Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

Despite our offensive line playing well this year, I would still love to see Alan Faneca playing on our line next year.

Faneca is gone from Pitt in 2008 and he will be a highly sought free agent and the Jets appear to be the front runner for his services.

I think it would be awesome to sign him out from under the Jets and stick it to Mangini once again.

Logan Mankins has been superb at the spot Faneca also mans and I wonder if Logan could make a switch to Right Guard if Faneca is of some interest in New England.

Stephen Neal is decent but could you imagine Faneca on one side of Koppen and Mankins on the other?

I guess its not possible but with BB one never knows.

I do know if it happened,Brady could bring a lunchbox and have lunch in the pocket because thats how much time he would have next year.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

If I wanted to upgrade the OL I'd look to drafting a top LT, not signing the excellent yet pricey Faneca. The Pats cap money will go to (1) re-signing guys like Moss (2) a {vain I believe} attempt to re-sign Asante or pay his FA replacement and (3) FAs on defense. A young LT with 1 year to develop would help ensure Brady's career with Light moving to RT.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

signing a big money guard who is 31 and past his peak = a mistake the Pats never make.

they dont pay big bucks for what you have done in the past. thank god some other team will

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

IMO Faneca will command top dollar on the FA market. I'd rather concentrate on a $$ extension for Mankins.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

Co-sign. I said this in another thread recently, seems to be a perfect way to go. Use a Day 1 pick, maybe even 1st round, draft a stud tackle, play him on the right for now, upgrade the rightside in the process, and then have him move over to the left when Light is no longer suited to play there.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

I'm with you - particularly in a year where we draft near the top. Not to mention you don't screw around with a Pro Bowl LG. If there is a weak link apart from mountain mans inconsistency, it's Kaczur. Upgrade at LT or upgrade at RG and do it via the draft. Ditto CB. Spend your money on proven commodities like Moss AND Stallworth and perhaps retaining Gaffney on a reasonable deal. Get Rosie extended and look for another Seau to plug in the middle. Faneca has his ring - all he wants is his money. Let Mangini pay him that while he continues to play musical chairs at QB...

And please remember what Pioli reminds us annually - you can't have top 5 players at every positions and you can only afford to have so many of them on the roster at any given time period.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

Exactamundo. ;)

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

I agree with everything except the "AND Stallworth". Gaffney may not be as explosive with the ball, but he's probably played as many if not more snaps than Stallworth in the second half of the season. Stallworth is gone, Gaffney and Chad Jackson are more than suitable to replace him.

Which frees up $$ to address other more pressing needs, which in turn allows you to draft a stud tackle as been proposed, and upgrade the OL and protect Brady's future in the process.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

There isn't really a top LT, though. Clady and Long both have holes in their games and Cherilus is overrated.

Re: Could Mankins play Right Guard if the Patriots make an offer to Faneca?
 

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html

Cites KC as a "no-brainer" fit for Long for anyway. Of course, when are mocks ever right and when are "no-brainers" ever really such. I've seen mocks with him going higher anyway, haven't seen one with him reaching #7.