Mankins demands to be traded

[Rondo2287]

Kinda disappointing, this guy has been our best offensive lineman for several years and has started 80 straight games for the pats as well as having 2 pro bowl appearances.  The Globe and Herold are both reporting that the deal we offered average 7 Mil a year, and I have to wonder, is 7 mill a year really not enough for an offensive guard?

[connerhenry43]

probably a sign that i am getting old, but as my wife and i get out of bed  every day to go to work to earn money for us and our three year old, i have zero time to hear about millionaires upset with their situation.

do not get me wrong. i have no bitterness towards athletes and the money the make. they have an amazing skill and what they do is followed by millions of people (they bring the money they make back to the company/team for whom they play). if someone wanted to pay an athlete $10 mill a year, good for them, i harbor zero ill will towards them.

however, most people are not thrilled with their jobs and they show up shut their mouths and do what they have to do. athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agency, go where you want to go. but i have no time for stories like this (except for the time that i took to write this post). 

[Fafnir]

athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agenc

When a team can terminate a contract whenever it wants I don't begrudge players for renegotiating whenever they feel they have leverage.

More times than not they're wrong.

[Rondo2287]

athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agenc

When a team can terminate a contract whenever it wants I don't begrudge players for renegotiating whenever they feel they have leverage.

More times than not they're wrong.

Also, after all these stories come out about retired NFL players and their brain injuries I dont blame them, especially players that are in the trenches.

And also, apparently Mankins was told by the team last year that they would not consider extensions because of the CBA uncertainty and that he should play out the remainder of his rookie contract and then he will be taken care of.  He has determined that the pats havent kept their side of that deal, but who knows.

[Greenbean]

probably a sign that i am getting old, but as my wife and i get out of bed  every day to go to work to earn money for us and our three year old, i have zero time to hear about millionaires upset with their situation.

do not get me wrong. i have no bitterness towards athletes and the money the make. they have an amazing skill and what they do is followed by millions of people (they bring the money they make back to the company/team for whom they play). if someone wanted to pay an athlete $10 mill a year, good for them, i harbor zero ill will towards them.

however, most people are not thrilled with their jobs and they show up shut their mouths and do what they have to do. athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agency, go where you want to go. but i have no time for stories like this (except for the time that i took to write this post).  

You realize that historically in this country we have never just shut up and gone to work right?

We have been complaining about work conditions and low salaries over the last 100 years in almost every profession. What has resulted is the highest labor rates in the world for everything. We are all paid VERY well. Im not saying it is right, what I am saying is athletes are far from alone here.

The only difference in pro athletes is the scale of the salaries and it is directly proportional to the revenue they create.

[connerhenry43]

athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agenc

When a team can terminate a contract whenever it wants I don't begrudge players for renegotiating whenever they feel they have leverage.

More times than not they're wrong.

you are correct, but menkins is in no danger of being cut anytime soon. i do also understand that nfl players are one play away from being seriously injured. and i also understand that nfl players have short careers, even opposed to other pro athletes.

however, if they are upset with how the CBA works, their gripe is with their union, which is far less powerful than the unions in NBA and of course, MLB, where the union runs the sport. we see it every year when someone gets hit with the franchise tag. the player gets upset with the team when they should be upset with the union, especially since every player despises the franchise tag.

as far as the no guaranteed contract argument, this is the line of work they entered. they knew the deal when they stepped on the practice field for the first time. they knew the pros and cons of their line of work. it is not an argument to hold out and whine in the press.

[connerhenry43]

probably a sign that i am getting old, but as my wife and i get out of bed  every day to go to work to earn money for us and our three year old, i have zero time to hear about millionaires upset with their situation.

do not get me wrong. i have no bitterness towards athletes and the money the make. they have an amazing skill and what they do is followed by millions of people (they bring the money they make back to the company/team for whom they play). if someone wanted to pay an athlete $10 mill a year, good for them, i harbor zero ill will towards them.

however, most people are not thrilled with their jobs and they show up shut their mouths and do what they have to do. athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agency, go where you want to go. but i have no time for stories like this (except for the time that i took to write this post). 

You realize that historically in this country we have never just shut up and gone to work right?

We have ****ing and complaining about work conditions and low salaries over the last 100 years in almost every profession. What has resulted is the highest labor rates in the world for everything. We are all paid VERY well. Im not saying it is right, what I am saying is athletes are far from alone here.

The only difference in pro athletes is the scale of the salaries and it is directly proportional to the revenue they create.

yes, but there is another difference, supply and demand. i am good at what i do, but if i quit, my work would be able to replace me by noon. there are only so many people on this earth who can play offensive line in the nfl, and even fewer who do it as well as menkins.

if i went off on my employer the way menkins did with his yesterday (and other athletes in similar situations), i would be gone. it is the power of being needed. again, i am needed at my work, but i am replaceable. we have seen in sports that athletes are replaceable too, but there are only so many people on this earth who can do what logan menkins does. that fact gives him the power and leverage to do this kind of thing if he wants. when your average joe is frustrated with his job, he can vent to co-workers or a spouse, but in no way would a public lambasting of the employer be tolerated.

[Fafnir]

athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agenc

When a team can terminate a contract whenever it wants I don't begrudge players for renegotiating whenever they feel they have leverage.

More times than not they're wrong.

you are correct, but menkins is in no danger of being cut anytime soon. i do also understand that nfl players are one play away from being seriously injured. and i also understand that nfl players have short careers, even opposed to other pro athletes.

He's in danger of being cut after a single play or practice where he rips up his knee ligimants. Or a play or practice where he damages his back or neck severely. Professional football is a dangerous profession.

however, if they are upset with how the CBA works, their gripe is with their union, which is far less powerful than the unions in NBA and of course, MLB, where the union runs the sport. we see it every year when someone gets hit with the franchise tag. the player gets upset with the team when they should be upset with the union, especially since every player despises the franchise tag.

as far as the no guaranteed contract argument, this is the line of work they entered. they knew the deal when they stepped on the practice field for the first time. they knew the pros and cons of their line of work. it is not an argument to hold out and whine in the press.

Why bring the Union into this?

The CBA also allows for contract renegotiation does it not? Teams know that one of the pros and cons of un-guaranteed deals is that players will demand new contracts after they have outperformed them or want greater amounts of guaranteed money due to their superior performance.

Both sides know the how these things work, for fans to decry a player seeking a better contract is foolish. Its just a one of the cons of the NFL's current salary structure.

[Greenbean]

probably a sign that i am getting old, but as my wife and i get out of bed  every day to go to work to earn money for us and our three year old, i have zero time to hear about millionaires upset with their situation.

do not get me wrong. i have no bitterness towards athletes and the money the make. they have an amazing skill and what they do is followed by millions of people (they bring the money they make back to the company/team for whom they play). if someone wanted to pay an athlete $10 mill a year, good for them, i harbor zero ill will towards them.

however, most people are not thrilled with their jobs and they show up shut their mouths and do what they have to do. athletes should do the same. sign a contract, play out the contract. get your free agency, go where you want to go. but i have no time for stories like this (except for the time that i took to write this post). 

You realize that historically in this country we have never just shut up and gone to work right?

We have ****ing and complaining about work conditions and low salaries over the last 100 years in almost every profession. What has resulted is the highest labor rates in the world for everything. We are all paid VERY well. Im not saying it is right, what I am saying is athletes are far from alone here.

The only difference in pro athletes is the scale of the salaries and it is directly proportional to the revenue they create.

yes, but there is another difference, supply and demand. i am good at what i do, but if i quit, my work would be able to replace me by noon. there are only so many people on this earth who can play offensive line in the nfl, and even fewer who do it as well as menkins.

if i went off on my employer the way menkins did with his yesterday (and other athletes in similar situations), i would be gone. it is the power of being needed. again, i am needed at my work, but i am replaceable. we have seen in sports that athletes are replaceable too, but there are only so many people on this earth who can do what logan menkins does. that fact gives him the power and leverage to do this kind of thing if he wants. when your average joe is frustrated with his job, he can vent to co-workers or a spouse, but in no way would a public lambasting of the employer be tolerated.

But he has worked his whole life to get in that position of power. He is one of the best. If he took less than his market value, he would be doing a disservice to every player in the league by lowering the pay standard.

Think about it. It is the top down approach. While you are replacable at your work, if people way above you didnt fight for higher salaries because they are irrepplacable, the pay cut they received would trickle down to your pocket eventually.

[connerhenry43]

i am not upset about it, he can do what he wants. i just do not want to follow it though i have gotten into this friendly banter with you fine folks. i did get mad yesterday, in all seriousness, when both sports stations were talking about menkins when the celtics are one game away from one of the most improbable (by record) titles in nba history. it is like all anyone in the media can focus on is the negative and bad news, like a all pro caliber player demanding a trade.

he can do what he wants, the pats can do what they want, and i can choose to be turned off by it. i like to follow sports between the lines. i like rumors, trades, drafts. i do not have time for millionaires complaining about money, teams or players.

[Greenbean]

i am not upset about it, he can do what he wants. i just do not want to follow it though i have gotten into this friendly banter with you fine folks. i did get mad yesterday, in all seriousness, when both sports stations were talking about menkins when the celtics are one game away from one of the most improbable (by record) titles in nba history. it is like all anyone in the media can focus on is the negative and bad news, like a all pro caliber player demanding a trade.

he can do what he wants, the pats can do what they want, and i can choose to be turned off by it. i like to follow sports between the lines. i like rumors, trades, drafts. i do not have time for millionaires complaining about money, teams or players.

I agree. I am just so anxious about the Celtics game this was actually a welcome distraction!

I used to get mad about millionaires complaining about salaries too btu I guess I just think about it differently if I forget about the fact they are making all this money to play a game. It really is a business that generates alot of money so these guys should be compensated accordingly.

[Rondo2287]

I wonder how much of this Mankins stuff is because of the fact that the Pats havent resigned Brady.  I wonder if the are worried about dishing out to much money for Logan when they know they are going to have pay the Winningest QB in the league

[yall hate]

Disappointing twist to negotiations (or lack thereof). 

But as Mike Reiss points out, we can't really evaluate the 'offer' yet, unless we know whether it was a new deal or an extension.

Published reports indicate that the Patriots have offered a proposal that averages $7 million per season. Yet it's possible that Mankins views the offer as less than that -- more in the $6-6.5 million range -- if the proposal is an extension that is tacked on to his $3.2 million salary in 2010.

If it is an extension, which I sense it might be, Mankins' frustration would be based on the team using leverage against him in negotiations because he reverted from an unrestricted free agent to a restricted free agent in an uncapped system.

From the team perspective, the Patriots could say they are operating under the current rules of the collective bargaining agreement, which changed this offseason. Because of that, the team's stand might be that Mankins' frustration should be directed more toward the NFL Players Association than the club.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4679547/key-issue-extension-or-new-deal

We also know that Mankins is one of the best guards, and the Saints just gave a huge deal to (arguably) the best guard. 

The proposed Mankins deal is about 20% less than the deal Jahri Evans signed.  we could debate whether a guy needs 7 or 8 million a year, but the fact is, Mankins and his agent are looking at the Evans deal and saying why are we so much lower.

[Chris]

This smells an awful lot like playing hardball in negotiations.  I have a feeling something is still going to get done. 

If it doesn't however, I have always felt that the easiest position to fill in the NFL is guard (and I was an offensive lineman growing up, so I certainly understand their importance).  While good tackles can be tough to come by, there are always high quality guards on the market, and can be had for reasonable prices.  Yeah, they would be losing one of the best in the business, but they should be able to replace him with someone who can step in and fill the hole well enough. 

[goz421]

I think that Belichick biggest and mot overlooked strength is that he is an economics major.  He consistenty gives this team a chance to win by the budgeting process. With this being said these problems are always going to arise.  Mankins wants more and doesn't care about winning and losing.

Fact is can you really blame either side.

Now what to do with him.  Also, how to fill the spot.