New England Patriots: Bob Kraft Says Logan Mankins and Team 'Never Had a Deal'

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft never talks much to the media about internal matters. For that reason, his surprise appearance on WEEI's Dale & Holley Show on Monday morning was even more surprising. But rumors that had begun to spread about Logan Mankins' worsening contract situation prompted him to speak his piece.

Reports broke just minutes before Sunday's game about what had supposedly transpired between the two sides, who have been at a stand-still in contract talks for the entire offseason, training camp, and preseason.

The report by ESPN's Adam Schefter stated that the team asked Mankins to apologize to owner Robert Kraft for statements he made about the organization, which he did via phone call. That much was confirmed by Kraft.

The next part, though, is where the story gets murky.

According to Schefter, the Patriots and Mankins had a deal on the table that was structured and priced similarly to New Orleans Saints G Jahri Evans' recent seven-year deal. Kraft, however, says that the two sides "never had a deal".

He went as far as to call Schefter's report a "bold-faced fib."

Furthermore, the ESPN report claims that the Patriots demanded a public apology from Mankins.

Perhaps it was Kraft's dainty way of saying it, but from the sound of it, it's not as though the Patriots held a gun to Mankins' head and forced him to apologize. Kraft told D&H that he told Mankins, "It would be nice if [the apology] was made public because I'm hoping we do a deal with you."

The Patriots have tried to get a deal done, but Mankins seems about as thick-headed as they come in that regard. No deal was reached before yesterday's game, and he subsequently continues to hold out.

Despite the absence of the Pro Bowl guard, the Patriots offensive line looked just fine without Mankins.

With that, the guard could soon be on the defensive in his contract negotiations.