“No One Works Harder Than Him”
September 23rd, 2014
In the search for positives about this depressing Tampa Bay Buccaneers season, Joe keeps coming back to the trade for Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht tapped his old contacts, worked the angles, and brought in a reasonably-paid veteran who can play, and make those around him better.
All for a fourth-round draft pick and a tight end the head coach didn’t want.
On the Buccaneers Radio Network last night, Lovie Smith was pressed to talk about the impact of Mankins, and the head coach was happy to go heavy on the praise.
“I think as a player coming in you don’t need to talk a lot about what you’ve done. Even what you’re going to do. Your new teammates, they’re going to observe what you do, how you prepare, how disciplined are you, and what type of football player [you are,] and what do you have deep down inside. Can you play with a little bit of pain? All these things we talked about; that’s exactly who Logan Mankins is,” Lovie said.
“No one works harder than him. He’s seen it all. So he’s a veteran that has knowledge that can be passed on to some of your younger players. And he does that. But he’s earned what he has as a veteran leader in our locker room based on what he’s done, and our players just watching a real pro and how they do it.”
In the graveside service that was the Bucs’ postgame locker room Thursday, Joe talked to Mankins. And Mankins, who is soft spoken with a very sincere vibe about him, was one of the few players clearly confident the Bucs would “fight back” in their next game.
Joe’s hoping Mankins’ read on his new teammates is spot on. Joe’s not sure his mind, liver and remote control can handle a back-to-back seal-clubbing.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:04 am
Give him time and the o-line will become Mankins Maulers
This guy means business
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:05 am
“Fight back” he must still be suffering from ptsd. He still thinks he’s in NE. Poor guy, I feel for this guy. To go from patriots to the bucs. From Brady to McCown. Personally I’d be popping valum like tic tacs.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:20 am
He’s a real pro. Glad we have him.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:23 am
I’m sure he works hard. He’s proven that.
But let’s be honest, it’s not too difficult to out work anyone on this joke of a team.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:30 am
You can’t convince me that anyone was working on Thursday. They may have punched the clock but they may as well have been playing on facebook at their desks. Nobody came to do any work on Thursday
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:36 am
After watching the freaking clueless, offensively challenged QB named Gino and his inept Jets strafe the Bears last night (and still blow the game though), I refuse to believe an NFL offense can’t find some damned success in the modern NFL.
And yet my Bucs keep proving me wrong. Every. Stinking. Year.
God doesn’t hate the Bucs. God hates Bucs fans. A lot.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:40 am
SWEET!!! Tedford taking a leave of absence… This season is done already.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:58 am
I hope we get a spark with our new offensive coordinator! I mean someone that can really try and turn this around somehow someway! I don’t know how or even if it is some how possible, but I have faith. I am a real true fan, since the pumpkin orange days people. I won’t give up on my bucs, the chargers went 0-5 and went on to win the freakin superbowl people. So lets be true fans and have some hope, its not like this is the first time we have been through this. What does everyone think about this Terrel Pryor workout? Don’t worry coach Lovie Smith is a winner, he won’t let this keep happening like our last two coaches. We will get this thing turned around before week 8 and make a damn season of this year. And who knows, maybe next year we can land a true franchise qb for once. Am I hearing some one calling Winson???
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:09 pm
We are in a “world of hurt” if a 32 year old guy that has only been walking the halls of One Buc 30 days +-…is “the hardest working guy “
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:12 pm
“All for a fourth-round draft pick and a tight end the head coach didn’t want.”….or in other words…NE gets the last pick in the 3rd Round ……if you know how I’m spinning the spin back on L&L
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Mankins is kind of washed up and wishful thinking. Hey, that’s good enough for the Bucs.
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 pm
When all the players are gathered in the locker room and Lovie is speaking to the “team”….and he thinks all eyes are focused on him….they are really looking at the clock over his head on the wall behind him…….zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:20 pm
How pathetic to feel sorry for a veteran free agent we traded for after losing. It shows you the level talent and desire to win in this team. That includes Gerald McCoy, he’s had great stats but seems like an individual and isn’t helping anyone get better. No one works harder than mankins and peer the coach that includes everyone else on the team
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Second time in two days I got hit with this pop-up on Joe Bucs Fan:
http://premiumvideoupdating.be/f3/32a86388d96f82cb369e9ff21f077711/?subid=16f591ff46e032f99e09bac2512459b3&transaction_id=678f6031-5253-4539-9a59-301f214fe668&rand=5421ff6968f18&source=mbs-f3
They tell me my player is out of date and needs updated. This is a travesty that dishonest businesses are allowed to advertise (and attempt to pirate my computer) on your site.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:46 pm
“Can you play with a little bit of pain?” GMC… you hear that?
September 24th, 2014 at 1:27 am
He’s right. There’s not reason to panic at this point. I know 0-3 looks bad, but there have been some extenuating circumstances. A couple breaks and they’d have been 2-1.
Going to Atlanta, on a short week, banged up, with 6 defensive starters out or on IR, without your best player and finding your OC wouldn’t make yet another game… I can see how a game could out of control fast on them.
The Tedford fiasco had to be way more damaging to morale than any player would admit I think.
September 24th, 2014 at 6:55 am
Schiano was a psycho.
Why?
Because players take advantage of cool coaches.
Look at Raheem. He thought his players were his friends.
But in reality, they just used him and took advantage of his kindness.
I am worried that players are now on vacation under Lovie.
Football is a militaristic game. A mans game. A game for psychos.
And Schiano was obsessed with football.
He was also a bad ingame manager.
Does anyone else think that our defense last year looked angrier, faster, and meaner than this year?
Our D looks slow and asleep.
We need to start CUTTING players to get the message across.
Lovie may be too nice and loyal for football (aka war with weapons)