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Logan Mankins thought he’d be a starting guard on a title contending team in New England this season. Instead, he was traded to a last-place team in Tampa Bay. He admits that’s tough.

Mankins told the Tampa Tribune that it’s rough to have to be on a team that lost seven games in half a season — more losses than he ever experienced in any of his nine seasons in New England.

“It’s a grind right now,’’ Mankins said. “We’re not where we want to be and the only way I know to get out of that is to keep working hard, keep fighting on Sunday. I was raised to where you always fight to get back up. That’s what I’m trying to do.’’

Maybe the 32-year-old Mankins can be part of turning things around in Tampa Bay. But the Bucs don’t appear to be close to a turnaround, and this year anyway, the closest Mankins will get to the playoffs is watching his old teammates on TV.