The biggest stories regarding the New England Patriots this week had nothing to do with their preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, a game New England lost 37-13, on Thursday night.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots have been involved in a lengthy contract standoff that seemingly won’t be ending anytime soon. Earlier this week, he said he felt “it’s frustrating” that he hasn’t yet received an extension to his liking.
Following Thursday’s game, Vrabel addressed Gonzalez’s comments.
Mike Vrabel has “hope” that Patriots, Christian Gonzalez “can work to some kind of agreement”
“I have conversations with Christian, and I understand that this is probably something that’s difficult,” Vrabel said, per Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire/USA Today. “I’ve never been in that position to this extent. Try to treat it with class, but he and I communicate, and our players are always free to feel how they feel. They just have to stay patient and just hope that we can work to some kind of agreement.”
Gonzalez and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon are both represented
by the Win Sports Group. Witherspoon recently received a record-setting four-year, $132M contract, which understandably led some to assume a Gonzalez deal was imminent.
However, NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN reported ahead of Thursday’s game that “the Patriots and Gonzalez haven’t been close” to coming to an agreement. The Patriots are allegedly prepared to make Gonzalez the league’s new highest-paid cornerback, but it seems that the two sides are far apart regarding the structure of a deal.
Gonzalez has two years remaining on his existing contract.
Mike Vrabel makes stunning admission about Kayshon Boutte trade
Meanwhile, the Patriots traded wantaway wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick earlier this week. Per Mark Daniels of MassLive, Vrabel suggested after Thursday’s game that Boutte would have had no role in the New England offense had a trade not materialized.
“That was one place where we do have some depth, and I think for all parties involved, that was probably the best thing,” Vrabel said about the trade. “Without injuries, Kayshon probably would have been inactive. Unfortunately, it just, it’s kind of the way it was. It’s just with him not playing special teams.”
Boutte reportedly requested a trade after the Patriots acquired Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown during the offseason. It sounds like Boutte saw the writing on the wall long before Vrabel shared the “inactive” revelation on Thursday night.