and in fact probably get a comp pick in the lower rounds (4th? 6th?). Those guys can be signed for a fraction of $7 million.

[FlaStGrad]

If the Steelers wanted to save $7 million on this year's cap, they could have simply let Starks go. Then, they would not face the prospect of having to pay that money to Starks.

Right now, they are at risk of being forced to pay nearly $7 million to Starks if he signs the agreement. Letting him walk means they would have owed him nothing, and in fact probably get a comp pick in the lower rounds (4th? 6th?). Those guys can be signed for a fraction of $7 million.

They are still in the driver's seat with Starks. They are not forced to pay him even if he signs the deal. They can pull the offer from him and not be obligated.

My point is that as long as the money is "tied up," we fans don't expect them to make many big moves. Say they didn't transition tag him, then many of the fans would have been pushing for them to use that money and resign Faneca or go out and sign a premier FA. Now, they can merely pull the tag and pocket the money which goes directly to their bottom line.

[Steeltime]

They are still in the driver's seat with Starks. They are not forced to pay him even if he signs the deal. They can pull the offer from him and not be obligated.

This has been addressed in another thread. I will not repeat the detailed information here. I believe that two posters provided information showing that teams can no longer "pull" the offer once the player signs the agreement and sends that to the team.

[General Manager]

If we draft an OL in the first round I highly doubt we will groom him for a year. He should be ready to start right away. Unless of course we miss badly on our pick.

[stevew]

When we hit the clock and there are some linemen on the board we like, the first step should be to formally fax the league removing Starks' transition status, assuming the big fat dumbass hasn't signed it. Then draft our hoss.

Midseason, work out a small 2 year extension with Batch, and throw in 5-7million worth of bullshit incentives. Then next offseason, due to the LTBE loophole, we'll have an extra 5-7m on our cap to work with.

[Super Dave]

Once signed, the contract is guaranteed. Period.

[Blind Official]

How many times do we have to go over the same thing?

[jrock]

Why do you think that the Steelers would go crazy in the free agent market if the offer was pulled before Starks signed it? Who would we sign that could make a big impact on the team? The big reason the Steelers don't go sign a ton of free agents is because they don't believe it is the smart way to build a franchise.

[SteelerFan448]

Whatever is going to happen with Starks will happen. This tag has been sitting on him for so long now it isn't really worth thinking about too much until it is signed or a deal is reached.

[insaniti]

Let us not forget, they just gave Big Ben the largest contract in team history. That $7 million would go directly into Ben's pocket as part of the signing bonuses owded to him.

Could the Steelers have found a way to pocket some extra cash while looking like they are maxed out against the cap?

Food for thought.


that $7 mil would not go into Bens pocket. that $7 mil is tied up in the cap. Ben already has his bonus money, but the way it counts against the cap is whats spread out. that $7 mil is what counts against the cap.

[BillvinCowbert]

They are still in the driver's seat with Starks. They are not forced to pay him even if he signs the deal. They can pull the offer from him and not be obligated.
Wow.... John Harris, is that you?

My point is that as long as the money is "tied up," we fans don't expect them to make many big moves. Say they didn't transition tag him, then many of the fans would have been pushing for them to use that money and resign Faneca or go out and sign a premier FA. Now, they can merely pull the tag and pocket the money which goes directly to their bottom line.
Wow, this is deep stuff. I TOTALLY agree, this HAS to be their plan all along. There's no other explanation. This is amazing insight. I can't wait to read your paper on quantum physics.

[FlaStGrad]

I can't wait to read your paper on quantum physics.

As soon as you learn to read, let me know and I'll get you a copy of it.

[BillvinCowbert]

As soon as you learn to read, let me know and I'll get you a copy of it.

This from the guy that thinks, even if Starks signs the tag, we can avoid paying him $7 million this year. I can't make up stuff that ridiculous.

[FlaStGrad]

That was the case jerkie... if the rules changed so be it. You are all knowledgeable. When do you start in the Steelers FO?