Patriots "remain enamored" with Gallery...

[IcyPatriot]

Why not Justin Blalock ... 27 years old, good player and is a left guard.

 

[Ring 6]

Why not Justin Blalock ... 27 years old, good player and is a left guard.

Id rather keep Mankins

 

[TealSox]

Id rather keep Mankins

Me too, but I think the bridge was burned between him and the Patriots. If the Patriots can, (1) they'll tag him and trade him or (2) tag him, play him and get a 3rd round comp pick for him. I would be a fan of paying him more than Mankins wants/gets, but I wouldn't mind him signing the offer that was offered to Mankins last year.

 

[Ring 6]

Me too, but I think the bridge was burned between him and the Patriots. If the Patriots can, (1) they'll tag him and trade him or (2) tag him, play him and get a 3rd round comp pick for him. I would be a fan of paying him more than Mankins wants/gets, but I wouldn't mind him signing the offer that was offered to Mankins last year.

We need to keep Mankins here this year.
No bridge was burned. But what Mankins thinks his value is and what the Patriots think his value is may be far apart.

 

[TheComeback]

We need to keep Mankins here this year.
No bridge was burned. But what Mankins thinks his value is and what the Patriots think his value is may be far apart.

And in any case, he doesn't have a choice if the Pats want him to play this year. He's making more than $10 million as a guard, and that makes it difficult for him to just sit out and whine more about not getting a worthy contract.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Id rather keep Mankins

True Andy but we're not keeping Mankins ... I think it's beyond money at this point.

 

[ausbacker]

True Andy but we're not keeping Mankins ... I think it's beyond money at this point.

What if we sweeten the deal with a dozen pigs, several goats, a chook pen, a Wagyū Cow, a year's supply of flannelette shirts and some solar panels?

 

[Ring 6]

True Andy but we're not keeping Mankins ... I think it's beyond money at this point.

Well, he is tagged for this year, pending the labor dispute being settled.
There is no reason they cannot still agree to a long term deal. The right numbers will overcome any emotional distance.

 

[signbabybrady]

Well, he is tagged for this year, pending the labor dispute being settled.
There is no reason they cannot still agree to a long term deal. The right numbers will overcome any emotional distance.

The only way I see a longterm deal happening would be quickly after the strike. But if we have him play out this year as a Franchise guy I think he is gone. That being said the 10 mil he receives as the franchise guy will make it much harder for him to holdout than last years RFA tag of 3 mil reduced to 1 point something.

I could see the front office reevalute and agree they may have slightly undervalued him but Mankins would need to realize he has overvalued himself in order for this to work. I dont see both happening. In theory there is a lot of FA money to spend depending on the new CBA and with such a late start to FAency maybe they decide to spend their money inhouse but Mankins still needs to come down a bit.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

Me too, but I think the bridge was burned between him and the Patriots. If the Patriots can, (1) they'll tag him and trade him or (2) tag him, play him and get a 3rd round comp pick for him. I would be a fan of paying him more than Mankins wants/gets, but I wouldn't mind him signing the offer that was offered to Mankins last year.

One way to mend a burned bridge that almost always works: a boatload of money.

 

[Deus Irae]

The only way I see a longterm deal happening would be quickly after the strike. But if we have him play out this year as a Franchise guy I think he is gone. That being said the 10 mil he receives as the franchise guy will make it much harder for him to holdout than last years RFA tag of 3 mil reduced to 1 point something.

I could see the front office reevalute and agree they may have slightly undervalued him but Mankins would need to realize he has overvalued himself in order for this to work. I dont see both happening. In theory there is a lot of FA money to spend depending on the new CBA and with such a late start to FAency maybe they decide to spend their money inhouse but Mankins still needs to come down a bit.

From his perspective, why would Mankins need to 'realize' that when he was voted an All-Pro? We don't know the exact amount of money he was asking for, after all, but he's clearly at the very top of the hill when it comes to NFL guards. Asking for an amount of money that reflects that would not be overvaluing himself.

 

[signbabybrady]

From his perspective, why would Mankins need to 'realize' that when he was voted an All-Pro? We don't know the exact amount of money he was asking for, after all, but he's clearly at the very top of the hill when it comes to NFL guards. Asking for an amount of money that reflects that would not be overvaluing himself.

I should have said overvalued himself on this team. Obviously to get a deal done they will both need to bend a little.

 

[part-timer]

Long term big bussiness planing right before our eyes and no one see's it. Last year the Pats expected Mankins to play out the RFA tender for 3 mill., and it was reduced to 1.5 mill. for not reporting on time. Then he only earned 9/16's($843,750.00) of it showing up late season. The schedual being what it was allowed for Connoly to fill in admiarly and have Mankins come in fresh for the end run into post season. I believe this had to cut into Mankins leverage, check the board posts from last year and see all the Mankins posts not missing him so much with Connoly preforming well. This year Manking is taged for $10 mill. and would be crazy not to work for more this year than he has earned in his career. Also 50% of our OL problems have been addressed by the drafting of Soldier and Cannon, further reduceing Mankins leverage. Next year if taged Mankins will earn just under 13 million, and the Pats will need just a OG and OC to have compleately rebuilt the OL in three years. If a Quality OG is drafted next year Mankins leverage will have been eliminated. What will it have cost the team to keep Mankins threw the 2012 season, $843,750 + 10 mill. + 12.5 Mill. =23,343,750 Mill. /3 =$7,781,250 per year.
The Pats original offer to Mankins was in the range of 7-8 Mill. for 4-5 year contract range. If it is determined after the draft Mankins is not needed the Pats will have payed an average of under $5.5 mill for two years while they rebuilt the OL, and the Pats will not have to have been locked into a high priced contract long term. So, who's statigy was successful, who won the contract battle? Mankins had the power to determine his future with last years offer. I believe this years offer will not be as profitable because he has lost leverage. Mankins still has the ability to pick his future but the window may close and a final decision to his future may be determined in the first two rounds of next years draft. I do like Mankins on the OL but he is not irreplaceable. 2012's OL could look like Soldier LT,Cannon LG, Draft pick/Wendle C,Draft pick/connolly RG, Vollmer RT.