FOXBORO — Like a protagonist in a Clint Eastwood Western, Logan Mankins has never been much for small talk. Case in point: When he was asked Thursday why he signed his one-year, $10.1 million franchise tender so quickly, Mankins responded with a small smirk.

“I figured I was getting paid a lot of money this year,” the All-Pro guard said. “I should put in a full year.”

Last June, Mankins talked bitterly about wanting to be traded, and sounded like a man who already had one foot out the door. He called the team “liars” and sat out the first half of the 2010 season because he was unhappy with his contract situation.

“Right now, this is about principle with me and keeping your word and how you treat people. This is what I thought the foundation of the Patriots was built on. Apparently, I was wrong,” he told ESPN Boston last June. “Growing up, I was taught a man’s word is his bond. Obviously this isn’t the case with the Patriots.”

On Thursday, Mankins spoke of new beginnings and sounded optimistic about his future with the Patriots beyond 2011. While it wasn’t exactly a 180-degree turn from last year, he certainly sounded more optimistic about his long-term prospects with New England.

“There’s always a chance,” he said of the possibility of putting together a multi-year contract. “I’ve talked to the coaches, to ownership, everyone. We’re all on the same page. We’ll just see what happens.

“[I] have great memories here. I’ve had a lot of fun like everyone here. We’ll see what happens. I understand now more than ever that it’s a business.”

League rules stipulate that Mankins can talk with the Patriots about a contract extension until Sept. 20. If no deal is reached, talks are not allowed until after the season is finished.

“I don’t negotiate. I just play. I’ll let my agent (Frank Bauer) take care of that and whoever upstairs wants to do it,” Mankins said.

In the past, things had gotten contentious between Mankins and the franchise, but on Thursday, he made sure people knew didn’t have a problem with Kraft — he and the owner were spotted chatting amiably and shaking hands during a practice earlier this week.

“Let’s get things straight: Me and Mr. Kraft never had a problem. I never said he lied,” Mankins said. “When I said the organization, I never said he did. So let’s get that straight right now. Me and Mr. Kraft never had a problem. We’ve talked last offseason, we’ve talked last season, we’ve talked this offseason, we’ve talked in training camp, so everything is good between me and him.”

The 29-year-old Mankins was the Patriots’ first-round pick in 2005, and is a three-time Pro Bowler. Over the course of his career, he has distinguished himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the game, a tough competitor who is one of the most durable players in the league — in 2009, he missed just nine offensive snaps all season.

Thursday marked the first practice session of the year for the team’s franchised All-Pro — he had to wait for the new collective bargaining agreement to be ratified so the new league year could begin.

“I was here for a week and had to just go to meetings. It was the most boring thing,” he said. “I’m happy to be out here at practice.”

Once the pads were on, there was little time wasted, as Mankins spent a good portion of the session knocking heads with new Patriots’ defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. In their struggles on Thursday afternoon, Mankins won the first battle, but on the second occasion, Haynesworth battled back and knocked the Pro Bowler into the backfield.

“He’s a good player. He’s a big strong guy,” Mankins said. “The first time, I was glad I got him, but the second one, he got me. It’s going to go back and forth, I guess. We’re happy to have him here.

“I remember my first two years here. I got to practice against Richard Seymour all the time. It only made me better. If Albert practices hard, that will make me better, too.”

Mankins also is happy the team re-signed left tackle Matt Light to play alongside him, with center Dan Koppen on the other side.

“That’s a big signing,” he said of Light’s return. “This will be seven years the three of us have been together. That’s huge. We know what to expect from each other. We trust each other to be there.”