File This Under Who Cares: Chad Johnson Will Apparently Be Back With The Pats in 2012

I hesitated to even bother writing a post about this-that's how irrelevant Chad Johnson has become-but I guess it is newsworthy.

Johnson (I refuse to call him Ochocinco) restructured his deal for the 2012 season from $3 million to $1 million so it looks like we're in for another year of his uselessness.

How much things can change in one season huh? Who wasn't excited when the Patriots picked him up last summer? To say he was insignificant in his first year with the Pats or a non-factor is being too kind. It was a nightmare. He only had 15 catches for 276 yards with one touchdown. Pathetic production from a guy that New England had coveted for years before he got here.

I'm shocked that Bill Belichick and the Patriots want to put up with another dose of him but I guess they think maybe with another offseason, mini camps and full training camp he'll be able to learn more than the one play he knew in 2011 (a go route).

It's too easy to pile on Johnson at this point, he's 34 so regardless if he learns the playbook better, it seems unlikely that he'll ever be very effective. I will give him credit for one thing: despite all his struggles, he never whined or complained. He seemed to be a good teammate which is probably a big part of the reason he got invited back.

Otherwise, the Patriots don't need him. He's going to be on another reality show on VH1 (about his upcoming wedding) and he lives on Twitter so where does football fit in his busy life? Everyone waited for his breakout game but it never came, by the end it was like a bad joke. Obviously, at this price he's not a risk but I'm ready to say goodbye to Chad Johnson if he's the same player he was last season.

UPDATE 3/26: The Patriots signed fullback Tony Fiammetta (who sounds like a plumber from Malden) and released fullback Lousaka Polite.

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Pats Dodge A Serious Bullet: Logan Mankins Only Has Sprained MCL In His Left Knee

When Patriots guard Logan Mankins went down on Sunday with a knee injury, it didn't look good since he never returned to the 27-24 win over the Dolphins.

We can breath a sigh of relief as the Boston Globe reported today that Mankins only sprained the MCL in his left knee and he won't need surgery. If you are a Patriots fan, there is no doubt that you are familiar with this injury. Linebackers Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes have both dealt with it this season; Mayo returned quickly while Spikes still hasn't come back after getting hurt on November 6 against the Giants.

New England (12-3) closes out the regular season vs. Buffalo on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. They've already clinched a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs and they'll get the No. 1 seed if they can beat the Bills. This all means that Mankins will have basically three weeks off before another meaningful game. I'm not sure if he's a fast healer or not, since he's basically never hurt, but at least this gives us all hope that we haven't seen the last of him this season.

It hasn't been Mankins' best season, he has been a Pro Bowler in the past, but anybody outside of Donald Thomas' extended family would pick Mankins over his replacement.

In other Patriots roster news, the Globe also said that New England plans to sign fullback Lousaka Polite to take Ross Ventrone's vacated place. Thomas had been used as a fullback at times but he'll be starting in Mankins' spot.

To me, this smells like a one-week move since as I said, Mankins will likely be back for the playoffs. Polite played in four preseason games for the Dolphins but has not appeared in a regular season game since last season. In seven NFL seasons (Miami, Chicago, Dallas) he's played in 75 games for three teams.

UPDATE 12/27: Cornerback Malcolm Williams was resigned to the practice squad where Ventrone is expected back as soon as tomorrow.

Tonight, eight Patriots were announced to the 2012 Pro Bowl. Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Mankins, Brian Waters, Andre Carter, Vince Wilfork and Matthew Slater (special teams).

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