TAMPA | What a difference a day makes.
The Tampa Bay area was in an uproar after the Bucs met with troubled guard Richie Incognito. Less than 24 hours later, the team traded for six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins from the New England Patriots.
The Bucs traded promising tight end Tim Wright and an undisclosed pick for Mankins, who will make $6.25 million this year. Multiple media outlets have the pick as a fourth rounder.
'We've been saying all along we've been looking at all options,' said Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht, who spent three years in New England. 'It came to fruition today. We're fortunate to land a player like Logan.
'Logan is a very good player,' Licht said. 'I'm a first-hand witness to what he means in the locker room, as well. His play on the field speaks for itself. He's a great person. He's going to be great for that room and great for this locker room.'
A day earlier, there were legitimate concerns about the Bucs' interior line. Despite revamping the offensive line in the offseason, the team had allowed 10 sacks in three preseason games and averaged just 3.0 rushing yards.
A 2005 first-round pick, the five-time All Pro selection Mankins immediately becomes the team's best lineman. While he was ranked 18th among all guards in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus, he was better at run blocking.
The 32-year-old Mankins also has been durable, having started all 147 games he has played for New England.
'We have a responsibility to our team and our fans to put the best possible football team on the field that we can,' head coach Lovie Smith said. 'By adding Pro Bowler Logan Mankins to the mix, we feel like we're definitely a better football team.'
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had nothing but praise for his former lineman, who is known as one of the toughest offensive linemen in the league.
'Logan Mankins is everything we would ever want in a football player,' Belichick said in a statement. 'It is hard to imagine a better player at his position, a tougher competitor or a person to represent our program. He is one of the all-time great Patriots and the best guard I ever coached.'
Meanwhile, the Patriots get an up-and-coming tight end in Wright.
In his second year, Wright led all rookie tight ends and was second on the Bucs with 54 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns.
Often during training camp, Lovie Smith spoke highly Wright's potental. Now, the team will have to see it from afar.
'We think that Tim is a very good football player,' Licht said. 'We feel that the return we got on the investment obviously worked in our favor.'
The move for Mankins comes hours following a meeting with Incognito, the free agent who was implicated in a bullying incident involving the Miami Dolphins last season.
Although it appears unlikely, Licht did not close the door on making a move for Incognito or someone else in the future.
'We're always going to leave options open for players we feel are going to be great fits or could be great players for us,' Licht said. 'I wouldn't put an end to it, but that's just one of several options that are out there right now.'
NOTES
Cornerback Danny Gorrer was placed on injured reserve, and the Bucs waived injured tackle Matt Patchan (Armwood High) and waived tackle J.B. Shugarts and cornerback Deveron Carr. The club also claimed cornerback Marc Anthony and offensive lineman Jeremiah Warren off of waivers as the team reached the mandatory 75-player limit. The team has to get to 53 players by Saturday
Smith said offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford will not attend Thursday's preseason finale while recovering from an undisclosed medical procedure. The timetable for his return is unknown. Smith would not say who would be calling plays in his absence.
[ Rick Brown can be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com. For more coverage, go to BucsScene.blogs.theledger.com and on Twitter: @LedgeronBucs. ]
Bucs Give Boost To Struggling Offensive Line
<p>TAMPA | What a difference a day makes.</p><p>The Tampa Bay area was in an uproar after the Bucs met with troubled guard Richie Incognito. Less than 24 hours later, the team traded for six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins from the New England Patriots.</p><p>The Bucs traded promising tight end Tim Wright and an undisclosed pick for Mankins, who will make $6.25 million this year. Multiple media outlets have the pick as a fourth rounder.</p><p>'We've been saying all along we've been looking at all options,' said Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht, who spent three years in New England. 'It came to fruition today. We're fortunate to land a player like Logan.</p><p>'Logan is a very good player,' Licht said. 'I'm a first-hand witness to what he means in the locker room, as well. His play on the field speaks for itself. He's a great person. He's going to be great for that room and great for this locker room.'</p><p>A day earlier, there were legitimate concerns about the Bucs' interior line. Despite revamping the offensive line in the offseason, the team had allowed 10 sacks in three preseason games and averaged just 3.0 rushing yards.</p><p>A 2005 first-round pick, the five-time All Pro selection Mankins immediately becomes the team's best lineman. While he was ranked 18th among all guards in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus, he was better at run blocking. </p><p>The 32-year-old Mankins also has been durable, having started all 147 games he has played for New England.</p><p>'We have a responsibility to our team and our fans to put the best possible football team on the field that we can,' head coach Lovie Smith said. 'By adding Pro Bowler Logan Mankins to the mix, we feel like we're definitely a better football team.'</p><p>Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had nothing but praise for his former lineman, who is known as one of the toughest offensive linemen in the league.</p><p>'Logan Mankins is everything we would ever want in a football player,' Belichick said in a statement. 'It is hard to imagine a better player at his position, a tougher competitor or a person to represent our program. He is one of the all-time great Patriots and the best guard I ever coached.'</p><p>Meanwhile, the Patriots get an up-and-coming tight end in Wright.</p><p>In his second year, Wright led all rookie tight ends and was second on the Bucs with 54 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns. </p><p>Often during training camp, Lovie Smith spoke highly Wright's potental. Now, the team will have to see it from afar.</p><p>'We think that Tim is a very good football player,' Licht said. 'We feel that the return we got on the investment obviously worked in our favor.'</p><p>The move for Mankins comes hours following a meeting with Incognito, the free agent who was implicated in a bullying incident involving the Miami Dolphins last season.</p><p>Although it appears unlikely, Licht did not close the door on making a move for Incognito or someone else in the future.</p><p>'We're always going to leave options open for players we feel are going to be great fits or could be great players for us,' Licht said. 'I wouldn't put an end to it, but that's just one of several options that are out there right now.'</p><p>NOTES</p><p>Cornerback Danny Gorrer was placed on injured reserve, and the Bucs waived injured tackle Matt Patchan (Armwood High) and waived tackle J.B. Shugarts and cornerback Deveron Carr. The club also claimed cornerback Marc Anthony and offensive lineman Jeremiah Warren off of waivers as the team reached the mandatory 75-player limit. The team has to get to 53 players by Saturday</p><p>Smith said offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford will not attend Thursday's preseason finale while recovering from an undisclosed medical procedure. The timetable for his return is unknown. Smith would not say who would be calling plays in his absence.</p><p>[ Rick Brown can be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com. For more coverage, go to BucsScene.blogs.theledger.com and on Twitter: @LedgeronBucs. ]</p>
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Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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