"You need a Harvard Law degree to figure it out," said Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations. "There is a formula but it is so complicated you can't figure it out. You can guess. The management council will figure out the compensation."

--Colbert maintains the Steelers can still reach a long-term contract agreement with tackle Max Starks even though he's guaranteed nearly $8.5 million in 2009 after signing the franchise tag.

"Max is of the mindset he wants to do a long-term deal," Colbert said. "Max wants to be here, I believe, for the rest of his career. We'd love to have that just as much as he would."

--The closing on the sale of the Steelers remains on schedule for the end of the month. Dan Rooney and his son Art II will have at least 30 percent ownership. Two of Dan Rooney's brothers are selling all of their shares. At least four new investors are joining the group.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our priority is to keep our own. If we are sensing we are going to lose them, we have some alternatives we can work into our current cap situation then we will schedule them." -- Director of football operations Kevin Colbert on the team's strategy in free agency.