Cooper will be a player that really benefits by having the new veteran, Franklin, on the team to learn from. Cooper and Walker were basically the same age and I wouldn't say Walker was much of a mentor. Cooper will benefit from the vet leadership the same way all of our young LBs would have benefited from signing Bobby Wagner as I suggested the last 3 years. Franklin isn't Wagner, but he isn't chopped liver as stockholder has implied.

Infusing some veteran leadership into multiple position groups will really improve this teams overall performance, vets just expect more from their teammates. We don't have alot of glaring holes left on this roster. A few strategic, subtle, cheap, FA adds could give us a great chance to make a strong run in the playoffs this year. The only question marks left are another Edge, a backup RB, maybe another vet CB, and trading for a TE would fill the last holes.

Hafley didn’t turn Cooper loose , I’m not sorry he’s gone .