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Bill Belichick: ‘No one has worked harder’ than Logan Mankins 08.13.12 at 9:10 am ET
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Logan Mankins was happy to be back on the practice field Sunday, six months after ACL surgery. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FOXBORO — After watching his offensive line have moments of disarray in attempting to protect Tom Brady Thursday night, it must have made Bill Belichick smile when the training staff cleared Logan Mankins for practice Sunday morning.

The four-time Pro Bowl left guard was cleared to rejoin the team on the field and taken off the physically unable to perform list, meaning he will be eligible to start the season, that is if his surgically repaired right knee allows. Mankins will be in shells again on Monday and then, if he feels ready, Mankins will get in full pads on Tuesday and see how the knee responds.

“It’s the same rule for everybody, so two days of shells and then pads,” Belichick said.

All of this is fairly impressive considering he played with a torn ACL in Super Bowl XLVI in the first weekend of February.

“He’s worked hard,” Belichick said. “Nobody has worked harder than Logan. He comes in early, stays late, works hard. We know he’s a really tough, dependable guy and he’s put a lot into it. He’s worked as hard as anybody can.”

Mankins also played the Super Bowl with a sore left knee, an injury suffered when he played left tackle for the first time in his career on Christmas Eve in a win over the Dolphins.

Here are some other notes from Belichick following Sunday evening’s practice.

On this week’s preparations, which includes 1:30-4 p.m. practices Monday through Thursday, Belichick said: “This is a big week, this is a big week. As we know, we have the opportunity with Tampa for a couple days down there before the game and then we have to cut [to] 75. Time is running out for whatever moves anybody is going to make; they have to make them.”

ESPN first reported that the team worked out receiver Plaxico Burress on Sunday. Adam Schefter then reported that the team was not likely to pursue the receiver any further after the physical.

“We work out a lot of players,” Belichick said. “We just try to know who is available out there. We work and talk to a lot of guys, give them physicals and all that. I’m not going to comment on any of them individually.”

Belichick was asked to assess the wide receiving corps that you have in camp to this stage. His response was to try and light a fire under the offense that — except for the opening 97-yard TD second-half drive by Brian Hoyer — was wholly ineffective.

“I’d pretty much say the same thing about them as the whole rest of the offense — when you have 10 punts and two turnovers, we have a long way to go,” he said.

Linebacker Dane Fletcher reportedly suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on Thursday. Belichick said there was no update since he said Friday the news on the linebacker “didn’t look very good.”

Inside linebacker Brandon Spikes returned to practice on Sunday after missing Thursday’s game and the previous four practices with an unspecified injury.

“It’s good to see any players that come back on the field,” Belichick said. “It’s always good to see players come back on the field, of course.”

Read More: 2012 Training Camp, Bill Belichick, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • http://www.facebook.com/volleeyball.comm Volleeyball Comm

    That being said my own attempts at learning how to use this serve have been a major work in progress. It takes hundred, possibly thousands, of repetitions to learn this serve see volleyball coaching videos at http://www.volleyball1on1.com/videos-eric-defense/

  • Bruinman86

    Little good it did. Bad night in Boston Sports. The only good TV was the replay of the Bruins game from the night before!

  • SK

    Oh well… I am the ultimate optimist… but it is starting to look bad. Cs must make some changes. We have no presence in the middle. Drummond, Monroe and even W.Bynum were having their way in paint. Even our ‘trainee’ Fab Melo might be better than what we have now. You cannot even dream of a banner if you lose to Detroit, NO, other garbage teams…..  and on top of that neither PP nor KG or BB can hit any shots at the start. PP is looking old last few games!!!! Danny, please bring a big body in the middle….Antony Randolph, Mozekoff, Gortat….at least promote Fab!!!!

  • Anonymous

     Either the talent’s not there or the players aren’t listening.

  • http://twitter.com/WestEndGirl62 WestEndGirl

    Jason Terry talks a good game, but I guess he can’t handle the pressure of 17 banners.  Courtney lee is a joke, it looks like he lays hard, but he is often the goat on key defensive plays.  As much as I like Green, if he doesn’t start, he is generally ineffective.  Him and paul cannot both co-exist.  And for goodness sakes start Jared Sullinger, Basshas a prtetty jumpshot and that is it.  He doesn’t rebound consistently and he hardly ever boxes out. PP is forcing to many plays, and Garnett passes to areas not to players.

  • Snz67

    Some issues are Paul Pierce’s defense and his constant complaining to the refs. Whenever he gets stripped; after dribbling the ball for 20 seconds or thinks he’s fouled he complains to the refs while the other 9 guys on the court are running up the court. KG shoots way too much from the outside. Jason Terry appears to be a bust. All Jeff Green wants to do is shoot 3′s from the corner. Rondo misses alot of easy layups. Need to start looking to the future.

  • Dave

    I’ll blame Doc for one thing: he has the wrong forwards starting with Rondo.  Bass can’t catch Rondo’s passes, and Pierce has never needed Rondo’s playmaking.  In fact, both Bass and Pierce are one-on-one players, and both should come off the bench.  Green can run with Rondo and needs Rondo.  Sullinger can catch Rondo’s passes and score inside.  Before considering trading Rondo, I would give him forwards that fit his game.  Bass was originally meant to be an energy player off the bench, and he could be, but Sully needs to start and to get the most minutes. Pierce has been a great Celtic and should thrive in a great Celtic tradition: sixth man.  Doc and Danny need to try this “forward” move before making any trade.  Then the only trade that makes sense is Rondo since that’s the only one that could return real value.

  • Snz67

    SK I’ve been saying Paul Pierce is an old tire since last year. He can be so clutch one game and then suck the next two. When he’s not playing good he pouts and doesn’t shake his teamates hands when going to the bench. KG never does this even if the C’s are getting blown out. I like PP but he’s not my favorite player. Brandon Bass and Jeff Green are dissapointments as well.

  • Jim Jim

    make a move with this team danny. put pierce on the block. bring in cousins

  • Celtics1975

    effort, play the same way against the pistons as you did the bulls an you win. That’s the one thing that truly bother’s me, alway’s has alway’s will.

  • Matty

    if there is a major trade done by the deadline to shake up the roster. circle this game as the start of it.

  • Doug

    I”m so glad I don’t follow the NBA closely anymore, I just look at the box scores, used to be a fanatacal Celtic fan, but I see what a joke they have become, it’s really sad, no fire, no determination, old team that is fading rapidly.  I’m looking forward to the baseball season, this team is an embarassment.

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