Kraft on Christian Gonzalez: Team’s Offer Would Make Him “Highest-Paid Player Ever” at CB

[Ian]

The other thread dropped off, but the story is obviously gaining more steam, so we'll update it to here:

“We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player, as a person,” said Kraft on Saturday. “That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL. And coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.”

“So we’re glad we drafted him, and he’s developed here, and we hope he will be with us for a long time.”

 

[Ian]

It was discussed this morning on SportsCenter:

 

[Ross12]

Some interesting notes on this that I read:

- Gonzo and Witherspoon are both up for new deals, both at CB
- Both want to reset the market at CB
- Both are likely waiting for the other guy to sign first, so they can then sign for a little more, and be the true "highest paid"
- However ... both have the same agency

This means that basically this single agency is pulling all the strings and the biggest part of why this drags on - not really anything that we should get upset with the Patriots for. I know everyone says "just pay him" but I think NE is willing to and it doesn't matter because Gonzo doesn't actually WANT to be paid yet; he wants to be paid AFTER Witherspoon has been paid so he can be paid more.

Eventually one player will probably relent and be fine with being second by a tiny margin, or they'll figure out a way to sign them both to the same overall value deal or something.

 

[Triumph]

It appears that NE is just waiting tor Witherspoon to finalize his deal so that the Pats can make Gonzo the highest CB to date. Kraft already laid his cards on the table.

 

[TheRainMaker]

- Both are likely waiting for the other guy to sign first, so they can then sign for a little more, and be the true "highest paid"

I called this weeks ago. Gonzalez is waiting for Witherspoon to sign first because he isn't a traditional CB that Gonzalez is. Witherspoon plays a lot his snaps in the slot.

- However ... both have the same agency

And this is a conflict for the agent.

I know everyone says "just pay him" but I think NE is willing to and it doesn't matter because Gonzo doesn't actually WANT to be paid yet; he wants to be paid AFTER Witherspoon has been paid so he can be paid more

I also called this and why it's a conflict for the agent because he will have to disclose what he knows to each player.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Not worried about this at all. All signs point to them reaching a deal in the near future. Gonzalez is in camp and practicing and Kraft is talking like the deal is in place.

 

[jdlboot14]

Boy, this makes me nervous. I have a bad feeling that Gonzo will take a ton of $$ and either get hurt, or suddenly look mediocre. These sort of deals are rare for the Pats, because BB was always weary of paying any 1 player such a premium. Because very rarely does the top paid player continue in health and production for the duration of the deal. It can backfire so quickly and jamb up your salary cap. We know that Maye is coming due too. Relax - I'm not saying I don't want Gonzo on the team. It's just a bit worrisome.

 

[n1997y]

I called this weeks ago. Gonzalez is waiting for Witherspoon to sign first because he isn't a traditional CB that Gonzalez is. Witherspoon plays a lot his snaps in the slot.

And this is a conflict for the agent.

I also called this and why it's a conflict for the agent because he will have to disclose what he knows to each player.

It’s beneficial to the agent, not a conflict. Agent’s job is to get the most for his clients. If he controls both negotiations he can play the teams against each other. If he only controls one of the negotiations he can’t. As he negotiates with each team he’ll learn what their position is and how far he can squeeze them, so he can be more effective at getting the most out of each of them. That would be harder for two separate agents to do without collusion which I think would be illegal and likely barred by league rules. It would be a conflict if he were getting one player more at the expense of the other but he’s not, he’s getting them both more at the expense of the teams.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

"Where's my Guaranteed money?"

That's all.