Don't blow it again - sign Mankins

[RhodyPatriot]

http://www.csnne.com/05/23/11/Manki...ding_patriots.html?blockID=527472&feedID=3352


Logan Mankins sounds more open to staying with Patriots | ProFootballTalk

The Patriots need Logan Mankins to be here.

 

[Rob0729]

It takes two to tango. You can't assume that the Pats blew it a year ago. They might have, but Mankins could have just taken the who negotiating process far too personally and let his feelings get in the way. The rumors that came out last year supports both sides of the argument.

 

[JoeSixPat]

It takes two to tango. You can't assume that the Pats blew it a year ago. They might have, but Mankins could have just taken the who negotiating process far too personally and let his feelings get in the way. The rumors that came out last year supports both sides of the argument.

Admitting that I - and presumably nearly all of us here - have absolutely no idea what actually transpired last year - I've generally found that there's fault on both sides of these issues when they crop up.

No doubt Mankins was a "victim" of the expiring CBA and the additional year of restricted free agency - but Mankins also needs to recognize that all teams are within their rights to franchise players as well - just as Mankins is within his "rights" to sit out a portion of that season.

I'd guess that Mankins agent - who has a lot to gain from a new contract too - might also be guilty of fanning the flames behind the scenes too.

All sides need to recognize that all parties have common interests even if they have differing positions. Ultimately my feeling is that the Patriots are a much stronger team with Mankins than without him so I'm hoping they can find some common ground.

 

[FCB02062]

Yeah kraft wanted a public apology from the All Pro guard and Mankins wouldn't make one - deal dead, 'nuff ced....

 

[JoeSixPat]

Yeah kraft wanted a public apology from the All Pro guard and Mankins wouldn't make one - deal dead, 'nuff ced....

I'm really not sure how big an issue that was... I remember Ty Law saying things about Belichick that were pretty harsh during some negotiations. Eventually both put the rhetoric aside and played football.

 

[Gumby]

the latest stories from the Andruzzi benefit about Mankins-Solder should give cause for optimism.

If the Patriots had no intentions of re-signing Mankins; would his really be the ONLY OL's phone number they would give the rookie before the lockout was re-established???

 

[Triumph]

All depends on the cost of Mankins contract.

If he wants to be paid as the highest Guard in the NFL, then Id rather take my chances with Cannon.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Does the highest paid guard in the NFL give you a better shot at a Super Bowl?

... Or does a very good guard and depth at other positions give you a better shot?

I just don't see how paying all that money to a guard gives us a better chance ...

Have we won a Super Bowl since he's been here?

 

[part-timer]

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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.

 

[Rob0729]

Yeah kraft wanted a public apology from the All Pro guard and Mankins wouldn't make one - deal dead, 'nuff ced....

That is just one side of the story. The Krafts said that never happened. Mankins' side never really publically confirmed or denied it either.

 

[patsfanboy]

I'll say trade him if we can get a 1st or even a high 2nd that more than enough for me, he wants way to much money. We still had a great OL last season without the guy and with the new rookies we can afford to trade him.

Ps: I still hate how this guy is a pro bowler, but disappear in the playoffs.

 

[stinkypete]

I'll say trade him if we can get a 1st or even a high 2nd that more than enough for me, he wants way to much money. We still had a great OL last season without the guy and with the new rookies we can afford to trade him.

Ps: I still hate how this guy is a pro bowler, but disappear in the playoffs.

Agreed, he's put in some of his worst games in our last 3 playoff losses.

Still, with the transition back toward a RB/TE driven posession offense, I want as much line help as I can get.

Factor in as well the money played to the entire unit, as Soldier and Cannon will be making rookie deals, while Koppen will soon be resigned for less or cut. If you look at the OL as a single unit, even with Mankins getting paid top dollar, Solder/Mankins/Koppen/Cannon/Vollmer could be potentially cheaper than Light/Mankins/Koppen/Neal/Vollmer.

 

[Defsoul]

I'll say trade him if we can get a 1st or even a high 2nd that more than enough for me, he wants way to much money. We still had a great OL last season without the guy and with the new rookies we can afford to trade him.

There might be some teams in the NFL who would give the Patriots a draft pick or two for Mankins, but is there a team out there that will give Mankins something like a six-year contract worth $50 million dollars? I doubt it. I think he will play for the Patriots in 2011. He will play under the franchise tag because there are roughly 10.1 million reasons to do it and he will play for the Patriots because no team will give him the contract he's looking for.

 

[Triumph]

There might be some teams in the NFL who would give the Patriots a draft pick or two for Mankins, but is there a team out there that will give Mankins something like a six-year contract worth $50 million dollars? I doubt it. I think he will play for the Patriots in 2011. He will play under the franchise tag because there are roughly 10.1 million reasons to do it and he will play for the Patriots because no team will give him the contract he's looking for.

Mankins would basically be earning the same money as Brady if you factored out Bradys amortized signing bonus which hes already has been paid.

For 2011, 10 mil in new money for Brady = bargain. 10 mil in new money for Mankins?

I just cannot see the Pats paying Mankins that type of money for 1 season.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I don't know who blew what or when they blew it, but it's time for all involved to take a deep breath and come to an agreement! Just sign him!

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I'll say trade him if we can get a 1st or even a high 2nd that more than enough for me, he wants way to much money. We still had a great OL last season without the guy and with the new rookies we can afford to trade him.

...

If we had a so-so QB and were hoping that a Mallett or Hoyer would develop in the next couple of seasons, then I'd agree with you. But the future is now. TB has a predictable 2--4 seasons left at the highest level and then who knows what will happen. We should be doing everything to capitalize on the window that is open now to win another championship with Brady. To my mind, that means keeping a proven Mankins as the anchor of the O-line.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

I think the Patriots will offer the same contract to mankins a year ago and if he doesnt take it then we trade him!! nuff said!

 

[HomerSchooled]

This is a tough call. The team is obviously better for having Mankins. The offensive explosion after his return wasn't just a coincidence. He's a good player, but is he 8-10 million a year good? In the next few years, there's going to be some hard decisions because we can't give everyone a fair contract. Keeping Mankins may mean not keeping a player like Mayo, Welker, Vollmer, or Chung.

I think the people in charge really want Mankins, in spite of his attitude. Remember, he started immediately upon returning from his holdout when we all thought we were doing great and could afford to ease him in. Granted, his first start back was our worst performance of the year (loss to Cleveland), but I still think it was a meaningful gesture.

In a dream world, Cannon proves too good to keep off the field, and we'd trade Mankins before the deadline. Either that, or Solder forces Light inside, where he has a resurgence. Far likelier, I think Mankins will just play out the year, then get a chance to look elsewhere next offseason. I don't think we could manage to trade him next year, since franchising him again would be just too much. He probably ends up making 8 mil/year here, or 9+/year for an inferior organization.

 

[Shelterdog]

There might be some teams in the NFL who would give the Patriots a draft pick or two for Mankins, but is there a team out there that will give Mankins something like a six-year contract worth $50 million dollars? I doubt it. I think he will play for the Patriots in 2011. He will play under the franchise tag because there are roughly 10.1 million reasons to do it and he will play for the Patriots because no team will give him the contract he's looking for.

It's not just that, it's that a lineman is more valuable to a team he's played on than he is to any other team. Mankins is a great lineman for anybody but he's a great lineman who knows the Pats' system, has chemistry with his teammates, etc. for NE. Add the youth at LT and the lack of long term solutions along the interior of the line (Wendell, Ohrnberger and Connolly have yet to prove they're anything more than adequate, Koppen is old, Cannon is getting chemo right now) and giving Mankins a great deal seems to make a lot of sense.

 

[townes]

If they are letting both Kaczur and Light walk they have the money for OL to sign Mankins and since he is the best interior OL in football he should be paid as the highest paid guard. I hate to see Light go as he has been a stalwart for them in every way and wants to stay here as a much as any player in the Belichik era, however unless he is willing to take a big pay cut it isn't likely to happen. If they do re-sign Mankins and put Cannon at RG they have the potential to have the most dominant OL in football, and with their TE's they could be unstoppable running the ball and exceptional protecting Brady. Koppen would be the only piece on the OL that would need to be replaced going forward and Brady would have one of if not the best OL in football for the rest of his career, that's worth it and paying the best OG in football would be critical to it.

This may be the one good thing that has come out of the lock-out, as now Mankins is pissed at all the owners and not just Kraft.

If they can manage to pay Light and have him start until Solder is ready then be their swing OL for the rest of his career would only make them that much better and that much deeper.

This offense is now only a couple of pieces from being set for the rest of Brady's career, and that will allow Belichik to focus all his resources on turning the defense into one as dominant as the offense already is.