Mankins was an all pro G that was traded for a mid round pick. Cmon Rich, it was just last season.
Seriously, its not about the amount they have to pay him this year, which I hear is $5MM, but the Cap # which is closer to $8MM, plus the fact that he's 34. It's time to move on, but more from the cap number than the player himself....much like we had to with Mankins..
Plus Chip picked up some pretty expensive contracts recently in Bradford, Murray and Matthews. Guess who would be the easiest to replace. Your $8MM cap hit in your 34 year old OG. They might not be able to replace him 100% but they could get close. We replaced an all multi-time all pro with a journeyman and won a superbowl.
I think it was a smart move by Kelly. One which he's going to get killed for by the media, but smart nonetheless. Hopefully it will benefit the Pats, because at $5MM Mathis would be a short term upgrade and help stabilize an OL that might have had to start 3 very young players on the interior of the OL. Now an OL of Solder, Mathis, Stork, Flemming, and Volmer has the right mix of youth, younger vets and older vet that can work.