The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a huge boost heading into the 2014 NFL season after acquiring Logan Mankins in a trade with the New England Patriots on Tuesday.
The Buccaneers secured the services of Mankins via a trade that sent Tim Wright and 2015 fourth-round pick to the Patriots, who were looking to shed cap space this offseason.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, who worked with Mankins during his time in New England from 2009-11, said in a statement that they were fortunate to acquire the Pro Bowl guards nearly a week before they kick of their campaign in the upcoming season.
"We feel very fortunate just to have Logan," Licht said in a statement. "He's a very good player. [I'm] a first-hand witness of what he means to the locker room as well. His play on the field ... that speaks for itself for Lovie [Smith] and our coaches, but I've known him over the years. Any time you have five consecutive Pro Bowls, All-Pro player - I mean, that's a lot of accolades - but he's a great person. He's going to be great for that room; he's going to be great for this locker room."
Mankins, who has played in all 130 regular-season and 17 post-season matches with the Patriots, had 54 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games last season.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that parting ways with a player of Mankins' caliber was a tough decision for the club, but they felt that it was the right time to make the major move, which would save them around $13.25 million cash in the next two seasons and $5.8 million in cap space.
"He is one of the all-time great Patriots and the best guard I ever coached. Logan brought a quiet but unmistakable presence and leadership that will be impossible to duplicate," Belichick said of Mankins. "Unfortunately, this is the time of year when difficult decisions have to be made - and this is one of the most difficult we will ever make - but like every other decision it was made for what we feel is in the best interests of the team."
