Logan Mankins: "I'm Back and Ready To Go"

[Ron Sellers]

WEEI | It Is What It Is | Mankins: I'm Back And Ready To Go

“I'm not going to get into why I came back now,” Mankins said. “I'm not looking at it as if I'm early. I'm eight weeks late.”

“It’s pretty special to play football,” he added. “You become really good friends with all those guys. Any time you line up with someone and you see all the work they put in and you put in together and you go out there and do it together, that’s pretty special. So I missed doing that with these guys, because I’m pretty close with all these guys. We’re all friends.”

Mankins, who returned early enough to qualify for the amount of service time needed to become an unrestricted free agent in 2011, said on Wednesday that he’s not worried about any lingering long-term resentment from management over what he did.

“I’ve talked to everyone here, and we're all on the same page right now,” he said. “I don’t see why there should be any problems.”

In his place, the Patriots have used Dan Connolly at left guard, and while Connolly has certainly played well, it only figures to be a matter of time before Mankins returns to the starting lineup. Mankins took time out on Wednesday to single out Connolly for the work he did over the first eight weeks of the season.

“I know one thing — I had a lot more faith in Dan Connolly than you guys did before the season started,” Mankins told reporters. “Dan’s a great friend of mine and he’s done a great job. It was fun watching him play and getting the opportunity to play and prove everyone that he could do it.”

 

[N.Eman]

“I know one thing — I had a lot more faith in Dan Connolly than you guys did before the season started,” Mankins told reporters. “Dan’s a great friend of mine and he’s done a great job. It was fun watching him play and getting the opportunity to play and prove everyone that he could do it.”

Quite unselfish of Mankins, too bad he had to go thru all the red tape and miss that much time.

 

[Peachhead]

“I know one thing — I had a lot more faith in Dan Connolly than you guys did before the season started,” Mankins told reporters. “Dan’s a great friend of mine and he’s done a great job. It was fun watching him play and getting the opportunity to play and prove everyone that he could do it.”

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It was what it was
but now...
It is what it is

Pats are a better team once Logan is ready to play

 

[Calciumee]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

I don't think they will give it him straight away! Make him work for it! Still possible that Koppen gets benched, and DC moves to C!

 

[AtivanPatsFan]

Hope he comes back and puts an exclamation point on his play. I'm excited to have him back.

 

[JackBauer]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

Nah, I doubt it. Most players on the team, I'm sure, are smart enough to know BB will go with the player that gives them the best chance to win.

Also, it makes sense to give your most important player and most expensive investment the best protection possible.

 

[ivanvamp]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

Hah - you beat me to it!!

 

[Kontradiction]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

Why would you be pissed about the team VASTLY upgrading the LG position? And why would the locker room be pissed? Both are now in an open competition with Connolly having an eight week advantage on Mankins. If Connolly is the better of the two, he'll earn the starting nod. If not, it will go to Mankins.

 

[patchick]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

IF the coaches feel that Mankins would do the best job protecting Brady, do you really want them to play somebody inferior?

 

[Gwedd]

I am happy that he is back, and that he will be able to get back into the lineup. He really is an upgrade to the O-line.

I don't harbor any resentment at him holding out, because it was his decision to make. I thought it was selfish and unwarranted, and a seriously foolish waste of money. However, what I feel is immaterial and counts for nothing. I'm just a fan.

So let's get him up to speed and into the lineup. :rocker:

 

[MustaphaM0nd]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

If Mankins has been keeping up his conditioning and working out, the only person who will be mad is Connolly. These guys work to win, and an all pro guard offers them the best shot at that.

 

[ivanvamp]

I am happy that he is back, and that he will be able to get back into the lineup. He really is an upgrade to the O-line.

I don't harbor any resentment at him holding out, because it was his decision to make. I thought it was selfish and unwarranted, and a seriously foolish waste of money. However, what I feel is immaterial and counts for nothing. I'm just a fan.

So let's get him up to speed and into the lineup. :rocker:

One of the great things about this whole situation is that we know Connelly can do the job now, and he becomes a super-sub on the OL. Plus, I have to imagine that Mankins is (knock on wood) perfectly healthy, unlike everyone else who probably has a variety of bumps and bruises at this point in the year.

 

[PatsDeb]

I'm glad he's back from the standpoint that he'll make the team better. I was kind of annoyed though, that he said, "I'm feeling good. It's good to be 6-1." (it's in Mike Reiss' blog, sorry no link).

Yeah, thanks Logan, no thanks to you.

 

[jmt57]

One of the great things about this whole situation is that we know Connelly can do the job now, and he becomes a super-sub on the OL. Plus, I have to imagine that Mankins is (knock on wood) perfectly healthy, unlike everyone else who probably has a variety of bumps and bruises at this point in the year.

Good point, considering Kaczur is not available this year as was expected, and the injuries Stephen Neal has had to overcome the last few years. Offensive linemen take a beating and it is not realistic to expect all five starters to not miss a game over the course of a season.

 

[Deus Irae]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

Players don't tend to be as foolish about this stuff as the fans do. I'm sure the people in the locker room will be fine with Mankins starting once he is in football shape. He's the vastly superior player, after all, and he's very well liked by his teammates, from all accounts.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Logan's checklist:

Crops harvested
Barn stocked with hay
Hogs & cattle fattened
Tractors winterized
Nuthin left to do on the farm
Time to go play OG for the Patriots!

 

[emoney_33]

"Now gimme my job back, Dan."

If they bench Connolly for this selfish moron I'm gonna be pi...er, mad. And I'll bet some in the locker room will be too.

I hope you're not a gambler. Everyone in the locker room understands the business nature of it (including Belichick). No one will treat it any differently than if he was coming off PUP or joined the team by any other means.

 

[LiveShot]

The only reason Logan's back is to get credit for a full year. I'd sit him on the bench forever. Principle my azz.

 

[vyrago]

The only reason Logan's back is to get credit for a full year. I'd sit him on the bench forever. Principle my azz.

Wouldn't this be cutting off your nose to spite your face?