The Patriots have announced what had been reported earlier Monday: Guard Logan Mankins has been named the team’s new franchise player.
Mankins follows nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who carried the designation in 2010 before signing a long-term deal.
“Logan Mankins is a tremendous player,” the Patriots said in a team-issued release. “He has been a fixture on our offensive line since we drafted him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft and he remains an important part of our future plans. Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach a long-term agreement, despite many attempts and proposals by both sides. That remains our objective in utilizing the franchise designation and we are hopeful that Logan will be a Patriot for many years to come.”
The union has said that it plans to challenge the availability of the franchise tag for the 2011 season, given that there currently is no agreement between the league and the NFLPA for the 2011 season.
Mankins is the league’s first player to receive the franchise tag in 2011.