Logan Mankins
An already impressive Patriots team – sitting atop the AFC East with an NFL best 6-1 record – is about get an upgrade along its offensive line.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, holdout/restricted free-agent guard Logan Mankins is expected to sign his one-year tender and report to the team today (Tuesday). The tender offer is worth $1.5 million for 2010. A long-term contract is unlikely to be consummated upon his return.
Mankins will be eligible to play as soon as Week 9, when the Patriots travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns. Because he’s reporting by the league’s cutoff date of November 16, he will earn a credited year of unrestricted free-agency; a key factor if he wants that extension he held out for in the first place.
The fact that he’s returning to New England should not come as a shock; NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported last month that he would show up by Week 10.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Mankins will relieve Dan Connolly of his duties and will further bolster a line that excels at keeping quarterback Tom Brady upright.
