Read More: Logan Mankins (G – NEP), New England Patriots

Logan Mankins has already signed his one-year franchise tender worth $10 million for the 2011 season, and according to Pats owner Robert Kraft, the team is close to signing Mankins to a long-term deal.

“I hope that after locking up our core veterans and bringing in these seasons veterans as I call them, and probably you’ll see our good friend Logan Mankins will be signed up soon hopefully to be a Patriot for life,” Kraft said. (via WEEI)

Kraft, who also spoke about his late wife Myra Kraft, expressed his strong desire to bring Mankins back.

“If I have a vote it will get done,” Kraft said. “The other side’s got to want it too, but it’s our desire — it’s always been our desire — but… you can’t sign everyone you want, so you need to plan, and I think we did our planning knowing the kind of environment we were coming into, and we tried to position ourselves so we had our core veterans and we could continue to sign the people we want to sign. We very much — we think that Logan is among the best there is at his position. We drafted him and we want him. “

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit.

Gresh & Zo opened their show up talking about the NFL lockout and the New England Patriots plans for Free Agency. They debate the positions of need, focusing on wide receiver and offensive line.

They disagree on whether Logan Mankins is a critical to the protection of Tom Brady and success of the Patriots offense.

The guys then list the top players at each position that could possibly help the Pats in the upcoming season.

Gresh & Zo Debate Patriots Free Agency And The NFL Lockout

The NFL’s league-wide game of franchise tagging began Monday, and New England Patriots All-Pro guard Logan Mankins is the first official “it,” according to ESPN.

The move was expected, even though Mankins expressed last week he wouldn’t be happy about it after holding out through eight weeks of the 2010 season. Despite playing only from Week 9, he was named the starter in the Pro Bowl for the third time in four years.

The New England Patriots officially applied the franchise tag to guard Logan Mankins today.

“Logan Mankins is one of the best players on the team,” owner Robert Kraft told reporters last week. “I just personally want to say: I hope he’s with us for a long term, and we’re going to try to do whatever we have to do to make sure that happens.”

The franchise tag for Mankins’ position comes with a one-year tender worth about $10.1 million. By tagging Mankins, the Patriots would have the right to match any offer he receives in free agency or receive two first-round picks as compensation.