MoLewisrocks

It just means what it always means - that mg is very pro player/union and anti cheapskate patriots FO so he is always looking out for the little guy and generally predicting if not almost willing him to take a stand...and show the cheap SOB's whose got leverage...

lillestroom

Did the club need to send an official letter to do this?

IMHO it creates bad blood between player and franchise.

signbabybrady

I don't think this was neccessary. Certainly lowering the tender would cause bad blood. I don't think sending the letter warning him does though in fact it likely does the opposite (not to the same extent). To me it is a good will gesture saying we are happy to honor the initial tender but you have to sign it before this deadline or we are with in our rights to lower your salary (and if no harm is done than no foul but the harm is when the contract is actually lowered).

Tune in the next few days as this hopefully will be resolved at least for this season.

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Armen Da Pats Fan

I just think Mankins is being so stupid here...

Didn't he learn anything from Vince Wilfork last year?

Vince showed up, did his job and got his fat raise.

Mankins has been in the league, what 3 years? He is a solid player and maybe our most important lineman, but he really hasn't proven himself to be an elite anything, IMO, and far from "irreplaceable".

Now, because of his Seymour-esque behavior, he stands to lose close to $2m this year if he still hasn't opened his eyes in in 5 days!

What leverage does he have?

a. He is not going to get paid as much...

b. All he can really do is sit out the year which will then make him questionable in the eyes of other teams in terms of his character...

c. Plus, he would miss a whole year of practice, action, development, etc., and that's assuming the league doesn't strike in 2011, in which case he loses 2 years! There is no guarantee there will be a new deal for 2011, right?

d. The Pats would find and develop and build around his replacement this season and he would have to fight for a job when and if they brought him back...

I just don't get this.

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ADPF

Urgent

5. Sign a long-term deal with a big bonus, like Vince Wilfork did after receiving the franchise tag, which is what he wants to do.

As I perceive this, the letter informs the player of the rule, not necessarily their intention to revise his compensation, as others have noted. Actually employing the stick would be an end-game move, creating irrevocable bad relations with that player and probably a lot of other players on the team and probably future potential free agents and so forth.

Mankins probably feels like he 'deserves' $7mm a year, and is losing $4mm this year due to the uncapped year rule. Then if the Patriots employ this, he would likely feel like they are stealing another $2mm from him. I know I would be pretty unhappy.

I hope a long-term deal is worked out.

On the likelihood of signing by that date: sure, the letter is designed to encourage that. However, as an agent, I would figure that lots of teams waive the fines when players hold out and eventually re-negotiate. I would figure that the Patriots are pretty unlikely, if good faith negotiations fail to reach a deal both sides accept, to go nuclear, and would likely pay him the full tender and part amicably.

I would guess that he is less likely to sign by June 15.
I would guess that his agent will try to work on a long-term deal, and hope one works out, well past the deadline.
If not, I would guess that the Patriots end up paying him the full tender, whatever the date, after negotiations play out.
I would guess that the Patriots are more likely to save more bonus money for Brady, given the restrictions of the 30% rule and the recent deal for Wilfork.

I'm not certain if the Patriots have to formally re-tender him with a specific amount on June 15 - which could change the dynamics. If that's the case, I would still offer him the $3mm tender. The less-than-$2mm cost is made up for in value of signing Mankins long-term and positive player relationships.

We'll see.

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"Your father was a truck driver, Ray?"
- Trombley

PATSNUTme

I haven't seen the actual letter. But I think it is something that they are obligated to do under the CBA. I also think the wording is "can" not "will" reduce the tender of not signed before 6/15- big difference.

signbabybrady

First off Mankins will be going into his fifth or sixth season, has been to a couple a pro bowls and would certainly be considered one of the four or five best guards in the game right now if thats not elite than fine.

Second I am sure the Way Mankins looks at it is he too showed up and when he supposed to get his fat raise as a FA some new crazy rule was instilled and he gets robbed and is instead a RFA.

Third you than follow a line of thinking that you are projecting on him and I think you should wait until this plays out to project. Everything you said assumes he doesn't bite the bullet and sign the tender when the deadline comes up. With all the new rules and weird things that have hosed him his only leverage is to hold out as long as reasonable and if he feels risking losing out on another 2 mil is reasonable than that is his perogative. If this thing drags into the season than we can start pointing out your ABCs.

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Gwedd

I think that is exactly the case.

mgteich

I have never called the patriots cheapskates. I have supported the Kraft's in all that they have done since the day they saved the franchise.

That being said, as you said, I am pro-player and almost always take the players position, except when they are unwilling to play out their contract like Branch. I understood the new team philosophy the day the cut Milloy with less than a week before the beginning of the season. Fans have their choice in these situations. However, in no sense are the patriots cheapskates. They have a business model that works and they stick to it.

The only reason that Mankins is not a UFA is that the owners screwed the players by making 6th year players RFA's. Mankins should use whatever leverage he has. He may sign; he may not. But what he should NOT do is sign the tender and show up for practice, the preseason and the season as if nothing has happened. And just BTW, the RFA process is a joke, a collusion by owners to prvent the players from being free agents. How many RFA's have switched teams?

Presuming that he is not injured this season, Mankins will get a big contract next year from someone other than the patriots. Should he sign the tender and play this year under the present forced offer or a reduced on, then he will simply play for someone else in 2011. Why would he even consider playing for the patriots?

I do think that the Wilfork situation last year was slightly different. Being franchised means that you are being paid very well indeed. Mankins is being paid nowhere near a franchise number. He is a probowler who has completed his contract and has played very well for the patriots. He does deserve to be paid better than what the patriots will pay him.

But, in the end, business is business. Apparently, the patriots will take advantage of the lack of a CBA and underpay Mankins. That is their right.

mgteich

I agree that you don't get it.

Mankins is NOT a 4th year player. The only reason that he is an RFA is that the team owners put a clause in the last CBA making SIXTH year players RFA's if there was no CBA extension.

Mankins doesn't need a year of development to get a big 2011 contract from someone. He is a 2 time probowler a one of the best guards in the league. Obviously you don't get this either.