In three days, the Patriots face the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. It remains to be seen if cornerback Christian Gonzalez will get a new contract, and if not, if he will play.
Gonzalez not done to play without his new deal, which means there’s a non-zero percent chance he won’t.
On Saturday, manager Mike Vrabel was asked if he will share his “two cents” or “go to bat” for Gonzalez.
“I think it’s an interesting dynamic,” Vrabel told reporters. “I’ve been on both sides. I think what’s important for me is to try to communicate, to try to explain (to) the players that we really want to build and we have. I’ve done that with Gonzo and everyone knows that. So I’m not involved in negotiations per se, but of course I want to be involved in trying to resolve the situation throughout the day. What’s in front of us and what we need to do to help the team.
Gonzalez called the situation frustrating. Vrabel was asked if he shares that sentiment.
“I wouldn’t use the word frustrating,” Vrabel said. “Again, I appreciate how our players feel and their emotions, and I think that’s part of life. But I can’t let that be a disappointment. I want to be able to coach him, help him improve as a player and a person, help our football team and help our coaches.”
Otherwise, Vrabel gave no clear update on where the situation stands.
“I think whenever the deal is done, then it will be settled,” Vrabel said. “I don’t know. I don’t have a schedule. I’ve tried to do a good job of communicating with everyone involved as best I can.”
Is he confident that an agreement will be reached?
“I would say when it’s over, that’s really the confidence level,” Vrabel said. “There is no, “Is it ready? “Isn’t it almost ready?” I don’t want to speculate or speculate. It’s important to focus on Seattle. And again, I appreciate and understand what you guys think is important. I just know that what’s important for us is how we prepare. This is a good football team. This is a great football team. I told our team if we don’t play better than we did the last time we played them, we’re going to struggle.”
They will struggle more without Gonzalez to help cover the likes of Jaxon Smith-Njiba and Rashid Shaheed. And Vrabel’s game plan will have to factor in the possibility that he won’t have Gonzalez.
The Patriots went through this before, in 2020. Not long before Week 1, cornerback Stephon Gilmore made it clear that he wouldn’t play without an adjustment to his contract. In that case, it was quite simple; The Patriots moved $5 million in 2021 compensation into 2020. This time, it will ask for a commitment that exceeds the deal Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon made for $33 million a year in new money 22 days ago.
Whatever the obstacles (we’re told it’s a combination of dollars and structure, which doesn’t narrow it down much), there’s one obvious sticking point that hasn’t stuck yet. And that sets the stage for Gonzalez to refuse to play without a deal — which, depending on how the team reacts to a player being under contract and the team refusing to work, could make things very interesting.
It’s basically a one-man Wildcat shootout. And the team would have rights under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Exercising those rights, however, would do little to improve the long-term relationship between the team and one of its most important players.
