Tampa Bay's Perspective On The Logan Mankins Trade
BOSTON (CBS) - Patriot Nation is still feeling the aftershocks of the earthquake that was Tuesday's news of trading Logan Mankins for, in their mind anyway, "another Rutgers guy" Bill Belichick desired.
For some perspective on the trade, and a more thorough scouting report on Bucs tight end Tim Wright, both The Adam Jones Show and Toucher & Rich had on experts from Tampa to weigh in on the deal.
Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune: "Good Deal For Both Sides"
Tampa Bay was desperate for interior help on the offensive line after releasing two-time Pro Bowler Carl Nicks in July, which is why they brought in Richie Incognito earlier this week for a visit.
"[Tampa Bay] is a team that thinks can compete for a playoff spot, so you had to do something. If you've seen this team play in the preseason you would have noticed, at least half the time, that Josh McCown wasn't even able to get the ball in the shotgun. It was that bad. They needed someone to come in and protect," said Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, who was on Tuesday night with Adam Jones.
Cummings jokingly added, "you know you must be desperate" when you bring in Incognito for a visit. Mankins is the fifth lineman, and third guard that the Bucs have brought in in the last five days.
Roy Cummings believes both the Bucs and the Pats won the trade, as both teams filled an area of need.
"I think it's a good deal for both sides. For sure," Cummings told Jones.
Jones expressed some skepticism about Wright picking up the Patriots offense, considering there's just one preseason game left with under two weeks to go from the opener in Miami.
Cummings raved about Wright's work ethic, and doesn't think that'll be a problem.
"You're talking about a kid in Tim Wright who last year learned how to play tight end over the course of training camp, and by the third or fourth week of the season was the starting tight end of the Buccaneers and ended up having a pretty good season. I think he'll pick it up quickly. He's a smart kid. No doubt about that. He won't put that playbook down until he's got it."
Listen below for Cummings' full breakdown:
Justin Pawlowski of 98.7 The Fan in Tampa: "Tim Wright Will Fit The Hernandez Role Well"
Ever since last summer when Aaron Hernandez was arrested, the Patriots offense has been constantly changing and evolving, and this was compounded by the injuries to Rob Gronkowski.
The Patriots started 2013 without a real offensive identity, and struggled to gain it back until Gronkowski returned in Week 7. It looked like the offense of old until Gronk went down seven weeks later at home against Cleveland, at which time the offense changed once again to a power running game.
Pawlowski, like fellow Tampan Roy Cummings above, thinks it's a worthwhile trade for both parties, especially considering Wright will be able to somewhat replicate the tight end position like Hernandez once did.
"I think Tim Wright is really going to fit that [Hernandez] role well for the Patriots," said Pawlowski. "Tim Wright is a bigger guy, but more of a receiving threat at the tight end position. I think on the field the Hernandez comparison works. He's not a guy that will light you up blocking-wise, but he's going to be able to get open in the slot, run good routes and catch the football. The Patriots are able to utilize those types of tight ends. Not a good fit for the Bucs and Lovie Smith, but should be good under Josh McDaniels up there."
Listen below for the full interview:
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON