That’s not a gun in Ben’s pocket. He really is happy to see you.
The [intlink id=”23″ type=”category”]Pittsburgh Steelers[/intlink] re-signed former starting left tackle and Franchise player [intlink id=”85″ type=”category”]Max Starks[/intlink]. Max was released during the off-season after suffering a season-ending neck injury late last year. According to several sources, Starks’ release was not unexpected when he showed up at Ben Roethlisberger’s sham wedding weighing a reported 400 pounds. Since an offer from the WWE to be the new King Kong Bundy didn’t materialize, Max has been hard at work shedding some of those excess pounds and getting back into game shape.
Starks recently worked out for the Vikings which signaled he was in much better physical condition. Barring Kevin Colbert and company’s pigheadedness in admitting their roster needs help, I expected Max to get a call sooner or later. Too bad it took Big Ben getting beat like he stole something to make it happen. Backup tackle Chris Scott was released to make room further indicating they feel Starks is ready to go.
Let’s hope so. Trai Essex was a complete and utter disaster at left tackle while Jonathan scott was only slightly less awful before getting injured. Rookie Marcus Gilbert played left tackle at Florida so perhaps the Steelers will move him over to his natural position and ease Starks back into the line-up at the less demanding right tackle spot. It worked out well for them last season with former Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams, whose age and declining skills were a liability on the left but were more than adequate on the right. At this point, can they be any worse?