The Official Gonzo Extension Watch Thread

[mgteich]

The question may be whether Gonzo is worth $40M a year plus two firsts.

CHALLENGE
You have 2 firsts and $40M a year to use over the next 4 years.

Can you use those resources to have a larger effect than Gonzalez?

ONE OPTION
Give him his $40M extension and then trade him after 2-3 years, after the extension kicks in. The cost would be the guaranteed money for 2-3 years production and we'd still get the picks.

BOTTOM LINE
Gonzo isn't playing for his contracted amounts for 2026 and 2027.
Also, Vrabel will extend him or Vrabel would have signed or drafted a corner or two.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Having this conversation is proof why mediocre players getting the contracts they've received poses a problem for when a team actually gets a player that is deserving. I've been warning this board for quite some time now.

I'd like to see one more season from Gonzo before paying him, but he may force the Pats hand.

 

[TomPatriot]

You do know the Patriots played man the 9th most in the entire league despite being predominantly zone coverage, there wasn't a single team in the league who played more man than zone last year so Gonzalez isn't worth having?

The Patriots played man 28.1% of the time only the Browns played it more than 32.1%, this is where the argument falls down 28.1% is a very high percentage of man coverage in the NFL now.

Almost half the league is under 20% man coverage.

You didn’t answer the question. I asked if you thought “Gonzo is worth less to a predominantly zone coverage team or do you think coverage scheme makes no difference?” I assume your answer is that it makes no difference.

 

[Zuma]

String it out for 3-4 years with 5th yr option and franchise.

 

[mgteich]

String it out for 3-4 years with 5th yr option and franchise.

and Gonzo may show up for Game 1 in each season, or not.

You expect Gonzo to play for $3M this season.

 

[Zuma]

You expect Gonzo to play for $3M this season.

If he plans on being unreasonable. Good play should be rewarded…ransom should not.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

That would be incredibly stupid, unless Gonzo is asking for something way out of range with the rest of the top CBs.

In Q&A today, Giardi said there is rumbling that Gonzo may want to be one of the highest paid DEFENSIVE PLAYERS in the NFL.

 

[Borg140]

Phil Perry wonders if Gonzo is looking for transformational money at the CB position. Not just a few more mil than the current top CB. With Houston paying Will Anderson 50 million (wich I think is absurd) and JSN getting 40 million.

Is he that much of a difference maker if he's asking for 40? Would he alone be worth it rather than say 2 CBs each earning 20 mil? Or that 40 mil spread around the defense how ever you slice it?

If we could get two first round draft picks for him or something close to that I think I'd go that route.

No. Not now anyway. They need to try and work something out, which I expect they eventually will. If Gonzo makes it completely unreasonable then perhaps they move him, but not until they’ve exhausted negotiations. First course of action should be to try and pay him.

 

[Triumph]

Having this conversation is proof why mediocre players getting the contracts they've received poses a problem for when a team actually gets a player that is deserving. I've been warning this board for quite some time now.

I'd like to see one more season from Gonzo before paying him, but he may force the Pats hand.

Its too risky for Gonzo to not get deal done now IMO.

If he goes out and blows out a knee, the odds for getting top CB money vanish.

 

[Triumph]

and Gonzo may show up for Game 1 in each season, or not.

You expect Gonzo to play for $3M this season.

Its bad business to treat a player of Gonzos caliber like that.

Just because NE exercised its 5th year option that doesnt change the fact that after 3 seasons rookie 1st round contrcts can be altered.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't think anyone would argue against this. Gonzo should get top CB1 money and reset the market at CB. The question is whether he wants top defensive player in the league kind of money, which may be tough to work out.

I wouldn't go over 35 per. If he wants more than that he will have to find it elsewhere.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Its too risky for Gonzo to not get deal done now IMO.

If he goes out and blows out a knee, the odds for getting top CB money vanish.

That's why it won't surprise me if he holds out which will force the Pats hand. The Pats defense won't hold up without him.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

That's why it won't surprise me if he holds out which will force the Pats hand. The Pats defense won't hold up without him.

He is under contract and would be subject to fines for not showing up.

Extending him now makes all the sense, I think the Seahawks CB Witherspoon and he have the same agent. Once Witherspoon gets his extension, Gonzo will get slightly more.

 

[TommyD4207]

He is under contract and would be subject to fines for not showing up.

Extending him now makes all the sense, I think the Seahawks CB Witherspoon and he have the same agent. Once Witherspoon gets his extension, Gonzo will get slightly more.

All of this is accurate.
All I'll add is, he *should* get more than Witherspoon.

 

[mgteich]

If he plans on being unreasonable. Good play should be rewarded…ransom should not.

But what would be unreasonable?

I suspect that the hated media may be right. I doubt that the team will make Gonzo the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

Much is in the details. I don't count Year 4 and 5 as part the "extension" other than the new bonus. Also, non-guaranteed money in the last couple of years usually mean very little. Does it really matter whether the last year of a 5-year extension was for $50M or $100M?

 

[mgteich]

Its bad business to treat a player of Gonzos caliber like that.

Just because NE exercised its 5th year option that doesnt change the fact that after 3 seasons rookie 1st round contrcts can be altered.

Basically, the last 2 years of a contract mean nothing. If a player greatly under-performs he is cut. If he over-performs he expects a new contract after 3 years.

 

[Brady85-23]

No problem with paying him top CB money but if he wants crazy shatter the cb market money I say no. Call up the 49ers. They 72 mil in cap space. 20271st 2028 1st Ephysians Prysock and maybe another pick

 

[Zuma]

But what would be unreasonable?

Being the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Does it even need to be said....again ?

I suspect that the hated media may be right.

If you say so. Whatever that means.

Does it really matter whether the last year of a 5-year extension was for $50M or $100M?

What?

 

[Sect140]

I wonder how the agent is going to work this. What if each guy is in his ear saying I want to be the highest paid CB. Unless he’s trying to get them paid the same amount and announced on the same day. LOL!

 

[TheRainMaker]

He is under contract and would be subject to fines for not showing up.

Teams have outs and can get rid of players like they just did with Diggs, but then they don't like it when a player feels they are due a raise. Fining him is not a path a team should go down. It backfired with Branch in 2006 and there was no way to salvage it as his fines ended up being more than his base salary. That situation was handled very poorly by BB.

Extending him now makes all the sense, I think the Seahawks CB Witherspoon and he have the same agent. Once Witherspoon gets his extension, Gonzo will get slightly more.

The Pats may not have a choice once Witherspoon signs. The last thing they want is him holding out.