Mankins' agent says nothing happening in talks with Pats

Training camp is just two weeks away, but Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins isn't any closer to signing with the New England Patriots, his agent told the *Boston Herald* on Thursday night.

"There's nothing that's happened. We haven't heard from them," Frank Bauer said. "Everyone in the NFL is on vacation. We just have to see what happens."

Mankins, a restricted free agent, didn't sign his one-year, $3.26 million tender by the June 15 deadline, so the Patriots cut it to $1.54 million. According to the Herald, Mankins' camp believes the Patriots promised the lineman a long-term deal in 2008, but it didn't happen, leading him to skip the team's organized team activities and minicamp this offseason.

Moss finds new agent

Randy Moss has his man after a two-month search. He hired Joel Segal to represent him as the Patriots' star receiver enters the last year of his contract and his future in doubt. **More ...**

"Logan kept his mouth shut (in 2008)," Bauer said. "He's a lunch-pail, down-home guy. A hard-worker who loves the Patriots and loves Bill (Belichick, the team's coach). And hey, I understand the Patriots. The ball is in their court. They do what they have to do, we do what we have to do."

Sources indicated to the Herald that the Patriots have offered Mankins a seven-year contract worth $7 million annually. However, Mankins might be seeking something closer to the $8.1 million-per-year deal that the New Orleans Saints gave Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans this offseason.

Despite the divide between the sides, Bauer doesn't believe a deal between Mankins and the Patriots is out of the question. Bauer said he understands how the uncapped 2010 season, which made Mankins a restricted free agent instead of an unrestricted one, has affected talks.

"I think any time the door opens, a deal can get done," Bauer said. "Look, I'm good friends with Bill, I know Bob Kraft (the owner) real well. But (labor) circumstances came out and turned everything sideways. But you never know who is going to pick up a phone and say, 'We need to get this thing done.'"

Patriots teammate Vince Wilfork, who received a lucrative contract extension this offseason, would like to see Mankins remain in New England. Wilfork told the Heraldearlier Thursday that Mankins "is the best offensive (guard) out there."

"I think we'd lose someone very, very special," Wilfork said. "Somebody that's dedicated. But business is business. Sometimes things don't pan out the way you want it to pan out. But I want him as a teammate. But if not, hopefully we'll meet up again."