HEADLINES

Max Starks

Max Starks Announces Retirement

January 28th, 2015 at 6:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Longtime Steelers tackle Max Starks says he’s staying retired from the NFL, according to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter).

The 6’8″, 345 lineman spent time with the Rams and Chargers in 2013 after playing for Pittsburgh from 2004-2012. However, his stint in Arizona didn’t last all that long. Before the deadline for the 75-man cutdown, the Cardinals released Starks along with eleven other players. At the time, Starks was excited about his reunion with coach Bruce Arians.

“All the terminology seems to be the old terminology, so it’s starting to click again,” said Starks, who played under Arians’ coordination with the Steelers. “Obviously it’s been two years since I was with [Arians] so just getting used to that lingo and getting that going.”

Starks made 125 starts across the course of his ten year NFL career, seeing time at both right tackle and left tackle. In 2012, his last full NFL season, Starks graded out as the 72nd best tackle out of 80 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required and recommended). Starks, 34 in March, received negative grades for his run blocking and even worse grades for his pass blocking. In years past, however, Starks graded out as an above average offensive tackle.

Cardinals Release Jay Feely, Max Starks, 11 Others

August 25th, 2014 at 12:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

12:13pm: In addition to Feely, the Cardinals have cut 12 other players, trimming their roster to the required 75-man limit, per a press release:

Starks is 10-year veteran who has spent most of his career with the Steelers, while Lindley started four games for the Cards in 2012.

11:35am: The Cardinals have released veteran kicker Jay Feely, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Feely, a 13-year veteran, had been with Arizona since 2010.

Feely, 38, thanked the franchise on Twitter: “It’s been an honor to play for the [Cardinals and owner] Michael Bidwill, thank you for your leadership and friendship. AZ will still be home!” The former Michigan Wolverine has lived a kicker’s nomadic life, spending time with the Falcons, Giants, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Jets. For his career, Feely has converted 82.7% of his field goals (329-for-398).

The Cardinals save $635K against the cap with this move, but money probably wasn’t Arizona’s prime motivation. 23-year-old Chandler Cantanzaro, the only other PK on the Cards’ roster, will presumably become the starting kicker. He was an undrafted free agent out of Clemson.

It’s just my speculation, but I wonder if the Broncos would be interested in bringing Feely aboard. Matt Prater was recently suspended for the first four games of the season, and Feely could add some stability to the kicking position until Prater is ready to return.

NFC West Notes: Witherspoon, Starks, Abraham

August 1st, 2014 at 7:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though he has yet to officially retire, linebacker Will Witherspoon is taking steps in that direction, as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (on Twitter) that Witherspoon has taken a job as the Rams‘ radio sideline reporter. Witherspoon, 33, is a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, having spent time with the Panthers, Rams, Eagles, and Titans. He reportedly engaged in contract talks with both the Rams and the Falcons earlier in the offseason, but it looks as if he’ll get started on his media career rather than continue as a player.

More from the NFC West:

  • After the 49ers drafted Marcus Martin in the third round, some figured he might get a chance to challenge Daniel Kilgore for the right to replace Jonathan Goodwin as San Francisco’s center. But, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, Martin’s sprained ankle has disallowed him from even practicing, let alone acting as a serious threat to Kilgore.
  • Newly-signed Cardinals tackle Max Starks is excited to be reunited with head Bruce Arians’ familiar playbook, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “All the terminology seems to be the old terminology, so it’s starting to click again,” said Stark, who played under Arians’ coordination with the Steelers. “Obviously it’s been two years since I was with [Arians] so just getting used to that lingo and getting that going.”
  • Per Weinfuss on Twitter, Starks has already begun working with the second-team offense at Cardinals camp, supplanting Bradley Sowell.
  • The Cardinals expect veteran linebacker John Abraham, who is sorting through legal issues, to report to camp “within five or six days,” Arians told reporters, including Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic.
  • Undrafted linebacker Shayne Skov, who played under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, is impressing at 49ers camp, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.

Minor Moves: Friday

August 1st, 2014 at 4:28pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here..

  • The Seahawks removed Taylor Price from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Wilson tweets. The Seahawks put the wide receiver on the IR earlier this week.
  • The Chiefs cut linebacker Ben Johnson and the Giants waived-injured defensive back Travis Howard, Wilson tweets.
  • The Dolphins announced that they have signed linebacker Ryan Rau, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. To make room for Rau on the 90-man roster, Miami waived/injured Tariq Edwards, tweets Bryan McIntyre.
  • Former Buccaneers running back Michael Smith is signing with the Jets today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • The Cardinals signed linebacker Derrell Johnson, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). Johnson, a UDFA out of East Carolina, was cut by the Dolphins just days ago.
  • The Giants signed cornerback Chandler Fenner, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter). Fenner was waived by the Seahawks when they signed ex-Giants corner Terrell Thomas.
  • The Cowboys signed defensive end Kenneth Boatright to a two-year contract this afternoon, according to agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter). Boatright was previously a member of the Seahawks.
  • The Falcons signed defensive tackle Theo Agnew, tweets Wilson.
  • After practice today, Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell announced that the team has released Trevardo Williams, according to ESPN.com’s Tania Gangull. Williams, a fourth-round outside linebacker from last season, never saw a regular season snap.
  • The Chargers have signed cornerback Lowell Rose, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Jets cut Rose late last month when they signed free agent Jason Babin.
  • The Giants signed rookie free agent Adam Gress after placing tackle Troy Kropog on injured reserve, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
  • The Seahawks announced that they have released wide receiver Randall Carroll and signed linebacker Marcus Dowtin, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (on Twitter). Dowtin saw three games of action with the Giants in 2013 before being released in March.
  • The Cardinals announced that they have signed offensive tackle Max Starks, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The 6’8″, 345 lineman spent time with the Rams and Chargers in 2013 after playing for Pittsburgh from 2004-2012. To make room for Starks, the Cardinals cut tackle Cory Brandon and kicker Danny Hrapmann, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. 
  • The Texans signed wide receiver Joe Adams and offensive tackle Brice Schwab, writes John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Adams, 24, played at Arkansas and was drafted in the fourth round by Carolina in 2012. Schwab, 24, played at Arizona State. He signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent last year. The Texans waived-injured Bryan Witzmann to make room for Adams, Wilson tweets.