Well, now there's some really good news coming out of Patriots camp. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Patriots guard Logan Mankins is going to sign his franchise tender worth over $10 million and report to the team on time for training camp:
Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins, who held out the first half of last season, plans to sign his franchise tender and report to training camp on time with the rest of the New England Patriots, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Mankins was one of 10 named plaintiffs in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the league that was settled Monday by the owners and NFLPA.
Mankins, 29, was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2005. He has been to three Pro Bowls, including 2010, despite missing the first seven games due to a prolonged holdout.
Mankins and the Patriots were at odds last summer, when the guard said he hoped to be traded because of the slow pace of negotiations on a contract extension.
This is certainly positive news for Patriots fans and the organization alike. I must admit that I'm a little bit surprised myself. Of course, we don't know the manner in which Mankins is signing the tender. He could be signing the tender in good faith the Patriots re-open contract negotiations. Or, he could be signing in an act to play out the year and hope the team doesn't slap him with the tag again in 2012 (which I doubt they will).
Either way you look at it, Mankins is in the fold, and that's good news for the Patriots.