Mankins speaks as if he'll remain a Patriot - New England Patriots Forums

Fencer · 05-28-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Mankins touched on the big void created at right guard with Neal's retirement. "We're going to miss Steve. I've had a lot of teammates and Steve is by far one of the best teammates, best guys, you'll ever have," he said.

Around the links at Andruzzi tourney - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Of course, that doesn't mean he really will stay, or even that he really thinks he'll stay. Still, it's encouraging that he speaks of himself as a Patriot in the future tense.

RayClay · 05-28-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencer

Around the links at Andruzzi tourney - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Of course, that doesn't mean he really will stay, or even that he really thinks he'll stay. Still, it's encouraging that he speaks of himself as a Patriot in the future tense.

If he gets paid more than three times what Neal did, I guess...

Not my money, of course, so I hope he signs.

supafly · 05-29-2011, 03:31 AM

I don't know how much it really means obviously, but it certainly can't hurt.

I can see why you view it as reason for optimism.

To be honest, I just really have a gut feeling (That and 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks

)that Mankins ends up staying. When you figure that some of the other important players such as Brady and Wilfork have now been taken care of, the youth invasion that is contract-friendly right now, the problem solved with Seymour leaving, and the importance of Mankins to blend in with the whole 'physicality' aspect, I do not see it as anywhere beyond the realm of possibility.

Chances are, the labor uncertainty may have also played a role in the negotiations, as the team may have been leaning slightly more towards the conservative side--rather than taking too many risks. I think the negotiations will be in a better light once the uncertainty in settled. That, and the fact that Belichick has supposedly been attempting to reach a middle ground with him can't necessarily be a bad thing either.

I think the team comes up a bit in the end financially speaking, and Logan appreciates Belichick's having his back + the comraderie with his teammates enough to meet somewhere in the middle (assuming the numbers are pretty close at least).

***DarrylS*** · 05-29-2011, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supafly

I don't know how much it really means obviously, but it certainly can't hurt.

I can see why you view it as reason for optimism.

To be honest, I just really have a gut feeling (That and 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks

)that Mankins ends up staying. When you figure that some of the other important players such as Brady and Wilfork have now been taken care of, the youth invasion that is contract-friendly right now, the problem solved with Seymour leaving, and the importance of Mankins to blend in with the whole 'physicality' aspect, I do not see it as anywhere beyond the realm of possibility.

Chances are, the labor uncertainty may have also played a role in the negotiations, as the team may have been leaning slightly more towards the conservative side--rather than taking too many risks. I think the negotiations will be in a better light once the uncertainty in settled. That, and the fact that Belichick has supposedly been attempting to reach a middle ground with him can't necessarily be a bad thing either.

I think the team comes up a bit in the end financially speaking, and Logan appreciates Belichick's having his back + the comraderie with his teammates enough to meet somewhere in the middle (assuming the numbers are pretty close at least).

Love your optimism, and agree with your argument.

Fencer · 05-29-2011, 08:02 AM

Most guys who are free agents have an attitude something like:

"I want to stay, and if the team pays me sufficiently close to max dollar, I will stay. I hope that's how it works out."

Mankins' camp has at times has put out word that his attitude was a lot more negative than that. However, I take his quote as evidence that his attitude is back to the standard range.

Also, along with its other effects, the CBA change has a lot of face-saving potential, along the lines of "Well, before we (implicitly) disagreed about predictions for the CBA, but now we have actual facts, so let's proceed from there."

***MoLewisrocks*** · 05-29-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencer

Around the links at Andruzzi tourney - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Of course, that doesn't mean he really will stay, or even that he really thinks he'll stay. Still, it's encouraging that he speaks of himself as a Patriot in the future tense.

Exactly where did he do that?

I don't think he's going anywhere, hasn't budged out of Foxboro in over a year. He and his agent just tend to behave like emotional teenage girls at times... That said, not sure where you (or some of the other wishfully positive posters) are reading what you think you're reading...'cause there was nothing there. That he loves playing with these guys and will miss Neal since he's retired doesn't translate into he would miss the organization were he to move on...'cause Neal wouldn't be there either...

Mankins seems to have needed a scapegoat for his lack of contract and he opted to make it the guy who signs the checks because he's in personal denial that it's Belichick who sets the mark...

Mankins didn't say anything remotely like the quote you attempt to attribute to him or liken to his actual comments. Mankins did however provide more fodder for the irreperable harm mill...

Quote:

“Just doing the same thing I did last year. I’ve been around for a while, I know how to get ready for football seasons. You just have to put in the work and get your body conditioning, that’s what it takes,” he said.

Funny how when these guys hold out or choose to roll the dice vs. taking an offer they don't see the potential for irreperable harm. But when the shoe is on the other foot someone is potentially jeopardizing their careers... They did more to jeopardize the careers of a large segment of their peers when they voted unanimously like sheep being led to slaughter to authorize something (decertification) that was correctly viewed as a tactical nuclear option. And when you pre-emptively launch that kind of attack against someone you claim to desire partnership with how naive is it to expect they would respond in any other manner than to launch their own nuclear weapon right back atcha in self defense.

They used to teach us about mutually assured self destruction back in the cold war arms race days. It was supposed to act as a first strike deterrent...for rational folks. Football players as a group are some incredibly irrational dudes...

Fencer · 05-29-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

That he loves playing with these guys and will miss Neal since he's retired doesn't translate into he would miss the organization were he to move on...'cause Neal wouldn't be there either...

True, but irrelevant to my original point.

My point was that he said "we will" miss Neal, not "I will".

Now, to be literal, you could suggest that most of his ex-teammates will be in one place missing Neal, whereas Mankins -- also missing Neal -- will be some place different. But that's a less plausible read of his phrasing than my read is.

supafly · 05-29-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

Exactly where did he do that?

I don't think he's going anywhere, hasn't budged out of Foxboro in over a year. He and his agent just tend to behave like emotional teenage girls at times... That said, not sure where you (or some of the other wishfully positive posters) are reading what you think you're reading...'cause there was nothing there. That he loves playing with these guys and will miss Neal since he's retired doesn't translate into he would miss the organization were he to move on...'cause Neal wouldn't be there either...

Mankins seems to have needed a scapegoat for his lack of contract and he opted to make it the guy who signs the checks because he's in personal denial that it's Belichick who sets the mark...

Mankins didn't say anything remotely like the quote you attempt to attribute to him or liken to his actual comments. Mankins did however provide more fodder for the irreperable harm mill...

Funny how when these guys hold out or choose to roll the dice vs. taking an offer they don't see the potential for irreperable harm. But when the shoe is on the other foot someone is potentially jeopardizing their careers... They did more to jeopardize the careers of a large segment of their peers when they voted unanimously like sheep being led to slaughter to authorize something (decertification) that was correctly viewed as a tactical nuclear option. And when you pre-emptively launch that kind of attack against someone you claim to desire partnership with how naive is it to expect they would respond in any other manner than to launch their own nuclear weapon right back atcha in self defense.

They used to teach us about mutually assured self destruction back in the cold war arms race days. It was supposed to act as a first strike deterrent...for rational folks. Football players as a group are some incredibly irrational dudes...

I can agree with one's thinking that it didn't necessarily mean much also, that's a valid enough point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by supafly

I don't know how much it really means obviously, but it certainly can't hurt.

I can see why you view it as reason for optimism.

This is all I said in regards to looking at it positively, then I described my 'gut' feeling that obviously isn't worth a lick of salt. But as far as the initial comment about Mankins' statement, I don't know if I have one strong opinion over the other or not...It may mean something, it may not. Chances are it probably doesn't mean much of anything, but as I said, I can see why the OP would view it as optimistic too.

RayClay · 05-29-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supafly

I don't know how much it really means obviously, but it certainly can't hurt.

I can see why you view it as reason for optimism.

To be honest, I just really have a gut feeling (That and 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks

)that Mankins ends up staying. When you figure that some of the other important players such as Brady and Wilfork have now been taken care of, the youth invasion that is contract-friendly right now, the problem solved with Seymour leaving, and the importance of Mankins to blend in with the whole 'physicality' aspect, I do not see it as anywhere beyond the realm of possibility.

Chances are, the labor uncertainty may have also played a role in the negotiations, as the team may have been leaning slightly more towards the conservative side--rather than taking too many risks. I think the negotiations will be in a better light once the uncertainty in settled. That, and the fact that Belichick has supposedly been attempting to reach a middle ground with him can't necessarily be a bad thing either.

I think the team comes up a bit in the end financially speaking, and Logan appreciates Belichick's having his back + the comraderie with his teammates enough to meet somewhere in the middle (assuming the numbers are pretty close at least).

I agree with this idea. with the bookend tackles and many other players on rookie contracts, maybe they go for the big ontract for a guard for now. By the time the tackles come up for their first big contract, Mankins money might not look as big.

They definitely like to layer the big contracts over the years with smaller rookie, or vet FAs for balance, which is why they don't boom bust. If mankins is really a leader, maybe it's a good move.

Triumph · 05-29-2011, 01:51 PM

Maybe Mankins thinks the Pats will let him play under the franchise tag?

I dont.