the Talking Can
01-05-2010, 01:00 PM
unrestricted free agent....
Players want Franklin re-signed
Tom FitzGerald, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
While packing up their belongings Monday at the 49ers' Santa Clara headquarters, some of the players lobbied strongly for the re-signing of nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, one of the team's few unrestricted free agents.
"Oh man, I pray to God they keep Aubrayo," linebacker Patrick Willis said. "The coaches know where my heart is. I'd say he's the best nose (tackle) in the game. Nobody plays with better technique. Nobody knows the game better than he knows it."
Willis led the league in tackles and gives Franklin a lot of the credit. "He keeps my head from getting busted on every play," Willis said. "I make a lot of plays because of those three guys up front, especially Aubrayo. He holds double-teams and allows me to make a play."
Franklin, 29, figures to be in demand around the league. After four years with the Ravens and three with the 49ers, he has developed a reputation as a run stuffer. He helped the 49ers' defense rank sixth in the NFL against the run, and only Baltimore was stingier than the 49ers in yards per rushing attempt (3.6).
Franklin reiterated that he'd like to come back but said he and his agent will explore "the possibilities of going somewhere. I'm hoping we can get something worked out here. I'd like to be back, but if (the 49ers) don't want to do something, I'll have to look somewhere else."
He said he enjoyed his teammates and thinks they can reach the postseason next year. "I felt like we had a legitimate shot to make the playoffs (this year)," he said. Instead, the team finished 8-8 and was left to ruminate on several close losses.
"It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth," Franklin said. "But you can use it as gas to burn in the offseason when you're working out."
In a 3-4 defense, "it all starts with the nose," defensive end Justin Smith said. "I hope the organization does whatever they can to keep him, but he's going to be in high demand.
"He's one of the main reasons we were able to climb so high in all those (statistical) categories. If you don't have that nose, there's all sorts of running lanes, and linebackers aren't making all the plays they're making. A nose guard is a huge part of this."
Two other unrestricted free agents, cornerback Dre' Bly and offensive tackle Barry Sims, said they hoped to return, too. "I'd be crazy to say I wouldn't want to be part of a playoff-contending team," Bly, 32, said.
The 11-year NFL veteran added, "California is a beautiful place. We only scratched the surface of what this team can do. I really feel like the chemistry was coming together at the right time defensively. Everything was going sweet. I'm sad that the season ended."
Sims, 35, also finishing his 11th season, said he didn't know if he was in the 49ers' 2010 plans or not, but said he was much happier than he was in Oakland, where he played from 1999 through 2007. "There's definitely a will to get better here that I didn't see in my last few years with the Raiders," he said.
E-mail Tom FitzGerald at tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/05/SP8F1BDCPV.DTL
Players want Franklin re-signed
Tom FitzGerald, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
While packing up their belongings Monday at the 49ers' Santa Clara headquarters, some of the players lobbied strongly for the re-signing of nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, one of the team's few unrestricted free agents.
"Oh man, I pray to God they keep Aubrayo," linebacker Patrick Willis said. "The coaches know where my heart is. I'd say he's the best nose (tackle) in the game. Nobody plays with better technique. Nobody knows the game better than he knows it."
Willis led the league in tackles and gives Franklin a lot of the credit. "He keeps my head from getting busted on every play," Willis said. "I make a lot of plays because of those three guys up front, especially Aubrayo. He holds double-teams and allows me to make a play."
Franklin, 29, figures to be in demand around the league. After four years with the Ravens and three with the 49ers, he has developed a reputation as a run stuffer. He helped the 49ers' defense rank sixth in the NFL against the run, and only Baltimore was stingier than the 49ers in yards per rushing attempt (3.6).
Franklin reiterated that he'd like to come back but said he and his agent will explore "the possibilities of going somewhere. I'm hoping we can get something worked out here. I'd like to be back, but if (the 49ers) don't want to do something, I'll have to look somewhere else."
He said he enjoyed his teammates and thinks they can reach the postseason next year. "I felt like we had a legitimate shot to make the playoffs (this year)," he said. Instead, the team finished 8-8 and was left to ruminate on several close losses.
"It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth," Franklin said. "But you can use it as gas to burn in the offseason when you're working out."
In a 3-4 defense, "it all starts with the nose," defensive end Justin Smith said. "I hope the organization does whatever they can to keep him, but he's going to be in high demand.
"He's one of the main reasons we were able to climb so high in all those (statistical) categories. If you don't have that nose, there's all sorts of running lanes, and linebackers aren't making all the plays they're making. A nose guard is a huge part of this."
Two other unrestricted free agents, cornerback Dre' Bly and offensive tackle Barry Sims, said they hoped to return, too. "I'd be crazy to say I wouldn't want to be part of a playoff-contending team," Bly, 32, said.
The 11-year NFL veteran added, "California is a beautiful place. We only scratched the surface of what this team can do. I really feel like the chemistry was coming together at the right time defensively. Everything was going sweet. I'm sad that the season ended."
Sims, 35, also finishing his 11th season, said he didn't know if he was in the 49ers' 2010 plans or not, but said he was much happier than he was in Oakland, where he played from 1999 through 2007. "There's definitely a will to get better here that I didn't see in my last few years with the Raiders," he said.
E-mail Tom FitzGerald at tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/05/SP8F1BDCPV.DTL