Logan Mankins eager to impress on Bucs

The Buccaneers have the pieces in place to be a potent offense in 2014. A heavily offensive draft brought in some hyped targets for free agent quarterback acquisition Josh McCown, fresh off a successful spell standing in for Jay Cutler. Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins could become quite a tandem, while Vincent Jackson will still be tearing things up. That being said, this is a young group, and they could benefit most of all from a veteran presence.

Enter Logan Mankins. The beloved former Patriot guard will provide that, and while Belichick was eager to trade Mankins, let it be known that his ability was never in question. Although Mankins decline could come swiftly, maybe even as soon as next year, he should still be the driving force of the Bucs offensive line, and will be key in protecting their new quarterback. While I'm sure Mankins will miss his long-time teammates and friends back in New England, he is excited for the new challenge and is clearly eager to prove he belongs:

Associated Press

When someone invests in you, I don't know if everyone feels this way, but myself, I don't want to disappoint them. I want to be the player they think they're getting.

The trade didn't come as much of a surprise to Mankins, as he continued:

Guys play because they love it, but it is a business. And if you don't understand that it's a business, then you're lying to yourself. You have to be prepared for whatever happens in this league at any time, and I think I'm always prepared. I didn't know it was going to happen the way it did, but it's not a shocker to me.

With Belichick's record of trading franchise cornerstones past their peak, it is possible that he may have even seen this coming. That being said, this offense has a chance to guide the Bucs to the playoffs in a division that may have been weakened by the Panthers offensive exodus, and their new addition on the line will play a large part in building a new era in Tampa.

Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images

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