If you’re a New England Patriots fan and you‘ve ever said anything bad about Logan Mankins, I am now going to make you feel about yay high.
During the Patriots AFC Division Playoff Game win over Denver, Mankins hurt his knee and left the game. He later returned and played the remainder of the game and not much was thought about it.
The week of the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore Mankins never really saw the practice field, he could barely limp never mind walk. The training staff and the team doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with his knee. So Mankins played against Baltimore.
He pretty much repeated the process the two weeks prior to the Super Bowl against the New York Giants. He was listed on the injury report and was limited in practice yet he played in the game.
After the Super Bowl players were getting their check out physicals and clearing out the lockers and Mankins knee was still too swollen to truly tell what the issue was. After the swelling subsided, it turns out he had a partial tear of his ACL.
Now we all know the story of San Diego QB Phillip Rivers playing against the Patriots in a playoff game a week after having his ACL surgically repaired a few years ago. Mankins actually played about 2 and half games with the injury before undergoing surgery a few weeks ago. He is expected to be ready for training camp.
I know he is one tough bastard, he’s mean and ornery, but to play like that really takes something especially at his size (6’4”, 310) and that he basically does hand to hand combat 60-70 times a game against someone just as big.
I guess it’s safe to say “The Legend of Logan Mankins” continues to grow in Foxboro.
Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII
Photo credit: Getty Images
