mgteich

The nfl is a business. Both parties continue to use their options under the CBA.

THE CURRENT SITUATION
The current situation seems to be that we have a problem probowl LG available to join the team that will cost us about $800K for the second half of the season. After this season, we will likely receive a 2012 3rd rounder when Mankins goes elsewhere in 2011.
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WHAT SHOULD THE PATRIOTS DO NOW, IF ANYTHING?
I would think that nothing at all needs to be done before August. The team needs a little time to see Kaczur and Light at LG. Also, they need to evaluate Connolly as a potential replacement for Neal when he is injured. And then there is Orhnberger. Dante has some evaluation to do. After a bit of evaluation, the team will be able to better assess the 2010 value of Mankins.

Of course, the team can entertain discussions with other teams, but Mankins isn't under contract, so he would need to agree to any trade. At some point, the team can let Mankins' agent try to find a deal accpetable to the patriots. I wouldn't expect that such an action would be entertained until August.

Gwedd

Sigh.......

Rob0729

Light's not playing LG. Baring an injury or another unforseen circumstance, he will be starting at LT. It will either be Kazcur or another back up taking the LG position.

As for Mankins after this season, if Brady and Gostkowski are both locked up before the end of the franchise tag period, Mankins will most assurdily be tagged and traded for a second rounder or better. Assuming a long term deal isn't done.

NEGoldenAge

I don't think anyone will be coughing up a first rounder for Mankins. An early 2nd would be nice

everlong

Didn't the year of service rules change for the uncapped year from week ten to the start of the season or even earlier? I thought I had read that but cannot find it.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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sbpatfan

No more draft picks please, if he gets traded it has to be for another player.

Sicilian

Why is that?

MoLewisrocks

I believe that was for players who signed their tender (lest it get reduced) and still decided to hold out into training camp. Then the decision became which way do I net more, not signing and not facing any fines and allowed to hold out through week 10 or signing at the higher rate and absorbing the $16K per day fines so I could continue holding out until I had to report for the season to get paid or face suspension. Most of them did the math and signed. Some who didn't were low tender guys for whom the difference between their tender and 110% was insignificant and the remaining flexibility to avoid fines was more significant.

If you remain unsigned you still retain the ability to hold out into the season, up to week 10, with no financial repurcussions beyond loss of game checks. If you signed you have to show up by August 13th or you will lose a year of service credit whether you end up playing 16 weeks or not...

everlong

Thanks. I thought there were two different dates. One for the 110% and a second earlier year of service date but maybe I misread it.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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jmt57

I see where you're going with whether or not Mankins would earn a year of service. In the past it's always been week 10. The thing is though, that the only reason Mankins (and about 200 other NFL players) were restricted free agents and not unrestricted free agents was due to the special rules in place for one year and one year only: the uncapped year. If the terms of the next CBA for amount of service time to become a free agent are the same as they were under the prior CBA, then Mankins does not need the service time from playing football in 2010 to become an unrestricted free agent.

It's really all dependent on the next CBA in terms of number of years needed to become an unrestricted free agent in the future, but I doubt the NFLPA is going to agree to increasing the number of years before becoming an unrestricted free agent, or keeping the uncapped year rules in place.