Logan Mankins To Sign Franchise Tender (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

Pats' Logan Mankins to report on time

By Mike Reiss

ESPNBoston.com

Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins, who held out the first half of last season, plans to sign his franchise tender and report to training camp on time with the rest of the New England Patriots, his agent said Tuesday.

"Early this morning, Logan spoke with Bill (Belichick) and both are very happy, happy to get started. Logan is looking forward to being with his teammates and coaches, with a fresh start," agent Frank Bauer said.

Mankins and the Patriots have until Sept. 20 to work out a long-term contract, per the new labor deal.

Mankins was one of 10 named plaintiffs in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the league that was settled Monday by the owners and NFLPA.

Mankins, 29, was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2005. He has been to three Pro Bowls, including 2010, despite missing the first seven games due to a prolonged holdout.

Mankins and the Patriots were at odds last summer, when the guard said he hoped to be traded because of the slow pace of negotiations on a contract extension.

Mankins was a restricted free agent -- a result of the NFL's going from a salary-cap system to an uncapped year in 2010 -- but did not sign his $3.26 million tender. That led to an extended standoff, with Mankins not reporting until the eighth game of the season. The Patriots sliced his tender to $1.54 million, which was prorated over the final nine games of the season.

 

[bostonfred]

Wow. The Patriots offense should be stacked in a year when a lot of the opposing defenses will suck. They could break records.

 

[Sweet Love]

Wow. The Patriots offense should be stacked in a year when a lot of the opposing defenses will suck. They could break records.

Not sure I get it...Welker and Brady will be a year older and the Jets should be fine for another year or two...and how much worse could Miami/Buffalo get? Chances are the offense will be outmatched by those teams in 2012 and beyond 4 out of the 6 six weeks they face eachother. How long do you think Bellicheck is going to be around....

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Bad news for teams in their division and there goes any chance the Bucs had of perhaps signing him.

 

[bostonfred]

Wow. The Patriots offense should be stacked in a year when a lot of the opposing defenses will suck. They could break records.

Not sure I get it...Welker and Brady will be a year older and the Jets should be fine for another year or two...and how much worse could Miami/Buffalo get? Chances are the offense will be outmatched by those teams in 2012 and beyond 4 out of the 6 six weeks they face eachother. How long do you think Bellicheck is going to be around....

Early in the season, I expect veteran teams with continuity on the lines and coaching staffs are going to do well this year. Teams that have to start rookies, especially at key positions, will be in some trouble. Teams that can use rookies situationally and mix them in more as their skills progress will do better. New England starts out @MIA, then hosts the typically slow-starting Chargers on a 3000 mile road trip to Foxboro. Then it's @BUF, @OAK, vs. NYJ, and vs. DAL. I agree with you that the Jets are a tough matchup, but that's a good start. Down the stretch, the Pats play Indy in New England, @ WAS, @DEN, and finish with home games against Miami and Buffalo. That's got the potential for some routs if some of those teams fall out of the running early. Meanwhile, the Pats have upgraded their offense from last year without any major losses (not counting the Moss departure, which didn't slow down Brady's MVP season). They added two running backs, but kept their mainstays from last year. They keep Mankins, and added a first round offensive lineman. The two tight ends have another year of experience. Welker is now in year two post-injury. And last year's offense was outstanding. They don't have a superstar like Moss, but Brady set the INT record in large part because he wasn't chucking it up deep as often. His best target wasn't as good as it was in 2007, but he had a lot more good targets to work with than he had in the past, which suits his game better. I don't think New England is the only team which will benefit from the lockout, but I do think it's worth looking at which teams have the best chance to exploit the shortened offseason.

 

[Boston]

Knowing Mankins will be there is huge...with Matt Light an unrestricted free agent and a candidate to get far more than the Pats are willing to pay it would have been very dicey to go into the season having to replace both members of Brady's left-side...hopefully the Pats can come to a long-term agreement with him but if not they at least have a year to plan for his departure as well as helping out Solder if he in-fact ends up starting from day one (which is still to be determined)...

 

[KellysHeroes]

Wow. The Patriots offense should be stacked in a year when a lot of the opposing defenses will suck. They could break records.

Not sure I get it...Welker and Brady will be a year older and the Jets should be fine for another year or two...and how much worse could Miami/Buffalo get? Chances are the offense will be outmatched by those teams in 2012 and beyond 4 out of the 6 six weeks they face eachother. How long do you think Bellicheck is going to be around....

with team continiously GIVING the Pats their 1st and 2nd Round picks every yr while the Pats enter every Draft with 20 picks... the Pats will never be bad.SIGNED Jets Fan