“I’ve Never Met One More Willing To Sacrifice”
February 2nd, 2015
Joe’s been hammering barbecue-venue-challenged Logan Mankins lately.
The Bucs have a big decision ahead of them, whether to pay the declining veteran guard about $7 million next season.
Much has been made of Mankins’ superior leadership. Joe isn’t seeing evidence of it, but Joe is willing to listen.
In Phoenix last week, Joe asked gargantuan Patriots starting left tackle Nate Solder (6-8, 320 pounds) about Mankins. And the 2011 first-round pick was emphatic that Mankins is the best of the best when it comes to leadership.
“I’ve never met a tougher human being in my life. I’ve never met one more willing to sacrifice for his teammates and always be dedicated to getting better,” Solder told Joe. “Everything that he did was to help improve his team.”
It was quite a heartfelt endorsement by Solder. It also got Joe wondering about how Mankins might be able to assist Demar Doston in his experiment/transition to left tackle at nearly 30 years old.
Again, the Bucs have a big decision with 33-year-old Mankins. And what would Mankins’ value be on the trade market? Joe suspects it would be flimsy, given his salary and age. That might be the Bucs’ answer right there.
February 2nd, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Mankins has to feel so full of win today.
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Mankins is a must keep. I’ve said it about Revis and I’m now saying it about Mankins. We need to keep him. Salary cap is not an issue for us but talent is. I’m not so sure Mankins is in decline. The O Line was crap but I thought Mankins came in and added some sort of stability. We need to stop acting like the Rays getting rid of talent when the price tag comes up. We can’t address the entire O Line in one draft and unless there is a suitable replacement that the Bucs find in free agency (doubtful) then Mankins is a must keep.
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Don’t think it’s an issue. The Bucs will have a ton of cap space even with Mankins. And Lovie and Licht already said he’d be back and may even be captain.
The line was bad last season but you can’t cut the whole line. Offensive lines have to develop chemistry. And if you keep blowing it up, it will never come together. You need to have some kind of veteran leadership there.
And what is it with this team, the fans, and media that hate players that make money? You want to know why former Bucs are succeeding on other teams? Because we cut them or trade them because they have a bad game or one bad season.
We got idiots on here who want to trade Martin, Vjax, Mankins, Glennon…. you really think that’s a good idea?
Who gives a crap if Mankins makes $7 million? It’s not your money.
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Johnny Football in Rehab!!!! Say it isn’t so JOE!
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:24 pm
David Says:
Who gives a crap if Mankins makes $7 million? It’s not your money
———————-
No one would be bitching about the money if he played well.
Michael Johnson comes to mind. Collins too.
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Keep Mankins
Need a good character / Veteran Influence on the O-Line even if he is beyond his best years (Physical ability wise)
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Well he obviously wasn’t willing to sacrifice some money to stay with te pats…
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Wonder if we are getting an article about Manziel entering rehab?
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:49 pm
What good is a choir boy, if he’s no longer able to play at a high level?
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:57 pm
who cares?….can he play or not, that is all that matters…this team needs some resolve on every level…not busted has beens…been there done that see Carl Nicks
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Mankins leadership was instrumental in the Patriots fourth Super Bowl win.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:08 pm
No we won’t for a couple of reasons.
This is the Joes’ site, they will fill it with what they want, whether it is the daily dose of Winston drivel, Josh McCown destruction, or a bazillion ads and autoplay drek that drives you and your computer bat$#it crazy.
The Joes are focused more on the “Now”, and with so many focusing on the Draft, they won’t rehash on past issues. I will say this, however. If Manziel succeeds in getting his act together while he still has his entire career ahead of him, then let’s look forward to his reaching his potential and playing some lights out football again.
I think that those who want to rehash the Joes’ desire to draft Manziel are mostly doing it for their own satisfaction and self worth, or are doing it to make themselves forget their own desire to have the Bucs draft him.
Personally, I believe that if Glennon had legitimately shown he could succeed in this league, he would have stayed in regardless of McCown’s return to health. And if he had succeeded as so many of the Mob had hoped, we wouldn’t even be talking about Winston or Mariota. But it is what it is, and we have found our team in that enviable position of the number one pick of the NFL draft. In no other sport does the number one overall pick have so much importance to a team’s future. It is the Golden Ticket to future success.
It is so important, that fans are rightly concerned that their team make the correct choice with it. Opinions fly back and forth, carried by emotion and passion the fans carry for their team. And for those of us who willingly crew the Pirate Ship (or flew the Buc Bomber back in the day), our passion for this team and desire for success are no less than any other teams’ fans. In fact, I say ours is greater, for we have stayed the course through all this team has gone through.
The Joes do us a great service by providing a gathering place for us to shout our ideas and opinions to the world and each other. I for one, would like to focus on things ahead that will matter to us, instead of wasting energy and time on things that won’t change, nor matter.
And, I say to hell with the clock! Choose the QB, sign him, and get him a playbook now! Let Tennessee be the focus of the media circus!
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Keep talent until a better replacement can be found. No use in cutting good players when you’re not cap strapped.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:16 pm
@IStillbleedOrange – Very short-sighted to think a #1 overall QB, no matter who it is, will not be a media circus.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:18 pm
It could be that Makins being traded was like going through a divorce you did not see coming and it crushed his spirit for a while. If he is back as a person and does his thing fine, if not, bye bye baby.
I see that Johnny Football entered a rehab/treatment facility today, maybe he will come back also.
As for QBs, a number 6 and a number 3 were in the SB and all pros, just shows you what recognized talent can do.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Poor guy, I think he gets a ring though for being on the team early in the season?
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:31 pm
you guys are friggin crazy. what once was great leadership for a great team can quickly turn to resentment and disgust for having to be on a horrible team.
logic would tell you he is just counting the days, as he should.
7 million, no thanks….get someone younger. nothing worse than a veteran malcontent. I am not saying he is, but what guy with his level of success would be happy here. that is unless he’s mother teresa and just lives for others….but if thats the case he’d be here for free or would have restructured in NE. let him go, he would not get 1/2 that in FA. licht was a moron for doing this deal.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:31 pm
I’ve never met a tougher human being in my life. I’ve never met one more willing to sacrifice for his Patriot teammates and always be dedicated to getting New England better. Everything that he did was to help improve the NE Patriots and Tom Brady
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:36 pm
I bet Mankins feels great this morning after seeing the game yesterday. He might have to check into rehab with @JOES boy Johnny Coke Ball!
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:43 pm
he’ll probably have the pats over for a bbq and tell them who we have thats good and on the block for a rib recipe and some slaw.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:46 pm
I think Joe has taken some cheap and unwarranted shots at Mankins based on his innocent BBQ statement. Jeez, give the guy a break. This guy was thrown into a sh1te situation being traded at the last minute to a mess of an OL, a mess of an offense in general. Sure, he’s not the player he once was, but he can be the glue to develop the line and teach the younger guys how to train, practice, and study. Young teams need that.
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:56 pm
I sure hope the OL talent evaluating process improves over last year.
Also, why can’t our coaching staff ever be guilty of “coachin’ ’em up”?
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:58 pm
If we were in a cap crunch, his salary would be a legitimate concern. However, this team can gain upwards of $40 mil in cap space by releasing plenty of players not named Mankins. If I’m Licht and I have to pay Mankins $7 mil this year, I’m not sweating it. They’ve got enough to pay him that, sign LVD to a fat extension, and still be players in free agency.
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Winston will get KILLED back there. At least Mariota can escape when he needs and still manage to process information based on what he is seeing at the same time. Thing I like about Mariota is he is Smart, confident, but not arrogant. Can’t wait to see the DUCK become a BUC. If he doesn’t I would fully expect there to be a QB battle between Nick Foloes and Mike Glennon come training camp with a brand new O-line built with the extra picks
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Draft Leonard Williams….safe pick, good, pick, ready day to start. D-line with MCcoy, Mcdonald, Williams and (Gholston-Smith-Ghost of Michael Johnson) would be a force like Sapp-Rice-Mcfarland
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Mankins should be cut. Belichick was right and Mankins should have taken the paycut, then he’d be a Super Bowl champ. Now he’ll never be as emotionally invested in football again because he has to be devastated he missed on his chance due to pride. He’ll collect his checks and put it a bare bones effort.
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:32 pm
I honestly feel sorry for Mankins, as he went from the best team to the worst team in the NFL.
Sure, he’s a millionaire, but I don’t get the impression that he is all about the money.
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:39 pm
I certainly will NOT forget Joe’s begging for Manziel. In fact, I’d prefer to cometely rub it in that Manziel failed in EVERY facet we said he would. Too small he’ll get hurt. He did. Too dumb, he’ll get in trouble, he did. Will cause too many distractions, he did. Selfish player who even brought teammate down w/ him (see Gordon, Josh).
This rehab stint is just MORE proof Manziel is troubled and from seeing how DEFIANT he was about how he wants to conduct himself off the field and on weekends, I call B.S. in this kid staying out of trouble. Rehab today, headlines tomorrow.
But please, soak up all that Winston talk and listen to sludge of “he won’t be a distraction”. Ignore all of the crimes, (rape, stealing, bb gun play, obscenities in public) and let’s pretend THIS kid Winston won’t get in trouble in his college state where he will be close to many ties. Can’t wait for Winston watch to disappear after enough negative publicity.
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Another question with yet another headline dissing a Bucs player… Might want to work on your reading skills. Headline praises. –Joe
February 2nd, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Canon
Everyone takes a pay cut on the patriots even Brady. Logan should have known better. If he can stop holding and getting beat on the blitz then I’m all for resigning him bc obviously it’s take a northeasterner to show these bucs what actual toughness really is. I think Logan said he eats nails for breakfast not doughnuts but hey to each his own I guess.
February 2nd, 2015 at 4:42 pm
He is praised for sacrificing but it evidently doesn’t include his paycheck cuz that is main reason he was dealt. We don’t need another “coach” on the field, what we need are better coaches on the sidelines. Let the coaches coach and get better players, period. Overpaying McCown and Mankins because of leadership skills? Who exactly did they make better?
February 2nd, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Yes. Just get rid of Mankins. Since getting rid of good players makes us so much better right?
If you’re going by what Mankins did this season as a reason to cut him, you’re an idiot. You don’t just flat out suck all of a sudden after being a perennial pro bowler for many years. It’s the team around him.
February 2nd, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Actually Patrick, you don’t pay much attention if you think he wasn’t sucking before he came here. You’ll notice New England’s line was fine without him (and actually better than last year when he was there). Mankins can’t beat father time, he’s undefeated. Mankins was in decline before last year and will only decline further in the years to come. Especially since any motivation he might have had was killed yesterday when Belichick turned out to be 100% correct on him.
February 2nd, 2015 at 5:42 pm
no
February 2nd, 2015 at 7:25 pm
cut him ONLY IF you secure a realistic upgrade. until then he is still the best you’ve got. don’t repeat last year’s mistakes and assume just because you paid somebody like a good starter they are going to be a good starter
February 3rd, 2015 at 5:37 pm
This is a “no-brainer” Joe. Mankins is worth every dollar he gets from the BUCS. His leadership, experience and impact on other players does not have a price tag. Surround him with better players and he will perform better. The offensive line has to work “together” or it doesn’t work at all and every line has to have a leader. Mankins is the leader on offense and McCoy on defense and the BUCS must continue to build around them both. “Lighten-up Joe111”