Logan Mankins, Patriots OL

Eleven wins they come up short -- for the first time since notes to the post season a begins not a playoff game joining us on the eighteenth -- hot line eighteen -- your world delivered. Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins Logan like America happy new year.

They -- into go -- thanks check in. I -- what it.

Well I guess though -- BL EW rather break it down a game with the year ranked Patriot fans would as well I'm sure you -- preparing for game Logan is it. Is it weird is it awkward to get ready for the first a week in the NFL playoffs and and not being involved here wild card weekend.

Definitely. My family and friends everywhere that they will -- what planet -- on the become Beckel this event like I don't know wasn't expected the you're making plans that currently have never had to do written. This here it definitely looked and and on the.

So what is next for you why I mean do you now take after a grueling season where you guys you know really weren't kind of a playoff mode that last month. Do you just shut it down for a little while and just try to recover a little bit I mean what is the next step here in the first week of January for you.

Yeah I think for but the first week of just the first few days if you had just been laid around and I'll like it it is -- At least the wrist that week have any plans -- Just allowed instant I was the only -- that.

Well it seem like Patriot fans across -- and Logan watched your team up pull off a great victory at some crazy weather conditions. In Buffalo thirteen nothing to and the regular season. And then sat back and -- are for Brett Favre and the Jets you guys have a chance to play playoff football didn't work out that way. I gotta ask how did you you'll spend that time trying to keep track of that Jets game a seat you got to be a playoff team we locked the -- or not we getting updates periodically I have that work for.

Yeah we're we're it is very well we but lately it is in the news and we'll -- he's. They -- they kept -- covenant on both the games Flores. And I think what we got on the plane its effort they just scored a whirlwind in the game that a good sign and then as well -- I didn't kind of went down as -- as we go to.

That's that's not a good line use when plans but now and what was -- you view that you know this is a thing I think about that probably -- to his what you're you're you're on a plane and what forty mile per hour winds at that point -- probably it was funny either you know house of the Jets Alou is in the planes bounced around and it was probably turbulence like a minute so.

The usually after we would -- game we give we get on the buses everywhere and in the in the it is. This is one of those games you won the game and -- on the it's quiet. Don't say anything so visit a different atmosphere.

You probably haven't had a lot of time just to sit back and reflect but when you look at it I I know you in this team you judge your success on being in the playoffs or winning a Super Bowl we understand that spot. You have to be honest would you look at eleven win team. And and you're looking around you are on both sides of the football and guys going down you're starting with the quarterback and weather was you know Laurence Maroney the Tedy Bruschi Rodney Harrison Adalius Thomas so many players who who played key roles this team going down with -- injuries do you look at it Logan and say you know what eleven wins is pretty good to have to take out of all those problems.

Disputed in the way we wanted to let it would stick it was still successful you we -- it really good -- we want to live in game. With a lot of guys missed a lot of without the best player vocal. So become that if there was eleven wins. If probably want it but we're happy with that there's other teams that thing look at I don't think the Raiders that want to live in games and look like you're the there's there's a lot of places that would look to have eleven wins and the literally wanted to but it was it was still successful.

Logan Erica mentioned the weather an awful last Sunday and he played at Fresno I'm not sure how bad the weather was in some of those games but you know watching on TV. I don't think I've seen a game whirlwind day and the wind was that much of a factor before really was a football weather event with the win there was one way. You know going right to left you could throw ball left to right she couldn't. Did you did you know going in that it was going to be one of those games or did the weather -- sneak up on you guys -- late Saturday and Sunday.

Yeah we we knew usually Lleyton the year Buffalo you're always going to have -- with the weather you there's no reason. But I -- know -- wouldn't -- be that bad until. We talked about it Saturday night a little bit I don't think anyone expected it to be that we. That they would move up or have several in the news we're just an.

could you saw accomplished and so he saw the crooked goalposts are probably wasn't dead giveaway items --

Yeah this specialists they keep that in their late and when we snapped the ball at the take sideways to happen is that we --

I I know you up yeah I know you've probably never ever have any sympathy for ticker or feel bad form but this Saturday at one time -- a c'mon there hit banana slices from thirty yards a -- one by disgusted Reynolds got pushed back. On the underside of the crossbar you had to have just a little bit of pity for those guys for once you. Football career.

they're but I haven't architect of those that -- public as -- closes the that they didn't what did you do.

How would you assess how your unit the offensive line performed this year it seemed to be -- there're there're pieces here and there. You know with. Some nagging injuries but you guys really seem to have a consistent year and I don't know if things had to change much once the quarterback changed in game number wonder if you guys just went about your business the same way no matter who the who the quarterback is.

Overall I think we we had a pretty decent year. Early on in the year. I don't think we're playing as good as because. There's the -- stretches of games there where. I don't think things were known as well we with a -- but as you would on I think we got more consistent plays they together a lot better. And for the most part all the guys they. They were there W we had a few of the bruises on a couple of days it is so little that it and that. Overall I think really it here we we -- in together. At first we had a few book is meant. And learned to sit in the pocket and it used to him -- and around more than Tomlinson. But as that would -- I think everything it's built together and they took a particular.

Now what do you think about Matt -- development here this year Logan because as you said it like early on in the season. He was running up for his life -- times maybe not staying in the pocket as long but he talked about this with the guys in the morning as he grew more comfortable the blocking scheme. He is that running as a weapon as just a football fan boy if you like he matured pretty quickly. Became a guy who towards the end of the year was a big part of this offense not just I game manager for this team.

As a rookie you went -- he was really he's made a lot of plays he did -- another element our offense went. It would only rush four guys in was clean up the middle and as a runner with the receivers and had been and they haven't -- you just take off and it's been -- yards so. That's that added another element teams -- focused on. As you went on he just got better every phase of his game he's. The throws were great is that great throws but he read factories. In the he has moved in the parking he is very elusive in. You know you just got better and better as the year went on -- he turned into the record of -- and.

You know I'm not going to try to trick you into -- sharing some state secrets from inside the walls that are alive and I know you're trained not to divulge any information but my question is this you get caught up to the players just naturally get caught up in wondering. All right what's going to happen -- What's this real story with Tom what's going to happen with Mac you know all all that stuff I mean you know those of the big questions and everybody's asking every fan is asking do you guys pay much attention to that in. You have to be at least a little curious as to how this is all going to play out.

It's it's human nature it's -- those guys are friends that are teammates. We wonder what's going to happen -- The guys upstairs bill Owens. This trip -- the guys make that decision we we water we try to play the guessing game that. Epitaph were wrong to we have what we -- the people is that you that you think you can attest. But it figured that they'll -- pursuit -- wrong that -- you never had any idea what those yeah.

Hot do you address you know going into this offseason now there's things you want to work on Logan there's still some teams playing football. Awkward feeling for your first time with this Patriots team not make in the post season. You think you'll sit back and watch these games like a fan when you watch these playoff games do you try to. Get away from football Lang clear the clear the mind to get the -- ready for next season.

Yeah I'm up in a folk also I'm sure if I'm not did the -- do anything about that moment around the TV announcer don't turn it on it. What's the game. There's a lot of guys that know their play and then let a team that a pretty yet so it's you know they're going to do. Just -- been a football you like is that going to watch and -- have been.

Will you be going in in your and of season exit interview if there is such a thing in telling bill boats at the U want some -- time at fullback next year. You have got to get a piece of that you know you want some of that.

that that would be to -- dig every now and then get. You know five yard run.

Exactly come off offense you have some -- way it's exactly you need a running start to run somebody over and that legal work up to try to get some of Vrabel catches in the end zone and then you'll be that we need united. What I or however Vrabel just abandon what your yard away if that's suitable to -- guy you know we gonna.

It to some of those headlines. Now it's one of those things were -- Patriot fans maybe disappoint the team doesn't make the post season but I should set a successful year based on the injuries and losing. As you call the best player football Tom Brady and held -- dale and holly myself Americans love to talk and -- On bodies throughout the year best in the new year to you when your family we hope you enjoy the offseason.

It -- glorious Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins.