Max Starks signed his one-year contract tender at nearly $7 million this past weekend. Not only does that make him the second-highest paid player behind Ben Roethlisberger, now he will try to win his starting job back.

The contract, which is $6.9 million, was offered to Starks when the Steelers made him a transition player in February. If they had not, he would have been an unrestricted free agent. He was able to solicit offers with the Steelers holding the right to match, but found none worth taking.

The one-year contract is guaranteed even if the Steelers cut him. Eugene Parker, Starks' agent, said yesterday they would like to negotiate a longer term contract with the Steelers.

"That's always been our goal," Parker said.

Starks, a third-round pick from Florida in 2004, lost his job as a starting right tackle in training camp last summer to Willie Colon. He started there in 2005-06. Starks will get a chance to win it back this year.