Aubrayo franklin "Best nose guard in the league"

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.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by JR80Forever:
Wilfork is going to be expensive. very very expensive. I live in CT and the word is the Pats are trying very hard to lock him up. I think Vince will resign before the season is over. That price will set the bar for Hampton and Aubrayo. Hampton is not worth Wilfork money. He is too old. Hampton is probably looking at a 2-3 year deal. Aubrayo is more likely to get money close to Wilfork. If the Pats can't resign Vince, look for them to use the franchise tag.

I would try and resign Aubrayo now. His price is only going to go up. If need be we could always slap the franchise tag on him.

You shoot for the best player available...that's not Aubrayo.

All depends how everything is played out. In my personal opinion, Wilfork is number 1 followed by Aubrayo and then Hampton. If all 3 of these guys hit the FA you go hard after Vince.

I highly doubt the Pats let 1 of the best NT's leave. If they don't come to terms on a new deal during the season I bet they slap him with the tag.

If FA is about to start and I have 2 choices, 1 being Franklin and the other being Hampton. Franklin is either resigning before FA or he is getting the tag.

Hampton is an old fart with injury problems

Originally posted by teeohh:
do we really need to draft a NT?

No. We have one of the best run defenses in the league. Franklin might be the 2nd biggest reason behind that except for Willis.

The guy has been tremendous this year.

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.

These are all really good players though, Franklin might not be explosive, but at times he is more consistent in what he does. I would resign Franklin if comes at a good price, but I wouldn't pay him top NT money.

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by JR80Forever:
Wilfork is going to be expensive. very very expensive. I live in CT and the word is the Pats are trying very hard to lock him up. I think Vince will resign before the season is over. That price will set the bar for Hampton and Aubrayo. Hampton is not worth Wilfork money. He is too old. Hampton is probably looking at a 2-3 year deal. Aubrayo is more likely to get money close to Wilfork. If the Pats can't resign Vince, look for them to use the franchise tag.

I would try and resign Aubrayo now. His price is only going to go up. If need be we could always slap the franchise tag on him.

I am with you up to the point where you suggest franchising Franklin.

I grant, the guy is looking better and is worthy of his place right now. At last. But please, franchise?!!!

If Wilfork resigns or is slapped with the franchise tag, then Aubrayo becomes the #1 FA NT. I would rather slap him with the tag, then lose him outright.

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by JR80Forever:
Wilfork is going to be expensive. very very expensive. I live in CT and the word is the Pats are trying very hard to lock him up. I think Vince will resign before the season is over. That price will set the bar for Hampton and Aubrayo. Hampton is not worth Wilfork money. He is too old. Hampton is probably looking at a 2-3 year deal. Aubrayo is more likely to get money close to Wilfork. If the Pats can't resign Vince, look for them to use the franchise tag.

I would try and resign Aubrayo now. His price is only going to go up. If need be we could always slap the franchise tag on him.

I am with you up to the point where you suggest franchising Franklin.

I grant, the guy is looking better and is worthy of his place right now. At last. But please, franchise?!!!

If Wilfork resigns or is slapped with the franchise tag, then Aubrayo becomes the #1 FA NT. I would rather slap him with the tag, then lose him outright.

Originally posted by teeohh:
do we really need to draft a NT?

the way he's playing we can pass for this draft. Need a damn RT!

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by Rikimaru03:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by JR80Forever:
Wilfork is going to be expensive. very very expensive. I live in CT and the word is the Pats are trying very hard to lock him up. I think Vince will resign before the season is over. That price will set the bar for Hampton and Aubrayo. Hampton is not worth Wilfork money. He is too old. Hampton is probably looking at a 2-3 year deal. Aubrayo is more likely to get money close to Wilfork. If the Pats can't resign Vince, look for them to use the franchise tag.

I would try and resign Aubrayo now. His price is only going to go up. If need be we could always slap the franchise tag on him.

You shoot for the best player available...that's not Aubrayo.

so you only go for one player at every position, and if you cant get him, you give up all hope and dont try to pick anyone up?

Did I say that?

I said you shoot for the best player available...if that's Vince you try to land him...if you can't you move on to #2 option...but Aubrayo isn't even the #2 when you evaluate the talent available. Especially if he goes into F/A looking for a big deal.

The top 3 NT's that are projected to hit FA are Wilfork, Franklin and Hampton.

Franklin is the #2 option on that list.

Originally posted by Brazilian49er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Interesting Franklin is playing well in his contract year!!!

What a tough decision to make. On one hand you have Franklin playing well, on the other, you have free agents in Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork.

What makes this decision even tougher is that we can keep Franklin for a reasonable amount of money, while Hampton and Wilfork will command a boatload of dough.

Very True. Wilfork is going to want HUGE money. I am talking Justin Smith money.

Originally posted by TheG0RE49er:

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.

These are all really good players though, Franklin might not be explosive, but at times he is more consistent in what he does. I would resign Franklin if comes at a good price, but I wouldn't pay him top NT money.

... and that's all I'm really saying. Keep Franklin... but only for a reasonable price. No matter what, SF has to start looking for a NT to groom... we need youth here.

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by Brazilian49er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Interesting Franklin is playing well in his contract year!!!

What a tough decision to make. On one hand you have Franklin playing well, on the other, you have free agents in Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork.

What makes this decision even tougher is that we can keep Franklin for a reasonable amount of money, while Hampton and Wilfork will command a boatload of dough.

How much is reasonable? If he wants more than 3-4 mil a year, I think it's too much.

I would give Franklin a 5 year deal worth 20 Million. 3 million a year. 5 million signing bonus.

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by Brazilian49er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Interesting Franklin is playing well in his contract year!!!

What a tough decision to make. On one hand you have Franklin playing well, on the other, you have free agents in Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork.

What makes this decision even tougher is that we can keep Franklin for a reasonable amount of money, while Hampton and Wilfork will command a boatload of dough.

A strong point in Franklin's favor is that he has a lot fewer games on him than Wilfork or Hampton. Let's remember, Franklin was third-string Baltimore. The only time he saw the field was as a blocker on special teams. It is only since he came to SF that he has been getting any regular PT. So in "playing years," he is only about in his third year...that makes him worth more money than a guy like Wilfork who has been absorbing that pounding every game since he came into the league. Not saying he is better than Wilfork, only that he has a lot fewer miles on him than Wilfork or Hampton.

Also, Franklin has been playing some two-gap technique on a few occasions, and doing it well. So while that isn't his strength, it is something that adds value to his play.

Yet another reason why we should resign him.

Originally posted by natrone06:
He deserves his own thread the way hes been playing this season, especially with all the heat hes gotten in the past.

Quote:
"He is having a great season. Best nose guard in the league," defensive end Justin Smith said.

Asked why Franklin is the best at his position, Smith said firmly, "Because he is. Tape don't lie. When I say he's the best nose guard in the league, he's the best nose guard in the league."

Very tactical quote by Justin Smith. He is raising Franklin's financial value. He knows he's more valuable to the team than Franklin and if Franklin signs big, then Justin Smith signs bigger.

These guys aren't stupid. Contracts are always in the back of their minds.

Originally posted by JR80Forever:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by Brazilian49er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Interesting Franklin is playing well in his contract year!!!

What a tough decision to make. On one hand you have Franklin playing well, on the other, you have free agents in Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork.

What makes this decision even tougher is that we can keep Franklin for a reasonable amount of money, while Hampton and Wilfork will command a boatload of dough.

How much is reasonable? If he wants more than 3-4 mil a year, I think it's too much.

I would give Franklin a 5 year deal worth 20 Million. 3 million a year. 5 million signing bonus.

Now THAT'S a contract I can live with... even though it may be giving more than we're getting. Hopefully, it can be more front-loaded, as I see decline for Franklin as he gets a short ways past his 30's.

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...