Following the departure of tight ends Ben Watson and Chris Baker, the New England Patriots have agreed to terms with free agent tight end Alge Crumpler. Crumpler at 32-years-old is no longer in his prime as a pass catcher, but his ability to block and be leader in the locker room should help the Pats. Spending seven season playing for the Atlanta Falcons, Crumpler caught 65 receptions in 2005. In 2008, the former North Carolina Tar Heel signed with the Tennessee Titans for two seasons, being used mostly as a secondary tight end. The Pats will need to find another tight end to share time with Crumpler either through free agency or in this year’s draft. The tight end position hasn’t been a key pass-catching part of the Patriots’ offense in recent years with Ben Watson only catching 29 balls in 2009.

Patriots fans have a much better chance of seeing two-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins in New England next season. New England brass put a tender offer on Mankins, a restricted free agent, for $3.3 million dollars making it difficult for any other NFL team to sign him. Any suitors would have to give up a lot for the six year pro. Mankins has a lot of years left in him and has been arguably the Patriots best lineman the past few years. The Fresno State product was drafted in the first round by New England in 2005. Mankins has started in 16 games every season he’s been a pro and any team would be glad to have him. Cosidering all the punishment NFL lineman take in the trenches week in and week out it’s amazing how durable and consistent Mankins has been in New England. The Patriots should be doing everything they can to keep this guy in Foxborough.