woodbuck27
06-01-2007, 10:39 AM
Posted June 1, 2007
Franks' starting days may be over
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
Bubba Franks tried to fend off the question before it was asked.
Before a reporter reached Franks' locker on Thursday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers' tight end offered this: "I don't want to talk about being on the second team."
Yet on the second day of the voluntary organized team activities — and the first session that was open to reporters — Franks' apparent demotion stood out.
When the No. 1 offense took the field for the first time during a team period, Franks was on the sideline. The Packers opened in a two-tight end set, and the first reps went to Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey. On the next play, fullback Brandon Miree replaced Humphrey, leaving Lee on the field. Franks got only a handful of reps during the team periods of Thursday's two-hour practice.
Franks said the coaches have been "just kind of playing around with some things," but practice time is precious, and coaches don't do things like changing personnel without something specific in mind. It was a continuation of how Franks was used during the team's mandatory minicamp last month, when Lee got the most work with the starters.
When asked if he thinks he's the Packers' starting tight end, Franks said: "I don't know. No one has told me anything.
"(Before the minicamp) I felt pretty confident, and then I came in here and, you know, that's what happens," Franks added.
"You just do what you can do."
What Franks is trying to do is shake off the worst season of his seven-year NFL career. Franks matched his career low with only 25 catches and, for the first season in his career, didn't catch a touchdown pass. He has only one touchdown catch since 2005.
To be sure, the tight end group as a whole was far less productive last season. Lee, after a career-high 33 catches and two touchdowns in 2005, caught only 10 balls and didn't have a touchdown last season. Coach Mike McCarthy had to rely more on the tight ends in pass protection because of the Packers' young, inexperienced offensive line, thereby limiting their productivity as receivers.
With Franks, though, it's possible he has reached the point where his skills have diminished significantly. He's 29 years old and is beginning his eighth NFL season. He never was a speed guy to begin with, and any loss of quickness could signal the beginning of the end for him.
However, he insists that's not the case.
He returned to his old ways of training in Miami this offseason rather than spending most of it in Green Bay like he did last offseason, and believes he is in top shape. He said he's leaner, stronger and lighter (at 260 pounds) than he was last year.
"I'll say this about Bubba Franks: I think he's in excellent shape, No. 1," McCarthy said after Thursday's practice.
"He's not a youngster, so I think he's put a lot of preparation into this offseason, and you can see that. I think he's moving extremely well. He had some injuries that he fought through last year. The adjustments we've made schematically, he's picked them right up. Bubba's been excellent. I thought he had a very good minicamp, and he's off and running with these first two (OTA) days."
However, none of that will guarantee Franks a spot on the roster. In years past, Franks' name likely would be mentioned today as a possible June 1 cut. But changes to the collective bargaining agreement allowed teams to cut veterans before June 1 and spread out the salary-cap hit over two years.
Franks' salary this season ($1.4 million) isn't off the charts for a starter, but it's high for a backup. Plus, the Packers have high hopes for Humphrey and second-year pro Zac Alcorn, and they drafted a tight end, Clark Harris out of Rutgers, in the seventh round.
"I'm 100 percent confident I'm going to do my job and whether it's here or somewhere else, it doesn't really matter," Franks said. "I'm getting in shape to play this season. Where that is doesn't make a difference to me."
Comment woodbuck27:
Does Houston need a TE ? :)
Franks' starting days may be over
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
Bubba Franks tried to fend off the question before it was asked.
Before a reporter reached Franks' locker on Thursday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers' tight end offered this: "I don't want to talk about being on the second team."
Yet on the second day of the voluntary organized team activities — and the first session that was open to reporters — Franks' apparent demotion stood out.
When the No. 1 offense took the field for the first time during a team period, Franks was on the sideline. The Packers opened in a two-tight end set, and the first reps went to Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey. On the next play, fullback Brandon Miree replaced Humphrey, leaving Lee on the field. Franks got only a handful of reps during the team periods of Thursday's two-hour practice.
Franks said the coaches have been "just kind of playing around with some things," but practice time is precious, and coaches don't do things like changing personnel without something specific in mind. It was a continuation of how Franks was used during the team's mandatory minicamp last month, when Lee got the most work with the starters.
When asked if he thinks he's the Packers' starting tight end, Franks said: "I don't know. No one has told me anything.
"(Before the minicamp) I felt pretty confident, and then I came in here and, you know, that's what happens," Franks added.
"You just do what you can do."
What Franks is trying to do is shake off the worst season of his seven-year NFL career. Franks matched his career low with only 25 catches and, for the first season in his career, didn't catch a touchdown pass. He has only one touchdown catch since 2005.
To be sure, the tight end group as a whole was far less productive last season. Lee, after a career-high 33 catches and two touchdowns in 2005, caught only 10 balls and didn't have a touchdown last season. Coach Mike McCarthy had to rely more on the tight ends in pass protection because of the Packers' young, inexperienced offensive line, thereby limiting their productivity as receivers.
With Franks, though, it's possible he has reached the point where his skills have diminished significantly. He's 29 years old and is beginning his eighth NFL season. He never was a speed guy to begin with, and any loss of quickness could signal the beginning of the end for him.
However, he insists that's not the case.
He returned to his old ways of training in Miami this offseason rather than spending most of it in Green Bay like he did last offseason, and believes he is in top shape. He said he's leaner, stronger and lighter (at 260 pounds) than he was last year.
"I'll say this about Bubba Franks: I think he's in excellent shape, No. 1," McCarthy said after Thursday's practice.
"He's not a youngster, so I think he's put a lot of preparation into this offseason, and you can see that. I think he's moving extremely well. He had some injuries that he fought through last year. The adjustments we've made schematically, he's picked them right up. Bubba's been excellent. I thought he had a very good minicamp, and he's off and running with these first two (OTA) days."
However, none of that will guarantee Franks a spot on the roster. In years past, Franks' name likely would be mentioned today as a possible June 1 cut. But changes to the collective bargaining agreement allowed teams to cut veterans before June 1 and spread out the salary-cap hit over two years.
Franks' salary this season ($1.4 million) isn't off the charts for a starter, but it's high for a backup. Plus, the Packers have high hopes for Humphrey and second-year pro Zac Alcorn, and they drafted a tight end, Clark Harris out of Rutgers, in the seventh round.
"I'm 100 percent confident I'm going to do my job and whether it's here or somewhere else, it doesn't really matter," Franks said. "I'm getting in shape to play this season. Where that is doesn't make a difference to me."
Comment woodbuck27:
Does Houston need a TE ? :)