Originally posted by oldman9er:
Originally posted by dj43:
Originally posted by oldman9er:
He's playing pretty well this year... sure surprised me. He's much more stout at the POA. That said, he's still not a dominant NT in the league... sorry, just isn't. I'd like to resign him, but only for "non-dominant" NT money. 
So to help me understand your comment, who are the five best nose tackles in the league - guys who you consider "dominant?"
1. Kris Jenkins - NYJ
2. Vince Wilfork - NE
3. Shaun Rogers - Cle
4. Casey Hampton - Pitt
5. Jamal Williams - SD
6. Jay Ratliff - Dal
7. Jason Ferguson - Mia
8. Haloti Ngata/Kelly Gregg - Bal
All of these NTs are more dominant than Franklin.
I won't nit-pick your choices but I will say I wouldn't put them in the same order as you list them. Rogers and Jenkins would be toward the bottom of that list, Jamal Williams is on the backside of a very good career, Wilfork and Hampton are clearly the best in that list based on long-term performance, Ratliff is inconsistent but very good when he is on, I have only seen Ferguson twice - both this year and I was not all that impressed, Ngata is a stud...but that is not the point of my question.
Given this list, I would venture to say that Franklin has played in the top 10 based on this year's play. He looked very good against Pro Bowler Jeff Saturday yesterday. (that sounds funny) If I compare what I saw of Ferguson this year, along with Williams this year, I believe Franklin can at least be in the conversation.
The thing about NTs are that the wear-and-tear they absorb can bring them to the end of their career rather suddenly. Hence, I am all for bringing in another one, and I don't care where they get him, just that Wilfork and Hampton will get paid based on PAST performance, not future performance. I would be surprised if either has three more top-level years.
Just my opinion...