Logan Mankins is in some pretty good company

When I heard about the trade of Logan Mankins to the Tampa Buccaneers, I immediately thought of former Los Angeles Rams DE Jack Youngblood and past San Francisco 49ers safety, Ronnie Lott. Those two defensive stars each played with serious injuries with no regard for their own welfare. They were only interested in team goals, not their own.

Complex.com:

If there was any NFL player to play through an entire playoffs on a broken leg, it was always going to be Jack Youngblood. Football's original Ironman played 201 consecutive games across 14 seasons. In 1979, he broke his fibula in a Divisional match-up against the Cowboys, an injury that would knock any sane and non-masochistic person out for the season. But no, Youngblood threw a plastic cast over his leg, played in the NFC Championship a week later, and the Super Bowl a week after that.

Complex.com:

During a game against the Cowboys, the Hall of Fame defensive back had his left pinky crushed during a tackle. While legend has it that Lott chose to have it amputated in the locker room so he could get back into the game, Lott has since cleared that up: "The story goes that I cut it off right in the middle of the locker room-which I didn't." He actually just had it taped up so he could continue to play, but the following offseason, he chose to have the crushed pinky tip amputated.,

Upon further review, we are all aware of how tough Logan Mankins is. That was mentioned in Bill Belichick's statement.

Mike Reiss, ESPNBoston.com:

“Logan Mankins is everything we would ever want in a football player. It is hard to imagine a better player at his position, a tougher competitor or a person to represent our program. 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."

Logan is more than tough. He is the ultimate team player who was willing to shift to left tackle when Nate Solder was out with the concussion. He played with a torn ACL in the Super Bowl. He was the best lineman on the team, and he gets sent to Tampa. Does it always have to be about money? A pay cut seems a bit too much to ask.

Paul Molitor of the Milwaukee Brewers started his career as a shortstop. He moved to 2nd base when Robin Yount returned from his brief retirement. The next year, he moved to center field to make way for Jim Gantner. The following year, he moved to 3rd base to make way for Gorman Thomas.

After the five game 1981 American League division series loss to the New York Yankees, the Milwaukee Brewers were offered a trade with the Minnesota Twins. The deal would send the Minnesota native to the Twins for pitching prospects. Brewers GM Harry Dalton turned down the trade proposal stating that " if we trade Paul Molitor, after all he has given us, we may as well fold up the franchise."

Harry Dalton wasn't around in 1992 when Paul Molitor became a free agent.

Murray Chass, New York Times:

Although Molitor wanted to remain with Milwaukee when he became a free agent after the 1992 season, the franchise offered him a one year contract with a $900,000 pay cut (to $2.5 million), while the Toronto Blue Jays offered a three-year, $13 million ($21,000,000 in current dollar terms) deal, leading to his signing with the defending World Series champion Blue Jays. Agent Ron Simon said, "I was also talking with Milwaukee, but it became clear to us that Milwaukee didn't have the same kind of interest in signing Molitor, perhaps because of their financial situation."

Molitor quickly became an offensive juggernaut. He hit .332 with 22 home runs and 111 RBI. Returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1982, he was a key part of the Blue Jays' second World Championship. Molitor hit 2 doubles, two triples, and 2 home runs in the series earning the World Series MVP Award and tied a World Series record by batting .500 (12-for-24) in the six-game series.

I believe Logan Mankins is a hall of famer, just like Paul Molitor. While I don't envision the Buccaneers appearing in any future Super Bowls, it won't be because of Logan. Players like Molitor and Mankins are not for sale, at any price.

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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