PATRIOTS NEWS Maye, Gonzalez make Pro Bowl on initial ballot

[upstater1]

Since he made the Pro Bowl, Gonzo's 5th year signing price automatically goes up.

If we don't sign him to a new contract, you have to question the entire front office.

 

[VrabelJr]

The Venn diagram of posters that complained about BB letting good players walk and the ones upset that we have to pay our elite CB what he's worth is actually just a circle.

 

[upstater1]

Brady was also married to a woman who made more money than he did.

Well, it's a good thing Mrs. Maye's cookies are selling fast!

 

[upstater1]

The Venn diagram of posters that complained about BB letting good players walk and the ones upset that we have to pay our elite CB what he's worth is actually just a circle.

So -- you're saying some posters wanted to pay players under BB but not under Vrabel ? (I'm sure I got that wrong).

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

Marcus Jones was a worthy candidate, but unfortunately Dike (TEN) has been dynamite this year on both kick/punt returns.

 

[jimnance]

If he didnt get hurt, so was Milton Williams

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If he didnt get hurt, so was Milton Williams

But somehow Joe Alt made it despite only playing 6 games. (TBF Logan Mankins did too after his holdout.)

 

[VrabelJr]

So -- you're saying some posters wanted to pay players under BB but not under Vrabel ? (I'm sure I got that wrong).

Pointing out that people complain about both not paying and having to pay

 

[Wingy]

Not sure about that. I believe the pro bowl is a fan voting contest. The Patriots have a large fan base and these two are the most popular players on the team.

To be clear, Maye fully deserves pro bowl recognition. Not quite sure about Gonzalez.

If the large fanbase was truly a big factor, then we’d have more than two.

 

[upstater1]

Joe Thuney made the Pro Bowl again.

This guy has been on 5 All-Pro teams in 9 years.

Also made 7 Super Bowls in 9 years.

Also won 5 Super Bowl rings.

He leaves teams and they immediately go in the dumps.

He joins a team like the Bears and suddenly they're 11-4.

And oh yes, he's remarkably healthy all the time as he appears to have only missed 2 games in his 10 year career.

The only thing you can have against him is that he spent a few extra years in college and so he started as a rookie at the age of 24. He's almost 34 now.

 

[Real fan 02]

I don't think Gonzo's price went up. He's going to get a top of the position contract regardless. He was already maxed out.

Absolutely! Once the pass rush becomes potent next season Gonzo can really benefit and start to maximize his skill set more.

 

[Uptown]

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Since he made the Pro Bowl, Gonzo's 5th year signing price automatically goes up.

@maust is correct that Gonzo will probably get a contract that makes the change in fifth-year option moot.

That said, making the Pro Bowl has raised the floor on the guaranteed money.

 

[mgteich]

It literally has. Gonzo's fifth-year option just went from about $11M to $17M because of this.

probably $20M, but yes.

 

[mgteich]

Literally, thanks to his selection the cost of his 5th year option just increased to the equal of the transition tag for his position. It's doubtful he ever plays under the option, an extension should be in the offing, but that price is now the jumping off point for his extension

$20M for his 5th year, $25M for his 6th (franchise), $30M for his 7th (second franchise}is the starting point for a 2-year extension. Obviously, we could sign a longer contract team-friendly outs, but $25M AAV over his 5th-7th year with a team out after his 5th and 6th year seems reasonable.

I would think that $75M guaranteed for 2027, 2028 and 2029 would be a starting point for any contract extension (including a no-trade clause).

 

[mgteich]

If we don't sign him to a new contract, you have to question the entire front office.

So, you're fine with $40M a year?

IMO, the minimum is $25M a year guaranteed for 2026-2028).

As with QB's and WR's, paying $35M or more has a serious effect on the cap structure for the rest of the team.

 

[upstater1]

So, you're fine with $40M a year?

IMO, the minimum is $25M a year guaranteed for 2026-2028).

As with QB's and WR's, paying $35M or more has a serious effect on the cap structure for the rest of the team.

Jaylen Ramsey is making more than $24m, so $30m sounds about right. Again, this is a premium position; it allows you to organize your entire defense differently

 

[patfanken]

I’m hoping that Drake is grounded enough that he recognizes he will get generational wealth without needing to extract every dollar, and takes a page out of Brady’s book and leaves some money on the table to allow the Pats to have a better team around him.

I agree and there is a fair chance that he will take a reasonable deal that will create 3 generation wealth with his signing bonus, but cost "only" 38-44MM/yr. It can be a 5 year deal which gives him another bite at the apple before he's 30, or a 10 year deal which means at some point in the deal it will be a bargain, but makes sure no one in his blood line ever has to work again before he's 36.

HOWEVER, he is going to get a LOT pressure from the union to try and get the max, or what can be viewed as the max. In the union's view (and I use the term "union" loosely) it's his obligation to raise the boat higher, because in their narrow view as QB wages go up, so does everyone else's. IMO this is why the gap between the highest paid at each position and the middle class keeps growing.

 

[mgteich]

I agree and there is a fair chance that he will take a reasonable deal that will create 3 generation wealth with his signing bonus, but cost "only" 38-44MM/yr. It can be a 5 year deal which gives him another bite at the apple before he's 30, or a 10 year deal which means at some point in the deal it will be a bargain, but makes sure no one in his blood line ever has to work again before he's 36.

HOWEVER, he is going to get a LOT pressure from the union to try and get the max, or what can be viewed as the max. In the union's view (and I use the term "union" loosely) it's his obligation to raise the boat higher, because in their narrow view as QB wages go up, so does everyone else's. IMO this is why the gap between the highest paid at each position and the middle class keeps growing.

You mean that Maye would get pressure from the union and all top 15 QB's that might be in the market for the next few years. The union and other agents would put great pressure on his agent not to sign for much less than the market rate.