Jetsfan80 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/?p=13352&srvc=sports&position=recent_bullet Patriots owner Robert Kraft believes Logan Mankins will be a Patriot “for life” Patriots owner Robert Kraft met with reporters today for the first time since the death of his “sweetheart,” Myra. And it was heart-felt and emotional, which you probably read about on Twitter. Kraft also dropped some football nuggets, which we’ll get to throughout today. The most interesting? That he believes guard Logan Mankins could be a “Patriot for Life.” He sounded extremely hopeful. “I hope us locking up our core veterans and bringing in these seasoned veterans as I call them (will help),” Kraft said. “Probably, you’ll see our good friend Logan Mankins will be signed up soon, hopefully, to be a Patriot for life. That couldn’t have happened if we didn’t do our planning.” This comes on the heels of Mankins saying he’s on “the same page” with the organization for a new contract. And it’s a major development given the past history here. Kraft was asked if he was surprised at Mankins’ positive tone the other day. “You know, in all the years I’ve known him, I’ve talked to him, it’s always… sometimes what you read in the media isn’t always what the facts are,” Kraft said with a smile. “I don’t know if you folks have a chance to see that as often as I do. All I know is, I take any face-to-face discussion, private discussions (and they) have all been positive. I just hope he’ll be a Patriots long-term.” Is he confident it will be before the Sept. 20 deadline? “If I have a vote, it will get done,” Kraft continued. “But the other side has to want it too. It’s our desire and always has been our desire. Like I’ve tried to explain to you, you can’t sign everyone you want, so you need to plan and I think we did our planning knowing the kind of environment we were coming into it. We tried to position ourselves so we had our core veterans and we could continue to sign the people we want to sign. We think that Logan is among the best there is at the position. We drafted him and we want him here.“ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Is it me or does Kraft look like Tattoo from fantasy island standing next to Mankins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 6 year deal just done. Not sure if it makes him a "Patriot for Life" since contracts are about as fool-proof as Tom Shane's love life - but, he'll be a "Patriot for a While." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 6 year deal just done. Not sure if it makes him a "Patriot for Life" since contracts are about as fool-proof as Tom Shane's love life - but, he'll be a "Patriot for a While." I wonder how much they ended up shelling out? http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/6851087/new-england-patriots-logan-mankins-agree-six-year-deal Source: Pats, Logan Mankins agree By Mike Reiss ESPNBoston.com Updated: August 10, 2011, 4:58 PM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Wednesday afternoon that "probably you'll see our good friend Logan Mankins will be signed up soon, hopefully to be a Patriot for life," he wasn't kidding. The guard agreed to a six-year deal with the team later in the day, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Kraft had said that the prospect of keeping Mankins long-term "couldn't have happened if we didn't do our planning for when we went into the lockout." Mankins, an All-Pro in 2010, was assigned the franchise tag by the team this season. He was set to earn $10.1 million on a one-year contract but preferred the added security of a long-term deal. Kraft had said that he wanted to get a deal done and hoped Mankins' camp did too, before the Sept. 20 deadline for tagged players to ink extensions. "You can't sign everyone you want, so you need to plan and I think we did our planning knowing the kind of environment we were (in) coming into it," Kraft said. "We tried to position ourselves so we had our core veterans and we could continue to sign the people we want to sign. We think that Logan is among the best there is at the position. We drafted him and we want him here." Mankins' desire for a long-term deal had led to an contentious relationship with the team over the past 16 months. Last season, he didn't report to the team until the eighth game of the season, unhappy with the decision to offer him a one-year, $3.26 million tender instead of a long-term contract. Earlier in this year's camp, though, Mankins said he saw this season as a chance to start fresh. Asked if it was encouraging to hear Mankins speak about the possibility of remaining a Patriot earlier in training camp, Kraft said it was consistent with what he's heard from Mankins in his seven years with the team. "This year, I'm putting everything behind me," Mankins said earlier this month. "I'm going to try to have a good year and help the team, and if I play good, things will take care of themselves." Kraft also shared thoughts on one of the Patriots' new acquisitions, defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, who comes with an impressive football resume and on- and off-field baggage. "I met with him and I like the guy. He didn't come here for the money. He came here to be part of a team and win [and] I think in some ways improve his reputation," Kraft said. "So it's like a lot of meetings I have with these guys, I found him to be genuine and sincere. Now I hope he gets out on the field and does his thing." Meanwhile, Kraft has enjoyed having receiver Chad Ochocinco on the team. "I think you have to love the guy. I have people e-mailing me who would like to host him. I'm not sure I want the responsibility," Kraft said smiling, one day after Ochocinco declared he would be living with a fan for the first few weeks of the season until he gets acclimated. Kraft also retraced the Patriots' steps from before the lockout. "One of the things I'm most proud of coming into the season is we knew this was coming, and we made an effort to tie up our key veterans, people like Tom Brady, Stephen Gostkowski and Vince Wilfork," he said. "Now, when you have this quick period where you have to react, we were able to get a lot of seasoned veterans on shorter-term contracts -- people like Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, Andre Carter and Shaun Ellis. "As you look out and look to the playoffs at the end of this year, I think you'll see those teams that had stability both in terms of their coaching and quarterback have the best chance, in my opinion. ... That's been done with a lot of thought and a lot of planning." Kraft touched briefly on his role in labor negotiations while praising Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, who was a leading presence as part of the players' executive committee and who gave a public nod to Kraft for his role in the process just days after his wife's death. Kraft also revealed that he received a letter of thanks from Colts president Bill Polian, who has been one of the franchise's biggest adversaries over the last decade. "I'm just happy football is back," Kraft said. "This is our 18th season and we never dreamt there would be a lockout like this. "Football is back in Foxborough." Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com. Follow Mike Reiss on Twitter: @MikeReiss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alk Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Is it me or does Kraft look like Tattoo from fantasy island standing next to Mankins? That's not Mankins, that's Nate Solder who is 6'8". Pretty sure Mankins is still quite a bit taller than Kraft though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I am a very very happy Pats fan. Brady in his prime, I want the best OL we can field. This will let Marcus Cannon play RG once he is cleared, and Nate Solder can be groomed behind Light and Vollmer for at least another year. Now we just need to draft our C of the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWWombat Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Yay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Please go to "www.Pats-homers.com" your on the wrong site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 But seriously a good move for them, their interior line would be very average without him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I am a very very happy Pats fan. Brady in his prime, I want the best OL we can field. This will let Marcus Cannon play RG once he is cleared, and Nate Solder can be groomed behind Light and Vollmer for at least another year. Now we just need to draft our C of the future. Brady's not in his prime. He is 34. Five years from now Pats fans may finally understand that Brady's prime ended the day Adam Viniateri signed with the Colts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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