Mankins’ Agent Still Taking a Harsh Tone with Patriots

Comcast Sports Net’s Tom E. Curran caught up with Logan Mankins’ agent, Frank Bauer, in Indianapolis at the Scouting Combine and asked him about the contract progress between the All Pro guard and the Patriots. Let’s just say that the two sides are not in negotiations at the present time. I don’t know if Bauer is talking to reporters about Mankins’ situation in a harsh way because he’s just trying to add some urgency to the contract negotiations or if there is genuine dislike between the two sides, but you can sense the anger or frustration when reading Bauer’s words.

“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,” Bauer said to Curran. “(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.”

It’s pretty clear that Bauer’s not happy with how the Mankins’ contract situation has played out. One thing that is not clear is whether Logan Mankins will sign his franchise tender or hold out. “We don’t know yet,” Bauer told Curran. “We’re still weighing our options with that.” If he signs the franchise tender, he will be guaranteed $10 million this season. What he will not have is the security of a long-term contract should he and the team not come terms on a new deal. Still, $10 million is nothing to shake a stick at.

Panthers C Ryan Kalil, Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley, and Jets LB David Harris have all signed or are planning on signing their franchise tenders. All still have the ability to get a long-term deal done, but by signing their deals, they have locked in a big salary at least for this season. However, they also are trying to protect themselves against a return of the restricted free agent rules should a new CBA be reached. Under those rules, 4th-year players (which those three are) would be restricted free agents and would be given restricted FA tenders, worth much less, around $7 million less, than the franchise tags. Mankins is in a different situation because he has 6 years of experience, so he doesn’t have to try and protect himself from losing money.

What Logan Mankins needs to ask himself is, “How much is $10 million worth to me?” If it’s worth enough to possibly not get a new deal this year, then he’ll sign it. Otherwise, we could be discussing his contract situation for months yet again.