Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots’ star cornerback, was front and center at the team’s facility on Friday, even with those contract extension negotiations still hanging in the air. This dude’s entering his fourth year, and while New England picked up his fifth-year option back in April, Gonzalez is clearly pushing for that big, long-term deal. What’s wild is how his situation might just be tied to one of our own here in Seattle, with Seahawks’ corner Devon Witherspoon also looking for his payday.
Gonzalez on the Field, Deal Off It
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel expects Gonzalez, an All-Pro talent, to be a full participant when training camp kicks off on Saturday. Veterans rolled into Foxboro on Friday, a few days after the rookies arrived. It’s the final piece before things really get cooking, but it’s not without a massive question mark. “Those contract negotiations are ongoing between the club and his agents,” Vrabel admitted. You gotta wonder how long that can drag on. Vrabel also said he’s “excited about having Christian back here with us and the impact that he can make on our football team. Really enjoy the person, really enjoy the player, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.” Sounds good, sure, but talk is cheap when there’s no ink on the paper.
We know Gonzalez was at all three mandatory minicamp practices back in June. That’s a good sign, right? Except he was a limited participant, sitting out of all the team drills. Not ideal for an All-Pro looking for a bag. Now, Vrabel expects that participation level to change, telling reporters, “Yeah. We’re getting ready to prepare to win. And that’s what this is going to take through training camp.” He even doubled down, saying, “We talked about this last year: earning a role, building a team, and preparing to win. And players have an opportunity to earn a role. Coaches are going to be there to help them. We all have to build a team, and I have to do my best to prepare us to win by our situations in the way we practice throughout training camp.” “Earning a role” for a guy who’s already shown he’s a game-wrecker? That’s a tough line to walk when a player’s looking for a long-term commitment.
The Seattle Angle: Witherspoon’s Shadow
Here’s where things get interesting for us in the Emerald City. Devon Witherspoon, another cornerback from Gonzalez’s draft class, is also due for an extension with our beloved Seahawks. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport dropped a report that Witherspoon’s negotiations seem to be further along than Gonzalez’s. And get this: Rapoport wouldn’t be surprised if a new deal for Gonzalez materializes shortly after a potential Witherspoon resolution in Seattle. That’s a big claim!
Vrabel, of course, tried to shut that down immediately. When asked if the Patriots were waiting for things to shake out with our Hawks, he shot back, “I don’t think they have anything to do with one another. We’re not negotiating with the Seahawks. We’re negotiating with Christian’s representatives, and I don’t think that there’s anything different than just our communication with them.” Yeah, right. In this league, everything’s connected. If Witherspoon signs a monster deal, that absolutely sets the market for guys like Gonzalez. Seattle could be setting the standard, and that’s a power move for the Hawks.
The Patriots’ first training camp practice kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. E.T. and it’s open to the public. All eyes will be on Gonzalez: is he a full participant? Is there any movement on that contract? But honestly, we here in Seattle will be watching for news out of our own camp regarding Witherspoon. His new deal might just be the push Gonzalez needs to get his done. Talk about a fascinating subplot in the early days of the NFL season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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