Christian Gonzalez hopes to be ‘rewarded as a Patriot’
· Yahoo Sports
New England Patriots standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez returned to the practice field in Foxboro on Tuesday for mandatory minicamp, attending as a limited participant.
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Gonzalez had previously been absent from OTAs over the last two weeks as the fourth-year cornerback became eligible for a contract extension. New England picked up Gonzalez’s fifth-year contract option on April 28.
Despite ongoing negotiations, Gonzalez continued to reiterate that he wants to remain in New England and that any conversations about an extension are between the Patriots and his agents.
“Of course I want to be here,” Gonzalez said on staying in New England. “I’ve said this multiple times. I’ve been drafted here, and I want to be rewarded as a Patriot. I love this town. I love this city.”
Before practice, New England’s head coach Mike Vrabel said he’s not involved in those negotiations and that there’s nothing to add or report; however, he’s had individual discussions with Gonzalez.
“Conversations have been great,” Vrabel said. “I talked to [Gonzalez] about his event last week. [I] talked to him about the things that we talk about. But it’s good to have everybody back in here that either was here last week or that wasn’t.”
On June 2, before the final OTA practice open to the media, Vrabel anticipated that Gonzalez would return for minicamp this week and said he didn’t want the business and professional side of the negotiations to interfere with the personal side.
Gonzalez was asked about skipping OTAs, saying he felt like he could effectively prepare outside of New England, and spoke to the coaches about doing so ahead of time.
Outside of Foxboro, Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks is another premier cornerback due for an upgrade in pay. Between Gonzalez and Witherspoon, whoever receives a new contract last likely becomes the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, but the two routinely speak with each other, and that topic has not been brought up.
“Other than just talking to [Witherspoon], that’s my guy,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve trained together. Came up together in the same [draft] class. We talked a couple days ago. We talk a good amount, but not even about contract stuff. Just talking and checking in on each other. See how each other are doing and just catch up.”
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Showon June 4 that he thinks there’s a “good chance” Gonzalez receives a new contract before the regular season, but an agreement just may not be imminent.
“We have a long time before the season starts,” Gonzalez said of potentially playing the regular season without a new contract. “It’s still pretty early in the offseason, so I’m focused on being here, showing up, being here for the team, and filling my role and what I’m here for.”