Mankins

FOXBORO — There are probably few compliments better than being compared favorably to the man many consider to be the best ever at your position.

But that’s just what is happening for Patriots’ left guard Logan Mankins. Making it even better? Some of the comparisons are coming from John Hannah himself.

Hannah, a 13-time Pro Bowler for New England who was the first career Patriot inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said “no doubt about it” when he was asked in a recent radio interview if he sees a bit of himself in Mankins.

A 6-foot-4 former first-round draft pick of out Fresno State, Mankins was named to his first Pro Bowl last year and was selected to the All-Pro second team. A native of tiny Catheys Valley, Calif., where he grew up on a 10,000-acre cattle ranch, Mankins and his wife, Kara, recently welcomed their third child, a son.

Here’s this week’s Up Close.

MY FIRST CAR: Was a 1975 Ford pickup. That’s just what everyone drives: trucks. It was pretty beat up, a lot of dents and scratches everywhere.

MY FIRST JOB: Was working for my dad on our ranch. (Did he pay you?) No, no money. He fed me. Loved me.

THE LAST ALBUM I BOUGHT: I don’t know; I haven’t bought one in so long. My last CD was probably Chris LeDoux’s greatest hits. He’s a country guy.

MY FAVORITE OFF-DAY ACTIVITY: Just lazing around the house, spending time with the kids and my wife.

MY FAVORITE MEAL: Just steak and potato. Pretty basic.

MY PREGAME RITUAL: I don’t really have one. It’s pretty different every time, depending on what time of day we’re playing. (What about for a 1 p.m. game?) Just get up, eat breakfast and get on the bus to the stadium.

DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? No not yet. I have things I’d like to do, travel. I’ve wanted to go around and see all of the National parks. We’ve talked about doing that.

IF THEY MADE THE LOGAN MANKINS STORY, WHO PLAYS LOGAN? I would hope John Wayne. He was my favorite as a kid. (Who would be the starlet?) It would be a country movie, a western; you don’t need a starlet, just a good horse.

smanza@projo.com