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The Jets would be making a huge mistake if they let some other team steal Sione “Bo” Pouha in free agency.
According to the Newark Star-Ledger, they like aren’t going to tag the free agent nose tackle.
Clearly, if the Jets don’t tag him, they are rolling the dice, thinking that no team is going to be a big offer to a 33-year-old free agent nose tackle.
But you know what, if some other team is smart, they will make a run at him.
Let’s not forget, while he did just turn 33 on February 3rd, he’s a young 33. He entered the league at 25, so he doesn’t have the regular amount of wear-and-tear for a player his age.
Pouha sat out his first two eligible seasons at the University of Utah, serving a Mormon Mission. He actually served it in Pittsburgh, going door-to-door for two years, spreading the gospel.
So he started in college career at 20, not 18.
Then he missed his entire “sophomore” season in the NFL, with a torn ACL. While it’s not good to ever tear a knee ligament, from the standpoint of his rest of his body, this was another year off from the wear-and-tear.
So we shouldn’t just him by his age. This guy has a lot of good football in him.
Pouha has emerged as one of the best nose tackles in football. One scout described him as “unblockable.”
What makes Pouha so tough is great technique, combined with a very low center of gravity. While he’s 6-3, he has short legs for his size, so he’s built low to the ground, so he’s good at getting under center and guards.
On top of his text-book technique, and is ability to stay low, another huge factor that helps him be successful is his strength. He is one of the strongest Jets, and can bench press 500 pounds.
While he is a little old by NFL standards, he’s still an ascending player. Remember, he came into the league as a project – very raw. Over the years, he’s gone from raw to a fundamentally sound technician.
And the injuries to Kris Jenkins in 2009 and 2010, allowed him to get quality playing time to show his wares, and he did not disappoint.
He took the opportunity and ran with it, and the Jets hardly missed the talented Jenkins.
Aside from his value on the field, Pouha is one of the few leaders the Jets have.
With the departures last year of Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith, Tony Richardson and Damien Woody, leaders were hard to find in the Jets locker room in 2011. Pouha was one of the few leaders they had.
He is one of those guys that everyone likes and respects. It’s hard not to like the affable Tongan, who has a great spirit and zest for life.
Another important factor is Pouha’s popularity with the Jets Nation. The fans love him – chanting “Boooo” after he makes tackles at home games. The Jets’ fan base has few players to call their own, with the constant change on the roster. Pouha is a Jet, through and through.
The Jets clearly want him back, but don’t have a lot of cap space, thanks to the enormous amount of money being paid to players like Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes.
So this deal will have to be creative.
Mike Tannenbaum has a strong relationship with the agency that represents Pouha (the Alan Herman group), so expect something to get done, unless some team jumps in quickly with a big money offer.
Which is probably unlikely due to his age.
His age isn’t a big deal, but it will likely end up helping the Jets, keep him, and not have to break the bank.
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