Bubba Frank to be Tagged?

[RayVins]

Packers | Could Tag Franks
Sun, 20 Feb 2005 08:45:48 -0800

Pete Dougherty, of PackersNews.com, reports the Green Bay Packers could decide to designate TE Bubba Franks as their transition or franchise player to limit his mobility in the free agent market. Franks, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March, would cost the team $2.7 million as their franchise player and $2 million as their transition player. The Packers have until Feb. 22 to tag Franks with either designation.

This comes as a bit of a shock to me considering #1- he is a TE, and #2- he is fairly young.

Tight end contracts usually come pretty cheap, and considering Franks is not a top 5 TE right now he should be affordable. Designating him a franchise player instead of giving him a contract only gives the impression that they do not plan on keeping him long term.

Franks is a 5 year veteran and probably has a solid 4-6 years left of good play. He is a solid blocker and a favorite goal line TE... so why not resign him?

Ether way, the tag is going to cost GB 2-3 million.

[no1cowboysfan]

Kevin Barry OL RFA Packers
Najeh Davenport RB RFA Packers
Tony Fisher RB RFA Packers
Aaron Kampman DL RFA Packers
Paris Lenon LB RFA Packers
Craig Nall QB RFA Packers
Bryan Barker P UFA Packers
Brad Bedell OL UFA Packers
Shockmain Davis WR UFA Packers
Bubba Franks TE UFA Packers
Atlas Herrion OL UFA Packers
Bhawoh Jue DB UFA Packers
Kelvin Kight WR UFA Packers
Torrance Marshall LB UFA Packers
David Martin TE UFA Packers
J.T. O'Sullivan QB UFA Packers
Doug Pederson QB UFA Packers
Marco Rivera OL UFA Packers
Ben Steele TE UFA Packers
Erwin Swiney DB UFA Packers
Andrae Thurman WR UFA Packers
R-Kal Truluck DL UFA Packers

This should answer your question. The Pack has pretty much no one else that they would benefit tagging. Franks is the logical choice.

[Bennett4prez]

But why pay Bubba the 5th best salary (or whatever franchising does)? I don't think Bubba warrants the money. Why not tag Rivera instead if you WANT to use it?

[Mercer Boy]

But why pay Bubba the 5th best salary (or whatever franchising does)? I don't think Bubba warrants the money. Why not tag Rivera instead if you WANT to use it?

I believe franchising gives you the average of the top 5 guys at your position.

The Packers are very comfortable with Bubba. He knows everything they do on offense because he has been around a long time, and TE salaries aren't nearly as crazy as RB (tag Davenport - ha!) or QB (Peterson - hehe) salaries.

You do have a point on Rivera, and I don't know the top OL salaries...but I'll bet they are fairly high as well since they are the main protectors of the QB.

Heck, I heard (maybe it has happened) that the Pats were going to tag Vinatieri...I bet that's a nice low-cost franchise option!

[MeShawn]

Ummm, may I ask why? I'd rather franchise the water boy than Bubba Franks. This doesn't make any sense to me, but I'm not too clear on the whole franchising thing. I understand that they get the average of the top 5 salaries at their position, but what is the purpose of franchising a player. Sorry for sounding stupid, but please elaborate. Thanks

[OwenTheBlonde]

Ummm, may I ask why? I'd rather franchise the water boy than Bubba Franks. This doesn't make any sense to me, but I'm not too clear on the whole franchising thing. I understand that they get the average of the top 5 salaries at their position, but what is the purpose of franchising a player. Sorry for sounding stupid, but please elaborate. Thanks

1) The tag may cost less than re-signing him longer term
2) They many not want him signed long-term
3) By tagging him they don't have to worry about another team offering a crazy big contract (for whatever reason) and then you don't have him.
4) He really is the only tag option (if you have to do it, which I don't know if you do).

[ravage]

Ummm, may I ask why? I'd rather franchise the water boy than Bubba Franks. This doesn't make any sense to me, but I'm not too clear on the whole franchising thing. I understand that they get the average of the top 5 salaries at their position, but what is the purpose of franchising a player. Sorry for sounding stupid, but please elaborate. Thanks

For those who only see Bubba's numbers each week I can understand your confusion. Silently Bubba has developed into one of the better blocking TEs in the NFL. Especially if you add in how well he runs routes and catches. With a talent like Green at RB a blocking TE is a great thing to have.

As far as Rivera goes they may think signing him longterm might be cheaper. But I think Rivera may be gone. Unfortunately.

[Vick 4 Mayor]

are you sure its only 2.7 mil? i thought it would be much more than that with crumplers new contract, winslows huge contract, gonzos contract, shockeys contract, and then someone at like 1.5 mil a year.

[Azrael]

Wouldn't they rather keep Rivera or Davenport? Maybe they are considering giving these guys longer term contracts. Other than that, I guess Franks is the logical choice...but then again, do you HAVE to tag someone?

[OwenTheBlonde]

Wouldn't they rather keep Rivera or Davenport? Maybe they are considering giving these guys longer term contracts. Other than that, I guess Franks is the logical choice...but then again, do you HAVE to tag someone?

Just checked and it's the team's prerogative if they want to use the tag.