Tom E. Curran reports Frank Bauer, the agent for All Pro guard Logan Mankins, isn't happy and calls the situation with his client a "travesty."
"One of the best players on your football team (a player) that the coaching staff respects, it's a travesty what they've done with this player," said Bauer. "(A new contract) should have been done a long time ago. It could have been done a long time ago. But it got stopped. And right now, we're not talking."
Bauer seemed to want to set the record straight on how Mankins came to be so angry with the lack of a new deal. He provided a verbal timeline of Mankins' contract negotiations.
"A young man came to them as a first round draft choice and played four solid years and made two Pro Bowls and one alternate," he explained. "After the 2008 season was over, I approached Bill (Belichick) about a long term deal which most of that small group of Pro Bowlers always gets (rewritten).So what happens is that, we were told that because of the uncertainty of the CBA that (they) weren't going to do anything with any players. Then they started rewriting players in the (2009 training camp). They were the lesser players and (Tom) Brady and Logan were the big contracts and they would take some time to get through. Logan was a little upset that other players were getting rewritten when everyone was told they weren't going to get rewritten.
And then Bill sat with Logan and talked about it and we said, 'OK, we'll play the 2009 season and play it out at $1.4 million. When we get to the uncapped yuear, there's no rules, no regulations...being an uncapped year we can do what we want. Negotiations started and they started low. And it's been pretty bad ever since."
Bauer went on to say that he’s not worried about Mankins mindset at this point in a now ugly negotiation.
“Logan Mankins is fine. Mindset’s fine. Strong player. Knows what he wants. All he wants is what the rest of the guys get in this league. He’s a big time player,”
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino opens his Combine Notebook from Thursday with news and notes from Day 1.
- Andy Hart reports Bills' coach Chan Gailey was the first coach to speak at the Combine Thursday. He sees "a pretty good group of pass rushers" available.
- Andy Hart notes Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland also thinks there is a lot of talent available along the DL in this year's draft class, including teams looking for hybrid 3-4 edge rushers.
- Andy Hart mentions one Florida prospect to keep an eye on is tackle Marcus Gilbert. He had a meeting scheduled with the Patriots last night.
- Andy Hart profiles Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi, who may be the best - and most confident - of a very strong group of offensive tackles in the 2011 draft class.
- Erik Scalavino gives us a glimpse at some of the best guards available this year.
- Erik Scalavino scouts out G Isaiah Thompson (Houston), who may not be on a lot of radar screens right now.
- Andy Hart says the tackle position is one of the more talented and deep spots in the 2011 draft class.
- Patriots Today - Welcome to the Combine. (1.22 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Pats are well-positioned for the draft. (1.45 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Gailey, Ireland talk AFC East. (1.47 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Ryan makes a guarantee. (1.55 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Spagnuolo on McDaniels. (1.18 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Top OTs check in. (1.38 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Rodak lists the Combine Schedule for Friday.
- Mike Reiss offers some Pats-based nuggets from the Combine, Day 1.
- Mike Reiss shares some picked-up pieces of information, with a Patriots twist, from the first day of the NFL combine.
- Mike Reiss feels there are plenty of promising O-linemen for Pats to watch at the NFL combine.
- Mike Reiss checks in from the NFL combine, where the Patriots -- and the prospects they've talked to -- are staying tight-lipped. (45 second video)
- Jeff Howe writes the NFL Combine will make and break dozens of NFL prospects in just four days.
- Mike Rodak points out Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi held back nothing when asked about his resume, but wouldn't say whether he had met with the Patriots or not.
- DJ Bean says big guard prospect Andrew Jackson (Fresno State) and Logan Mankins are cut from the same cloth.
- Mike Rodak sees QB Ryan Colburn (Fresno State) as a late-round/undrafted prospect to develop if the Patriots were so inclined.
- DJ Bean tells us why OL James Carpenter (Alabama) might be a name to remember.
- DJ Bean profiles former firefighter OT Danny Watkins (Baylor) and OT Nate Solder (Colorado)at the Combine.
- Ron Borges profiles local kid OT Anthony Castonzo (BC) at the Combine.
- Mike Reiss reports Jets coach Rex Ryan had to admit that the Jets were still behind the Patriots because "They're the AFC East division champions the last two years."
- Tom E. Curran notes that thanks to the new draft format, New England figures to be courted hard for the first pick in Round 2.
- Nate Dow lists the top ten 40-yard-dash times ever recorded at the Combine.
- Ian Rapoport Combine Notebook: Rex Ryan delivers his annual Super Bowl guarantee; Rick Spielman recalls signing Wes Welker when he was with the Dolphins; Randy Moss may soon be job-hunting and there's speculation Josh McDaniels may bring him to the Rams; The Pats aren't scheduled to meet with the media at the Combine and prospects are keeping tight-lipped as well.
- Ian Rapoport and Karen Guregian report the agent for Logan Mankins hasn't decided how he will handle his client's franchise tag.
- Shalise Manza Young writes the agent for guard Logan Mankins said last night a decision has not been made on whether Mankins will sign his franchise tender with the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat.
- Greg A. Bedard reports that after seven days of mediation, 'very strong differences remain' on CBA.
- Ron Borges reports the NFL has little regard for assistant coaches, which will become more evident in the event of a lockout.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Combine notes: Day one.
- Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl (NFL.com) Day 1 Breakdown: Offensive line group looks deep.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Combine weigh-in notes from day one.
- Michael Lombardi (NFL.com) Don't be so quick to judge a player by his 40 time.
- Dan Pompei (Nat'l Football Post) The combine isn't just jumping, running and lifting: The player interview is an overlooked but critical aspect of the evaluation process.
- Staff (Pro Football Weekly) Despite Green-Ellis' big year, Pats still expected to draft a back.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Jets unafraid to deal draft picks.
- Fox Sports The Top 10 biggest NFL draft day steals.
- Jim Trotter (SI) Ruling in TV revenues hearing may hold key to NFL labor dispute.