Mankins willing to sit out season
The New York Jets aren’t the only ones worrying about missing a star player for the season. New England Patriots’ Pro-Bowl guard Logan Mankins and the organization have not spoken in months and seem to be alienated from one another.
Mankins has demanded a new contract and will not show up until he receives one. He has missed all offseason workouts and has not reported to training camp. He sees no reason to return as he has saved most of his money and has paid his bills so he’s okay with missing out on a year’s pay in hopes of landing a bigger payday in the future.
The Patriots offered Mankins a one-year $3.26 million tender and like many other restricted free agents, Mankins refused to sign it. He has not heard from the Patriots since May, meaning a deal is far from being reached with the team.
Mankins would have had more negotiating power under the last CBA agreement. He would have been an unrestricted free agent having played five seasons in the NFL. When the owners opted out of the agreement, the 2010 season became an uncapped year and only players with six years of experience became unrestricted free agents.
The two-time Pro-Bowler would have to return by Week 10 in order to accrue a season and become an unrestricted free agent by next year or he could be in the same situation a year from now. If a new CBA is reached that goes back to the old rules of free agency, then Mankins will have had enough seniority in the NFL to hit the free agent market.
Mankins’ agent Frank Bauer says that his client and the Patriots haven’t been on the same page all offseason: "They have totally lost this player mentally," Bauer said. "For this young man to work like he has and play for the club for five years, and be promised he'd be taken care of, and to throw the offer they did across the table? It was never, ever a five-year deal. They wanted six years, they wanted seven. They have to do what they have to do, and we'll do what we have to do."
Mankins is one of the Patriots’ most durable players and shares the responsibility of protecting Tom Brady, the franchise. Time will tell if his absence will affect the team’s performance. Mankins has said though that he feels no urge to return to the organization: "I want to be traded. I don't need to be here anymore."
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