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Bill Belichick On Logan Mankins: 'The Best Guard I Ever Coached'

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots made a stunning trade on Tuesday, sending All-Pro guard Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay in exchange for Tim Wright and a draft pick.

After the Patriots officially announced the deal, the team tweeted out a statement from head coach Bill Belichick.

"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. Unfortunately, this is the time of year when difficult decisions have to be made -- and this is one of the most difficult we will ever make -- but like every other decision it was made for what we feel is in the best interests of the team."

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