Belichick: ‘Nobody's worked harder than Mankins'

FOXBORO -- Bill Belichick met the media after Sunday evening's practice session. The Patriots coach was all business. Of course -- now that one preseason game is in the books and another is just a week away, the Patriots are starting the shift into top gear.
"We got a long week, so it's a good opportunity for us to get a lot of things done here this week, tie up a few loose ends. We got more new installation going in, situations to cover, a lot of things like that, as well as getting ready for Philadelphia later on in the week.
"We got a long week here, and then three games in a row, so we don't have much time after that. We have to get it done this week. This is a big week for us."
As to the return of Logan Mankins, Belichick confirmed the offensive lineman was taken off PUP Sunday. The next step? One more day in shells before Mankins can put on pads and take some contact.BB: "He's worked hard. Nobody's worked harder than Logan. Comes in early, stays late, works hard. We know he's a really tough, dependable guy. He's put a lot into it, so he's worked as hard as anybody can."
Belichick hasn't said a word as to whether or not having a 90-man roster has changed this for the coaching staff. But today, two days removed from the first preseason game, he said the pressure will be mounting -- for the players.BB: "This is a big week. As we know, we have the opportunity with Tampa for a couple days down there before the game, then we have to cut to 75. Time's running out for whatever moves anybody's gonna make, they got to make them."
Speaking of not saying a word the Patriots coach kept mum on the reported visit from Plaxico Burress.BB: "We work out a lot of players. We just try to know who's available out there. We work out and talk a lot of guys, give them physicals and all that. I'm not going to comment on any of them individually."
What about the wide receiver group as a whole?BB: "I pretty much say the same thing about them as the rest of the offense. When you have 10 punts and two turnovers, we have a long way to go."
Rookie defensive lineman Jake Bequette has largely gotten buried under the avalanche of Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones enthusiasm. But Belichick has seen some good things.BB: "Jake's done some good things. Long way to go like all the rookies. He's done some good things, and some of the responsibilities that we have are a little different than what he had in college. But he's a smart guy, and he works hard. He's tried to adapt. He's getting better."