“I Just Had Enough Of It”
April 12th, 2016
Retired Bucs Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins waved off $7 million to play for Tampa Bay this season and a chance to improve his long odds of becoming a Hall of Fame inductee.
Mankins was happy to slink out of the spotlight and back to his family outside of Boston.
Last week, the Providence Journal caught up to him for what appears to be his first media interview since bailing on his Bucs teammates.
Mankins has no regrets about his recent retirement.
“No, not really. I just weighed my options,” Mankins said. “Could I have kept playing? Yeah. Would I have still played at a high level? Yeah, but I just didn’t feel like playing anymore so I just decided to retire.
“I played 11 years. I think that’s enough. I didn’t need to do that anymore. I just had enough of it. So I said, well, I can go and find me something else to keep me occupied.”
Joe would wager that the toll of losing in Tampa played a role in Mankins’ retirement decision. How big a role will remain a mystery.
(For those who missed it, below is Mankins’ final interview as a Buccaneer, with JoeBucsFan.com at the Pro Bowl.)
April 12th, 2016 at 9:40 am
Can’t thank him enough for his role in bringing Ali and Donovan along. Would’ve been great to have him around for another year if they draft another lineman or two, but he’s certainly put his time in and deserves to settle in to his next chapter. Happy trails Logan.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:54 am
The amount of turmoil this man has endured since being shipped here from NE manifests itself here:
“Could I have kept playing? Yeah. Would I have still played at a high level? Yeah, but I just didn’t feel like playing anymore so I just decided to retire.”
Translated:
“The Bucs made my job harder than I would’ve liked, if I were still in NE I would play another 2-3 seasons”
Unfortunately I think he will miss out on what will not make anyone mistake the Bucs for the pats but a solid rebuild story. God Speed Mr. Mankins.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:23 am
Mankins is a professional but never had love for Tampa. His demeanor says it all. A pro to the game but never a Buc at heart.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Thank You Logan Mankins for the time you spent here in Tampa.
I am surprised you don’t go back home to California, or stay here in Tampa.
April 12th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Yep, thanks Logan! True pro!
April 12th, 2016 at 12:39 pm
I told you guys a year ago that Mankins would not be in the league after last year!!! You can only lose so much weight and doctor up a knee until it will become a life long problem!!!!!!
April 12th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
I’m glad that if Logan Mankins was not excited to come back to work – that he went ahead and retired.
You could tell he really wanted to play well last year and the efforts and time that he spent with our young linemen throughout the 2015 season will pay dividends for years to come.
Thanks for your hard work and professionalism in 2 years here Logan. Good luck in your post-football endeavors. Now you can enjoy extra time with your family – I’m sure being away from them for long stints throughout the year played a big part in the decision to retire now.
April 12th, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Mankins made big bank. Whats another 7 mil when you can get out of the league with your health..somewhat intact? Good for him. Actually I wish a few member of our Defense had taken an early retirement. Cause if these same guys play like they played last year? Expect more of the same record. Smart move by Mankins in not coming back. He knew when enough..was enough.
April 13th, 2016 at 9:00 am
Joe, accusing Logan Mankins of “bailing on his Bucs teammates” is just plain wrong and ill mannered. Mankins took the honorable route. He came back, played out 2015 and did it well, then notified the Bucs management he was thinking about retiring, allowing them to create a contingency plan to move in another direction. Ultimately, Mankins made a timely decision to retire, allowing Tampa Bay to execute their plan for his departure in an organized and business-like way. Mankins didn’t “bail on anyone.” He made a decision that was his right to make, did it the right way and went out with class.
April 13th, 2016 at 9:02 am
Joe, accusing Logan Mankins of “bailing on his Bucs teammates” is just plain wrong and ill mannered. Mankins took the honorable route. He came back, played out 2015 and did it well, then notified the Bucs management he was thinking about retiring, allowing them to create a contingency plan to move in another direction. Ultimately, Mankins made a timely decision to retire, allowing Tampa Bay to execute their plan for his departure in an organized and business-like way. Mankins didn’t “bail on anyone.” He did it the right way and went out with class.