How would you like Pat Williams at NT?

[BossChief]

So, the case got decided while the lockout was in effect?

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by BossChief

So, the case got decided while the lockout was in effect?

Yes in April. Why wouldn't they?

[Titty Meat]

I'll throw another name out there who's underrated: Anthony Adams. I doubt he'll command a huge salary but he's a pretty good player.

[BossChief]

I was just asking because I still think it would be bogus as hell for the NFL to be able to punish players for their actions while they were told they didn't work for them till a new deal is agreed upon.

If the courts punishment of the player causes him to miss team functions of some sort, that's a different story...but if a player is "laid off" he shouldn't be punished for his actions when he wasn't an employee.

Jmo

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I was just asking because I still think it would be bogus as hell for the NFL to be able to punish players for their actions while they were told they didn't work for them till a new deal is agreed upon.

If the courts punishment of the player causes him to miss team functions of some sort, that's a different story...but if a player is "laid off" he shouldn't be punished for his actions when he wasn't an employee.

Jmo

My understanding is the whole thing was a bunch of legal bullshit that i'm not even going attempt to read or understand because as we've seen this week/month they're all ****ing pricks.

[CoMoChief]

Sign him and Franklin.....hey we got the money, and we need depth at that position.

[Reaper16]

Shit yeah. You can't lean on him, but he's a great fit in a NT rotation (which is pretty much what we have, or should aspire to, since we don't have a true starting-caliber NT).

[BossChief]

FTR

Williams (without a suspension) would be a better option for us going forward IMO than Franklin would.

I doubt very highly that he has more than one good season left (and another one after that of average to below average quality) but he would help our defense immensely in the regular and post season.

I still think there will be better options that hit the open market before this is all said and done. We haven't even seen the vet cuts yet.

Pat could probably help Powe transition as well. Quality vet run plugger.

Seems a little like a Tractor Traylor type pickup by the early pats.

[milkman]

I still think that Chris Hoke, as things stnd right now, is the best option on the market.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by milkman

I still think that Chris Hoke, as things stnd right now, is the best option on the market.

Bing.

Go.

[aturnis]

From ProFootballFocus...

Making the Grade: 3-4 Defensive Linemen, 2008-2010
July 8th, 2011 | Author: Khaled Elsayed

After taking a look at those defensive linemen who have predominantly played in a 4-3 the past three years, we’re going to shift our focus to the oft-forgotten 3-4 defensive linemen. Outside of a few names, they get overlooked because of defensive schemes that accentuate the prolific pass rushers playing with their hand off the ground, but today they have the spotlight to themselves.

That’s right, we’re going to look at the Top 5 3-4 defensive ends and the Top 5 nose tackles since 2008 to give these guys their due.

Someone had to, right?

3-4 Defensive Ends

1. Justin Smith, San Francisco 49ers

If you’ve been reading Pro Football Focus the past three years this probably won’t come as much of a shock to you. An every-down nuisance, it doesn’t matter if you run the ball or throw it, Smith is going to have an impact on the play. Had a great year in 2008 as the 49ers switched back and forth between 3-4 and 4-3, but thrived when they moved full time to a 3-4. Simply in a class of his own, there isn’t another player in the league so dominant in comparison to his position peers.

Grade: +106.10

2. Randy Starks, Miami Dolphins

If we’re going to be completely honest, 2010 wasn’t the best year for Starks. Whether it was the aborted move to nose tackle or just one of those seasons, he never quite hit the heights of years gone by (especially his superb 2009). He still wreaked plenty of havoc with 31 quarterback disruptions so it’s certainly no slight, but when you can be as good in every phase of the game as he was back in ’09, you want to see more of it.

Grade: +50.80

3. Cullen Jenkins, Green Bay Packers

When free agency opens, someone will do well to get Jenkins in for a visit and not to let him leave before he signs a contract. He may not be the best run defender in the world (though it doesn’t help playing with a club on your hand), but he’s a fearsome pass rusher and coped with a change in defensive scheme with ease. Was so good in a 4-3 that he could be a target for any number of teams.

Grade: +49.93

4. Kendall Langford, Miami Dolphins

Another Dolphin who has quietly become better each season since entering the league. Solid as a rookie, Langford’s performance got more and more encouraging throughout 2009. That led into an excellent 2010 where he finished the year our No. 5 ranked 3-4 end, impressing almost as much for the run defense that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet as for his pass rushing. Steadily improving; what does 2011 have in store?

Grade: +36.55

5. Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals

It may surprise some that this is the Cardinal who makes the list. Certainly not as flashy as his partner in crime, Darnell Dockett, Campbell has really come to the forefront since a breakout 2009 season. A more consistent pass rusher than Dockett (he has more pressures on fewer snaps), Campbell will be looking to improve on a patchy 2010.

Grade: +31.10

Nose Tackles

1. Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys

It’s a weird thing to write when you’re calling someone the best player at their position over the past three years, but Ratliff may be a little overrated. Certainly, the last two years haven’t brought with them the kind of dominance he displayed in 2008, but the praise aimed his way has increased. To be diplomatic, maybe we can put that down to his ’08 being criminally underrated. In any case, has it in him to be one of the most explosive defensive tackles in the league, even if it can sometimes be used against him.

Grade: +42.35

2. Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots

A smidgen of controversy here. As a pure nose tackle built to shut down a team’s running game, Wilfork is unquestionable a better player than Ratliff. But, the Cowboy has more versatility to his game and can get at the quarterback, something Wilfork has never been particularly consistent at. You can excuse that, though, when you’re as stout and disruptive in run defense as Wilfork. His yearly meetings with Nick Mangold are some of the most anticipated trench battles of the year.

Grade: +41.68

3. Sione Pouha, New York Jets

So the Jets lose Kris Jenkins and what happens? A beast of a man steps up and proceeds to swallow up anything that comes his way. Pouha is never going to get confused with the man just one spot below him, but you simply can’t move the big Jet out of the way. Of all the players on the Jets defense, Pouha (and Mike DeVito) are the most under appreciated by observers, but you need only zero in on them in detail to see how valuable they are to Rex Ryan.

Grade: +41.28

4. Shaun Rogers, Cleveland Browns

The shame for Rogers is a new coach came in and wanted to run with a more traditional nose tackle. Thus, a player who likes to get up field and disrupt plays with a freaky blend of speed and power was limited to a situational role and kind of wasted. Now he excelled in that the past two years, but we simply didn’t get to see enough of Rogers, otherwise it’s a very strong possibility he would been even higher on this list.

Grade: +39.03

5. Aubrayo Franklin, San Francisco 49ers

If this was just about what a player offers his team in run defense, Franklin may have been top of the pile such is his impact on that area of the game. It’s why some team will pay him a lot of money to shore up their defensive interior, and rightly so. He’s exceptional at it. But, you have to remember he does spend a number of snaps rushing the passer, and for a number of those snaps he may as well not be on the field. Still, if a team is going to try to run on you, you want Franklin on the nose.

Grade: +30.48

[BossChief]

Why did you highlight Pouha?

[aturnis]

I thought somebody had been talking about trying to acquire him one way or another, now that I think about it, I am confusing him with Paul Soliai, who Milk had been talking about making a deal for. I'll edit my post.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by aturnis

I thought somebody had been talking about trying to acquire him one way or another, now that I think about it, I am confusing him with Paul Soliai, who Milk had been talking about making a deal for. I'll edit my post.

I have actually mentioned Pouha before, but I assumed that he would more than likely re-sign with the Jets.

Soliai, I thought might hit the open market, but that useless bastard didn't even give the open market a second thought.