Posts tagged BubbaFranks at FanHouse

New York Jets tight end Chris Baker is coming off a solid 2007 season, and he's making a pedestrian salary of less than $1.5 million in 2008. It's hard to blame him if he's not happy with his contract.

So maybe that's why Jets coach Eric Mangini doesn't seem to blame him. Talking about Baker today, Mangini sounded calm and rational:

"I've talked to Chris and one of the things that's important to Chris and I is that he stay current on the information and that's what we've been focusing on," Mangini said. "Chris has been working with the information and will continue to work on the football side of it."

But there's a wild card in all this: Last year the Jets didn't have any viable tight ends other than Baker. This year they've added veteran Bubba Franks, the former Packer.

The New York Jets have added another unrestricted free agent, signing former Green Bay Packers tight end Bubba Franks to a one-year, $1.65 million contract.

That Franks would agree to such a deal indicates how far he has fallen in the last few years. There was a time when Franks was considered one of the best young tight ends in the NFL, but he's now 30 years old and coming off a season in which he had career-lows in catches (18) and yards (134). Franks played in eight games last year, starting one of them.

The Jets apparently see Franks as a blocking backup for starter Chris Baker. The Jets' first choice for a backup tight end was Ben Utecht of the Colts, but Utecht signed with the Bengals last week.

Brett Favre has spared us another off-season of intrigue surrounding the possibility he might retire. According to the FanHouse eight ball, all indications point to "yes." Actually, Favre said as much to the SunHerald.com's Al Jones.

"I am trying to enjoy [the hot streak the Packers are on] because this could be my last game in Green Bay. For the first time in three years, I haven't thought this could be my last game. I would like to continue longer."

Favre also indicated that he wants to come back next season and "win the MVP award that was rightfully mine this season." * With Favre looking like he'll play an 18th season, Packers fans will have to find something else to concern themselves with this off-season. Maybe finding Donald Driver's long-term replacement, or grooming a tight end to take over for Bubba Franks, or finding some way to get Atari Bigby off the field.

Another year for Favre also means another year on the bench for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is entering his fourth year and in the few chances he's gotten to play he's looked smooth. He's also been injury prone in limited action, which could be a down-the-road concern.

The Packers can cross that bridge when they get to it, though; a team needs two competent quarterbacks to be competitive and for now, Rodgers' job will be to backup Favre. And who knows, assuming Favre really does retire in the next two or three years, Rodgers might get his shot at the starting gig this decade.

* Quote is a complete fabrication.

Welcome to another successful installment of Five Questions with an Enemy Blogger, where each week, via email, I will be exchanging hot questions and [sometimes] answers with a rival blogger about their team and the upcoming matchup.

This week I sat down with Brandon of Acme Packing Company, a Sports Blog Nation column that covers the Green Bay Packers.

Dan Benton: "Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Brett Favre ... Is there anything that guy can't do?"

Brandon: "Well, he sure can't run. He's always had good pocket presence, ability to avoid the rush, but you sure wonder if he's going to hurt himself on the rare occasion he tries to run for a first down."

Benton: "I know the Packers running back situation is so confusing that fans don't even have a grasp on it, but you have to like what you saw out of Ryan Grant on Monday night. Should we expect to see more of him in the coming weeks?"

On Sunday, Packers tight end Bubba Franks and Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens both caught passes with one foot inbounds, got shoved by a defensive back, and had their second foot come down just out of bounds. By the NFL force-out rule, Franks and Owens should have been credited with catches, but neither was.

Today on NFL Network's Total Access, Vice President of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira acknowledged that both calls were mistaken. In fact, Pereira said almost exactly what FanHouse commenter grapevinesooner predicted he would say in a comment posted Monday:

I think on this Wednesday's segment during Total Access on the NFL Network, Mike Perreira clarifies this rule because in addition to the play Peter King mentioned, T.O's had two passes the last two weeks where he's left his feet for the catch along the side line and been pushed while in midair. It certainly looked in each case that had he not been forced out, he would have had a very good chance of getting the second foot inbounds. On each occasion, the linesman simply said it was an incomplete pass.

And even when they went to review yesterday, they still ruled it incomplete.

FWIW, I'm personally in favor of just doing away with the rule altogether. Either you get two feet in or you don't. The less gray area the better.

Perreira agrees with grapevinesooner and said he'd like to do away with the force-out rule, adding, "It's the toughest play that we have to officiate."

FanHouse's Michael David Smith mentioned earlier that Brett Favre threw his 420th career touchdown pass yesterday, tying Dan Marino's record, and here's the visual evidence. Despite the accomplishment, Favre said he could toss 600 TDs "and not be in his class."

That's a discussion for another time, because right now, the Packers are 3-0, and have won their last seven games dating back to last season. In Sunday's win against the suddenly hapless Chargers, Favre tossed three touchdowns -- a five-yard pass to Donald Driver, another five-yarder to Bubba Franks and a 57-yard catch-and-run to Greg Jennings. And unlike recent seasons, Favre did it all without a turnover.

With the Lions, Vikings and Bears all losing, the Packers are currently all alone atop the NFC North. Yep, Favre might have another couple of seasons in him. Which makes everybody in Green Bay very happy. Well, except Aaron Rodgers -- he's probably pretty bummed about the whole thing.

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Green Bay Packers:

Out: Running back Vernand Morency (knee), running back P.J. Pope (knee), running back DeShawn Wynn (quad) and fullback Brandon Miree (stinger).

Questionable: Cornerback Al Harris (back), guard Tony Palmer (undisclosed), defensive end Devon Hicks (groin), tackle Orrin Thompson (back) and cornerback Charles Woodson (hamstring)

Probable: Safety Marviel Underwood (knee), defensive end Aaron Kampman (knee), linebacker Abdul Hodge (knee), wide receiver Greg Jennings (hip), tackle Chad Clifton (knees), tight end Bubba Franks (cornea) and linebacker Nick Barnett (back).

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Green Bay Packers:

Out: Quarterback Paul Thompson (no injury) and running back Vernand Morency (knee).

Doubtful: Fullback Brandon Miree (stinger) and guard Tony Moll (stinger).

Questionable: Running Back DeShawn Wynn (quad), cornerback Al Harris (back) and cornerback Charles Woodson (hamstring).

Probable: Wide receiver Greg Jennings (hip), tackle Chad Clifton (knees), tackle Orrin Thompson (back), tight end Bubba Franks (cornea) and wide receiver Robert Ferguson (foot).

According to a report by Adam Schefter of NFL Network, Green Bay Packers Tight End Bubba Franks is in serious jeopardy of being released.

The reality is that the Packers former first-round draft choice (2000) has never really lived up to expectations. He's been solid at times but not enough to rely on and his tenure may finally be coming to an end.

One of the major reasons for Franks even being on the bubble is because of his inability to hold onto the ball. Green Bay would love to utilize the tight end as more of an offensive weapon, but Franks just tends to drop entirely too many passes.

He'll get a fair shake, however. If his hands improve over the course off the offseason, the Packers will likely keep him on the 53-man roster.