I don't flatly agree with that statement. Jenkins had more obvious impact (sacks) but didn't Raji play more snaps? Miss fewer games? And you cannot ignore youth, it's probably the biggest asset players have. Plus nose tackle is funny due to the shortage of bodies that can pull it off. It's not such a simple apples-to-apples.
Jenkins was key during the run in 2010, and the run is really all that mattered...up to week 16 we were not a playoff team.
My comment about Raji was not to compare the performance of the two players per se. The point is if we're not going to pay Jenkins $5 mil per year with light guarantees, why would we pay Raji $10 mil per year, as is glibly tossed out in the press, following 2 years of mediocre performance? A lot of mediocre snaps played with youthful indifference should not earn the big second contract. I predict he will not be extended before year end; he'll have to play for his 2014 contract.
The so-called scarcity of nose tackles is an interesting topic. There are quite a few who could play the position among the top 60 players in this draft. However, the closest you get to a prototype 3-4 DE among the top 60 are Datone Jones (who will be off the board at #26 given the scarcity) and Margus Hunt who is too old and raw to spend the #26 on, but won't be around for our 2nd. round pick. (DTs/NTs posing as 3-4 DEs on the strong side don't count in this discussion.) In fact, there has not been a strong 3-4 DE class since 2011, and there was a drop off after the top 5 who were taken in front of us that year.
TT is not talking to Canty just because of some old man-crush. Sign Canty to fill a spot where we have neither a particularly worthy incumbent nor solid draft possibilities, just as we signed Saturday last season under similar circumstances. Then draft a NT/strong side DE-type in the 1st. or 2nd. round. Best case, the draftee will be Pickett's replacement; worst case he'll be Raji's.
Surveying the landscape, I think TT will make a competitive offer to Canty assuming his health is believed to be clean. Trgovac has admitted our DEs have lacked "reach". There's a lot packed in that little word. And there are not many other options other than sticking with Neal.