Who needs Mankins?

[VJCPatriot]

Brady has only been sacked 2 times all season. The Pats have the #1 scoring offense in the NFL. And they actually ran the ball really WELL last week. None of that happened when Mankins was on the field. Can we say overrated? Looks like the Pats made the right call. They can use the money they would have paid to extend Mankins to extend Moss instead. Who else agrees with me?

 

[Calciumee]

I am sure some team could need him

 

[letekro]

He's a great player but the Patriots understand that guards can be coached up and aren't worth the premium salaries. Shaun Ellis is the only guy so far to consistently pressure Brady and I believe he was working against the tackles.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I am sure some team could need him

That could be true but the Pats are generating plenty of offense with Mankins at home sitting on his fat behind and watching football on his flatscreen instead of playing it. I'm not sure we could even get anything valuable for him at this point. Who else is still holding out? Agents really suck ass. The more the Pats continue to succeed offensively, the more this hurts Mankins bargaining power which is virtually nil right now.

 

[strngplyr]

I don't think Mankins is overrated, I think our O-Line depth was underrated. We would surely be a better team with him, but I do agree that we've been damn impressive without him on the line.

On extending Moss, that's tough. He's a great player, and i really love him being on the team, he's done all the right things publicly and on the field since he came here. I just hate instances, like in the Jets game, where Brady wanted to make a point and forced it to Moss when others were wide open. I don't want to see that happen every year because Revis called him a slouch.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

So far so good but realize the Jets were Missing Jenkins and Pace,The Bills DL is bad so lets wait until the Ravens and Steelers are across the line to see how good the OL is and can it keep up.

 

[patriotscpfc]

So far so good but realize the Jets were Missing Jenkins and Pace,The Bills DL is bad so lets wait until the Ravens and Steelers are across the line to see how good the OL is and can it keep up.

Bengals line is pretty damn good though.

 

[emoney_33]

Brady has only been sacked 2 times all season. The Pats have the #1 scoring offense in the NFL. And they actually ran the ball really WELL last week. None of that happened when Mankins was on the field. Can we say overrated? Looks like the Pats made the right call. They can use the money they would have paid to extend Mankins to extend Moss instead. Who else agrees with me?

The Bills have the worst run defense in the NFL this season. Sacks are usually a function of the QB more-so than the OL. Mankins is missed, but the Patriots have enough talent and coaching to mask the weaknesses.

 

[Nikolai]

I'm waiting with baited breath for the Ravens game. The Steelers game might tell us something, but I think it'll probably tell us more about the blocking abilities of our RBs and rookie TEs than anything else.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Bengals line is pretty damn good though.

IIRC the Bengals didn't blitz much in that game so the OL wasn't really tested,Cincy was focusing on stopping Moss and Welker which they kind of failed on.

The real test of the OL and whether Mankins is missed is when those full strength blitz happy teams like Pitt and Balt come to town

Brady will need some quick dump offs against those two and Hernandez/Welker in the slot will be key

 

[363839]

I'm waiting with baited breath for the Ravens game. The Steelers game might tell us something, but I think it'll probably tell us more about the blocking abilities of our RBs and rookie TEs than anything else.

I really don't think the Jets D is that much inferior to the Ravens.
So we already saw what the O line can do against that caliber defense.
Mankins is a bonafide badass but I sure don't miss his penalties.

 

[spacecrime]

I just hate instances, like in the Jets game, where Brady wanted to make a point and forced it to Moss when others were wide open.

Well, don't forget that we are watching from a camera located above the field. Brady has 10 big, tall bodies blocking his view of parts of the field or standing near the passing lane. Sometimes when a guy is wide open 10 yards down the field, a throw isn't possible because of a big defender at the LOS who would just stick up a hand and deflect/tip the ball.

It seems we spend half our time complaining that Brady is forcing the ball to Wleker and Moss, and the other half complaining that they aren't getting as many balls thrown to them as the last few years.

Since we lead the NFL in points scored, I think that the O is running on all cylinders at this point.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I don't think Mankins is overrated, I think our O-Line depth was underrated. We would surely be a better team with him, but I do agree that we've been damn impressive without him on the line.

On extending Moss, that's tough. He's a great player, and i really love him being on the team, he's done all the right things publicly and on the field since he came here. I just hate instances, like in the Jets game, where Brady wanted to make a point and forced it to Moss when others were wide open. I don't want to see that happen every year because Revis called him a slouch.

By most fans anyway, the NE O-line usually ends up grading out pretty well in the post-season punditry reports.

NE apparently felt Mankins was worth the money they offered, I've said it elsewhere, as good as Connolly has played, he needs to do it for a full season to give us a better comparison. We also need to remember what an iron man Mankins was, something else we'd like to see from Connolly. With Neal's history, re-signing Mankins would still be a blessing for NE, but if there's a chance to catch an extra draft pick in the future, I won't kick if NE cuts a deal with a team looking for immediate O-line help. Settle the situation and move on if no better option is available.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

And then there's this ... Reiss: How Connolly stepped to the 4

 

[Snake Eyes]

I wish they would trade him ASAP, let's get some draft value for him and not let him just walk away and get nothing.

 

[Calciumee]

I wish they would trade him ASAP, let's get some draft value for him and not let him just walk away and get nothing.

I am sure that they have tried! If they do trade him, it will be in last few days of the trading window!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I am sure that they have tried! If they do trade him, it will be in last few days of the trading window!

And, remember, that they can't just ship him anywhere, because Mankins has to sign his tender before the Patriots can trade him.

 

[WelshPat]

What would you get for him though, they've shown this year that they don't need him and Mankins has shown to be stubborn and is willing to sit out. Guards just aren't all that valuable

 

[Calciumee]

And, remember, that they can't just ship him anywhere, because Mankins has to sign his tender before the Patriots can trade him.

I know that! I would have thought that they would have tried to find a trade partner first! Otherwise, telling Mankins they will trade him, and he signs the tender, then they can't find one means he will be p*ssed!

 

[Buchanty]

I am no longer concerned about Mankins and am ambivalent on his return. While I take the point that Connolly has to go a full season it is clear that Mankins was and is replaceable. At this stage I would rather he returns without the big contract and plays out the year as a backup. Yes it would be nice to get a draft pick for him, but that is looking more like a 4th or a 5th rounder than the 2nd that was commonly expected in the pre-season. Getting nothing will be disappointing (decreasingly so) but it is not as if we aren't loaded for the draft already.

Consequently I would prefer the saved money to be used for Moss for a short extension (2 years). He is having a decent season so far, and nothing seems to be in decline ensuring that the opposing D always has to account for him. Besides which I am more than partial to the Brady/Moss legend being augmented.