Callahan with Giardi: Is Gonzo having a down season?

[Thelonious]

That's a stubborn way to look at contracts. You're not going to be able to keep top talent on your roster with that attitude. Scarcity and inflation drive players salaries up as much as individual performance. You can't be so rigid as to only pay a guy where he "ranks" at his position.

Last September Pat Surtain set a new high for the CB market. Then Stingley set it in March 2025. Then Sauce set it in July 2025. That's just how these things go. Gonzalez may not be setting the standard for CB play, but he's reasonably close enough to the top of the position rankings that he wouldn't be outrageous to ask for a spot on the conveyor belt of players who reset the positional market every year. Even if we do make him the highest paid CB he'll probably be hanging on to a spot in the top 5 halfway through the deal.

That's a good point. I am sort of a cheapskate, a skinflint,, no question. I hate spending money, and I hate debt: haven't had any for 25 years. If Gonzo is looking for a "set the market" contract, I would push back, however, given that though he is a very good, maybe an excellent CB, he has not shown himself to be a player at the "generational talent level," which is what I would (maybe erroneously) expect at that level of compensation. Your make a good point in implying that the fact that inflation in NFL contracts is non-stop might indeed make this a moot point, however, given that in a year or two (assuming a rather long term contract) that budget-busting compensation might turn out to be sort of average compensation. If he does ask for that market-topping pay, I'll be content if the team at least looks into what can be gotten for him in a trade. If it's a first-rounder-plus, I think the team certainly ought to think about it. If they decide just to pony up, I might be a little grumpy, but if they accomplish this due diligence, I 'll probably just shrug it off tbh.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

That's a good point. I am sort of a cheapskate, a skinflint,, no question. I hate spending money, and I hate debt: haven't had any for 25 years. If Gonzo is looking for a "set the market" contract, I would push back, however, given that though he is a very good, maybe an excellent CB, he has not shown himself to be a player at the "generational talent level," which is what I would (maybe erroneously) expect at that level of compensation. Your make a good point in implying that the fact that inflation in NFL contracts is non-stop might indeed make this a moot point, however, given that in a year or two (assuming a rather long term contract) that budget-busting compensation might turn out to be sort of average compensation. If he does ask for that market-topping pay, I'll be content if the team at least looks into what can be gotten for him in a trade. If it's a first-rounder-plus, I think the team certainly ought to think about it. If they decide just to pony up, I might be a little grumpy, but if they accomplish this due diligence, I 'll probably just shrug it off tbh.

If this were peak dynasty years when they were annually loaded with talent and spending up to the cap I'd agree with you. That's a spot where you consider taking the draft compensation and ditching the high price tag. I don't think we're at the stage now where it makes sense to do that though. We don't have that great talent base to fall back on yet and we're currently far below the cap for the forseeable future. Future draft picks and cap space don't win games for you and I don't think it makes sense for us to take steps back talent wise right now.

Down the line, if we stack together another few good offseasons and the roster is filled to the brim with talent and we start having to make some financial calls, I'd be in favor of your proposed path to at least explore dealing guys off. That's how you recoup value vs. letting guys go for nothing and keep churning out good teams. We just aren't there yet. We don't have the talent base to trade a top 5 or whatever CB because he wants to be paid top of the market for a year (or even less) until someone else bests the deal.

 

[Thelonious]

If this were peak dynasty years when they were annually loaded with talent and spending up to the cap I'd agree with you. That's a spot where you consider taking the draft compensation and ditching the high price tag. I don't think we're at the stage now where it makes sense to do that though. We don't have that great talent base to fall back on yet and we're currently far below the cap for the forseeable future. Future draft picks and cap space don't win games for you and I don't think it makes sense for us to take steps back talent wise right now.

Down the line, if we stack together another few good offseasons and the roster is filled to the brim with talent and we start having to make some financial calls, I'd be in favor of your proposed path to at least explore dealing guys off. That's how you recoup value vs. letting guys go for nothing and keep churning out good teams. We just aren't there yet. We don't have the talent base to trade a top 5 or whatever CB because he wants to be paid top of the market for a year (or even less) until someone else bests the deal.

Fair enough.

 

[TommyD4207]

That's a stubborn way to look at contracts. You're not going to be able to keep top talent on your roster with that attitude. Scarcity and inflation drive players salaries up as much as individual performance. You can't be so rigid as to only pay a guy where he "ranks" at his position.

Last September Pat Surtain set a new high for the CB market. Then Stingley set it in March 2025. Then Sauce set it in July 2025. That's just how these things go. Gonzalez may not be setting the standard for CB play, but he's reasonably close enough to the top of the position rankings that he wouldn't be outrageous to ask for a spot on the conveyor belt of players who reset the positional market every year. Even if we do make him the highest paid CB he'll probably be hanging on to a spot in the top 5 halfway through the deal.

The same Pat Surtain who was 'getting cooked' by Traylon Burks last night?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

The same Pat Surtain who was 'getting cooked' by Traylon Burks last night?

Huh? Burks had one catch all game and it wasn’t on Surtain. Not sure what you’re talking about.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

My "analysis" explicitly did not "ignore that." Would it help if I waved pom poms as I type? I agree that he is a "very good" CB. Any assertion that he is elite, worthy of setting a new compensation standard for the position, is premature at best, delusional fanboy stuff at worst.

Lol. Your "analysis" (quotes necessary, as you intuitively realized) is remarkable because you're almost always completely wrong. You're good for a laugh, though. I'll give you that.

 

[Pape]

That's a good point. I am sort of a cheapskate, a skinflint,, no question. I hate spending money, and I hate debt: haven't had any for 25 years. If Gonzo is looking for a "set the market" contract, I would push back, however, given that though he is a very good, maybe an excellent CB, he has not shown himself to be a player at the "generational talent level," which is what I would (maybe erroneously) expect at that level of compensation. Your make a good point in implying that the fact that inflation in NFL contracts is non-stop might indeed make this a moot point, however, given that in a year or two (assuming a rather long term contract) that budget-busting compensation might turn out to be sort of average compensation. If he does ask for that market-topping pay, I'll be content if the team at least looks into what can be gotten for him in a trade. If it's a first-rounder-plus, I think the team certainly ought to think about it. If they decide just to pony up, I might be a little grumpy, but if they accomplish this due diligence, I 'll probably just shrug it off tbh.

he is an excellent CB, one of the top corner backs in the league...

and really, its fine to be cheap, but in this case, it ain't your money hes taking...

Hopefully they re-do his contract after this season... get it done early... the team keeps the player in the fold and they save themselves a few dollars by doing so...

 

[TommyD4207]

he is an excellent CB, one of the top corner backs in the league...

and really, its fine to be cheap, but in this case, it ain't your money hes taking...

Hopefully they re-do his contract after this season... get it done early... the team keeps the player in the fold and they save themselves a few dollars by doing so...

The sooner they get it done, the cheaper it becomes long-term. Prices aren't going down.

 

[Real fan 02]

he is an excellent CB, one of the top corner backs in the league...

and really, its fine to be cheap, but in this case, it ain't your money hes taking...

Hopefully they re-do his contract after this season... get it done early... the team keeps the player in the fold and they save themselves a few dollars by doing so...

Just thinking here... Marcus doesn't have an agent as he did his did in season..(not recommended to operate without an agent) gonzo has 2 agents I believe do you believe his agents are likely asking him to wait until the offseason to cash in as opposed to in season for an extension?.. it's pretty obvious Vrabel's going to extend gonzo of course.. your expertise?

 

[Pape]

Just thinking here... Marcus doesn't have an agent as he did his did in season..(not recommended to operate without an agent) gonzo has 2 agents I believe do you believe his agents are likely asking him to wait until the offseason to cash in as opposed to in season for an extension?.. it's pretty obvious Vrabel's going to extend gonzo of course.. your expertise?

If they can, they should... hopefully they will

 

[Real fan 02]

If the can, they should... hopefully they will

Agreed. The good thing is gonzo.. is first round pick so not like he's making 7th rounder money currently..

 

[Huckleberry1]

Michael Felger says that Drake Maye threw 4 interceptions in practice and that they should cut him. What do you guys think, is Felgie right? Should they cut Drake Maye?

 

[Huckleberry1]

@Pape you seem to be the only one to understand the thread here.. it's in SUPPORT of gonzo and simply putting up what Callahan and Giardi had to say..

You create the " misunderstandings"! when you take both sides of every issue, which you do all the time.

 

[Dec54]

Is it just me, but for a time now I have thought he didn't act or look happy. Almost like he wanted to be somewhere else, perhaps he just keeps his emotions in check. I'm sure I shall get put in my place and I hope proved wrong.

 

[Real fan 02]

Is it just me, but for a time now I have thought he didn't act or look happy. Almost like he wanted to be somewhere else, perhaps he just keeps his emotions in check. I'm sure I shall get put in my place and I hope proved wrong.

I think early on players like to be proven things just like coaches do.. I remember when Vrabel first came here and gonzo was doing a interview with I believe NBC sports... he seemed curious and wanted to " see what Vrabel does" was his comments.

So now looking back with 13 games and 11 wins.. on the season the belief, the buy in couldn't be higher for gonzo. I can say Gonzo's become more of a complete CB under Vrabel he's more physical and seems to relish at physicality than shy away from it.

 

[Vindicate]

Nah… Revis was overrated because he was in NY and they overrate everything. Anything in NY is the best… just ask them.

Law was better.

2009 Revis is literally the best season from a CB I can think of. He is not overrated.

 

[Vindicate]

Is it just me, but for a time now I have thought he didn't act or look happy. Almost like he wanted to be somewhere else, perhaps he just keeps his emotions in check. I'm sure I shall get put in my place and I hope proved wrong.

He's a coy mf'er. Because he gets chirpy. He's happiest when he's balling out and shutting someone down. Unfortunately, he can't do that in interviews without threat of fines lol.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

You see the true value of a guy like Gonzalez when he doesn't play.

You don't see him much cause teams don't throw at him much in man coverage so when you see him it's getting beat in zone.

He's 23 years old and is going to get a monster contract from the Patriots or someone else, he's a better player than Sauce Gardner and 2 years younger.

 

[Vindicate]

The sooner they get it done, the cheaper it becomes long-term. Prices aren't going down.

Especially considering that next year he will be making a huge name for himself with that schedule and the spotlight on the team for being the most recent Superbowl winners.

 

[Vindicate]

That's a good point. I am sort of a cheapskate, a skinflint,, no question. I hate spending money, and I hate debt: haven't had any for 25 years. If Gonzo is looking for a "set the market" contract, I would push back, however, given that though he is a very good, maybe an excellent CB, he has not shown himself to be a player at the "generational talent level," which is what I would (maybe erroneously) expect at that level of compensation. Your make a good point in implying that the fact that inflation in NFL contracts is non-stop might indeed make this a moot point, however, given that in a year or two (assuming a rather long term contract) that budget-busting compensation might turn out to be sort of average compensation. If he does ask for that market-topping pay, I'll be content if the team at least looks into what can be gotten for him in a trade. If it's a first-rounder-plus, I think the team certainly ought to think about it. If they decide just to pony up, I might be a little grumpy, but if they accomplish this due diligence, I 'll probably just shrug it off tbh.

Very rarely, if ever, is someone generational. It's a term tossed around way too much. Donald is the closest one of recent memory. That being said, Gonzo is as good as they come, and in todays league, a CB who can hold his own against anyone, AND play zone (some say he's worse because of communication, I think he also is having double duty of having to account for breakdowns by LB's and such) is worth the pay. He is a top 3 CB.

Our DL has benefitted an extreme amount from having Gonzo as a 1, which let's Davis be a 2, which means coverage sacks are on the board. It's a beautiful synergy between them, Milton, Barmore & Co.

I think you lock up Gonzo. He's worth a high asking price. I'd love to see Kraft move like Vrabel and McDaniels, who have both decided to really modernize and improve their approach over the past year. Kraft needs to start working with the GM to craft very flexible, enticing contracts, that help play the cap. Take a lesson from the Eagles. I'm less familiar with the specifics, but I'm sure someone here could breakdown an ideal, top-market contract and what that could look like if Kraft were to get creative.