Christian Gonzalez admits frustration with Patriots contract talks, and other training camp takeaways
New England Patriots
“It’s frustrating, but I’m focused on the season,” Gonzalez said.
FOXBOROUGH – Christian Gonzalez was there at the last practice media members were able to watch in its entirety, and he was suited up and participating fully.
He didn’t seem particularly thrilled to answer questions about his contract situation, though, and it one point it was hard to hear his answers because a helicopter was flying over the practice field while he was talking.
The Patriots cornerback has yet to reach a deal with the team on a new contract. The regular season opener in Seattle is just over two weeks away.
“It’s frustrating, but I’m focused on the season,” Gonzalez said. “I’m focused on here now and doing what I’ve got to to. I’m out here to compete and get better.”
Gonzalez has, for the most part, been an active participant throughout training camp. However, he was conspicuously absent for each of New England’s joint practices and first two preseason games, along with several other practices. Coach Mike Vrabel said the absence was due to injury, though neither he nor Gonzalez have said what the injury is.
Gonzalez was asked to confirm whether his absence during that stretch was completely because of the injury situation. He smiled and side-stepped the question.
“Yeah, I’m not going to get into that,” Gonzalez said. “I’m out here now, so it is what it is.”
Gonzalez was asked whether the team had done its part as far as refraining from negotiating through the media. “I don’t know,” he said on a day when front office executives Eliot Wolf and Ryan Cowden spoke to reporters.
Wolf had said earlier in the day that the Patriots made an offer to Gonzalez that would make him the highest paid cornerback in NFL history. Team owner Robert Kraft made a similar statement at the beginning of training camp, before Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon signed a record-breaking deal with his club.
The Patriots will be off to Cleveland this week for the preseason finale. But first, here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s practice.
Larrison banged up, but still getting chances
The battle for the third running back spot has been one of the more competitive during camp, and it doesn’t seem quite settled yet.
On Tuesday, Lan Larrison got plenty of touches including a few with the top offensive unit as TreVeyon Henderson was absent with a lower body injury.
Larrison was wearing a red non-contact jersey, an indication that he’s not fully healthy at the moment. But, he continues to get chances. Coach Mike Vrabel was asked after Saturday’s preseason game if there was anyone in the competition for the third running back spot who stood out to him. Larrison was the first name he brought up. Tuesday’s practice didn’t seem to indicate anything different.
Eliot Wolf is positive there’s momentum towards a deal. Gonzalez didn’t seem so sure.
Wolf told reporters that he was “positive” the Patriots were making progress towards a new deal for Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was asked a follow up question about Wolf’s comments. He repeated his answer about being focused on the present moment instead of answering the question.
There are certain things that Gonzalez wants in his contract that aren’t in the current offer, the cornerback said.
Patriots vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden was asked whether the team’s offer would make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in football in terms of guaranteed money.
“There’s been enough statements and questions through Eliot, through [Vrabel], through ownership,” Cowden said. “For me to sit up here and go through that same line of questions, I don’t think there’s any use in that.”
The Patriots have Gonzalez under team control for the next two seasons. He is under contract for this year, and the Patriots have a team option for next year.
Would the Patriots consider trading Gonzalez if negotiations go south?
“I think we’re continuing to work on the negotiation side of Christian, and, you know, I think that’s where that stays,” said Cowden.
Familiarity could be key for Van Roten
Offensive lineman Greg Van Roten said it feels like just yesterday when he was a rookie, but the reality is that he has played 11 years in the NFL.
He was teammates with Alijah Vera-Tucker and Morgan Moses for two seasons with the Jets.
As the veteran interior lineman adjusts to his new reserve role helping to replace the depth lost by injuries to Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich, familiarity with some of the Patriots starters could help shorten the learning curve.
“It’s huge,” Van Roten said. “Just because you don’t have to make up so much time because we’ve had plenty of games and years together. So, we have experience. We have our ways of communicating. I know how Morgan is going to set. I know how Alijah is going to set, because we’ve had countless practices and games together.”
Perfect day for Borregales
Andy Borregales made all six of his field-goal attempts in practice as he continues to bounce back from a rough performance during the preseason opener. He remains the only kicker on the Patriots roster.
New England had to bring in another punter, Matt Haack, following the injury to Bryce Baringer. Special teams ace Brenden Schooler has missed all of training camp.
The Patriots will have plenty of new faces on special teams this year. It doesn’t seem like a replacement for Borregales will be one of them in the near future.
An interesting description for Gabe Jacas
Rookie linebacker Gabe Jacas, who missed all of OTAs and minicamp, has been inconsistent thus far during training camp, coach Mike Vrabel said after Saturday’s game.
However, there haven’t been many questions about his work ethic, physique, or physical readiness for the NFL. He looks the part of an NFL linebacker, Vrabel said earlier in the camp. The coaching staff is working with him on the parts of his game that will allow him to play like it.
Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith seemed excited about Jacas’s potential and demeanor on the field.
“I’m not a gambler, but I kind of look at maybe anything in life as gambling,” Smith said. “You got a kid that’s big like him, that’s athletic like him, that’s meaner than a wet mule, and he loves football. I’m not gonna say he’s gonna be Jason Taylor or [Lawrence Taylor] or any of that stuff, but it’s gonna be very hard for him to fail.“
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