Curran: "In my estimation... [Gonzo would like to] be treated as if he's at the table in 2027." [previous title: "say goodbye to gonzo"]

[upstater1]

Can't believe the Patriots play JSN and Seattle to start the season.
If Gonzo isn't out there, people are going to feel the heat.

 

[mgteich]

I’m not on Gonzos side here, nor am I on Krafts
I’m on the fans side, and what’s best for us is getting the deal done.
Regarding what’s been reported, how accurate is any of it? None of us know.
Just because Kraft said they offered him a deal to be the highest paid, doesn’t mean it’s the right deal. His words could’ve meant many things.
Would Gonzo sit out……certainly hope not.

I agree that it is in the fan's interest to pay $50M a year if he will play this year. For most fans, all that seems to matter is that Gonzo plays in 2026.
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Kraft and Vrabel want to do what is in the team's interest.

 

[Zuma]

That is 100% fine if Gonzo agrees to play under those conditions.

Playing this year and risking injury just isn't a good business decision.

Yes, he has to play a couple of games to make the season count, but je doesn't need to do more than that.
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And yes, the team can franchise him. Even then he has options, that would result in him waiting and then signing. '
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If no long-term deal can be made, I suggest that he and the team will agree on a roster bonus to get him to play this year, with a condition of a no franchise tag after the season. The team would probably be off better of trading him. Yes, our 2026 SB chance would be less, but our 2027 and 2028 chances might be much better.

I have a higher opinion of his character then some and believe he will honor his contract this year.

 

[mgteich]

Can't believe the Patriots play JSN and Seattle to start the season.
If Gonzo isn't out there, people are going to feel the heat.

only for fans who expected us to win that game [If Gonzo is sitting out for Game 1, then he will be up for bids]

Should we pay Gonzo $50M a year if he thinks that this is the 2027 free agent market, even though he doesn't even have rights to that free agent market?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I agree that it is in the fan's interest to pay $50M a year if he will play this year. For most fans, all that seems to matter is that Gonzo plays in 2026.
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Kraft and Vrabel want to do what is in the team's interest.

So now I said 50m?
S…t….r…..e…..t….c…..h

 

[mgteich]

So now I said 50m?
S…t….r…..e…..t….c…..h

You didn't say $50M.

I suggest that $50M isn't much of a stretch to think that Gonzo believes that he might get that much in the 2027 free agent market. Of course, he won't be in the 2027 free agent market. There will be a deal or a trade.

How much do you think that we should be willing to pay, and how much guaranteed a full year before extension starts.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

You didn't say $50M.

I suggest that $50M isn't much of a stretch to think that Gonzo believes that he might get that much in the 2027 free agent market. Of course, he won't be in the 2027 free agent market. There will be a deal or a trade.

How much do you think that we should be willing to pay, and how much guaranteed a full year before extension starts.

I’m not a cap cruncher, so I’m not qualified to say.
I would say a deal close to what Spoon got is the ballpark.
If he’s looking for a Linderbaum “set the market” type deal, then that would obviously be a problem.

 

[upstater1]

only for fans who expected us to win that game [If Gonzo is sitting out for Game 1, then he will be up for bids]

Should we pay Gonzo $50M a year if he thinks that this is the 2027 free agent market, even though he doesn't even have rights to that free agent market?

What does that have to do with my post?

I am saying it will put pressure on the front office to match the Witherspoon contract.

What is this $50m a year thing?

 

[TheRainMaker]

The one thing these NFL players love doing is suffering an injury right after they get paid.

 

[mgteich]

What does that have to do with my post?

I am saying it will put pressure on the front office to match the Witherspoon contract.

What is this $50m a year thing?

For starters, I am not questioning in any way the tactics of Gonzo or the team.
====================

I apologize, if you think that a deal equal to Witherspoon's is enough, then I strongly disagree.

Sure, we can make the offer, which is almost assuredly a non-starter.
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I jumped ahead. So, I'll step back in steps.

1) Witherspoon got signed, starting the real negotiations with Gonzo, who almost all agreed wouldn't accept a contract that isn't better.

2) The team will make the perfunctory offer to match that deal, and then the negotiations can continue.

3) Both sides have long ago thought through these negotiations.

4) The OPEN question for me (and the team) is how much is the team willing to pay Gonzo to sign a long-term deal.

5) My guess is that $50MAAV is too much for most posters and probably for the team? I think that his agent might start with that as an estimate of what Gonzo might get as a 2027 free agent.

QUESTION 1
What should the team be willing to pay?

QUESTION
What should the team's strategy be? When if at all, should the team start negotiating with other teams?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

You seriously think him and his agent think he would get $50m AAV in 2027?
That is delusional, not sure why you keep quoting this number.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If Gonzo wants that $50M number and doesn’t take the field week 1….trade his ass.

 

[n1997y]

Can't believe the Patriots play JSN and Seattle to start the season.
If Gonzo isn't out there, people are going to feel the heat.

No problem, if he’s not out there it’ll be because we just traded Gonzo because he’s too expensive. We can just plug in his replacement. Prunty has been looking good.

And we can just plug in a better kicker. That guy the Commanders just cut has been making 77% in camp, let’s grab him.

And we can just plug in an upgraded backup for the IOL, maybe that 36 year old that played for the Giants next year will still be on the street for our opening day signing.

And from what I’ve read on PatsFans we will bring in upgrades at Edge, NT, TE and maybe ILB. Did I miss any?

It’s so great that quality NFL players are available in such abundance! Let Gonzo take a walk!

/s

 

[upstater1]

For starters, I am not questioning in any way the tactics of Gonzo or the team.
====================

I apologize, if you think that a deal equal to Witherspoon's is enough, then I strongly disagree.

Sure, we can make the offer, which is almost assuredly a non-starter.
========
I jumped ahead. So, I'll step back in steps.

1) Witherspoon got signed, starting the real negotiations with Gonzo, who almost all agreed wouldn't accept a contract that isn't better.

2) The team will make the perfunctory offer to match that deal, and then the negotiations can continue.

3) Both sides have long ago thought through these negotiations.

4) The OPEN question for me (and the team) is how much is the team willing to pay Gonzo to sign a long-term deal.

5) My guess is that $50MAAV is too much for most posters and probably for the team? I think that his agent might start with that as an estimate of what Gonzo might get as a 2027 free agent.

QUESTION 1
What should the team be willing to pay?

QUESTION
What should the team's strategy be? When if at all, should the team start negotiating with other teams?

I have no idea where you are coming up with this stuff.

There seems to be a profound misunderstanding somewhere.

If I had to guess, you've misconstrued what Curran said for a demand for $50m per. I think what might have happened is this: because the Patriots refuse to do a Stingley type deal (rip up the contract and start anew immediately), Gonzalez requested that his contract be done at future rates because the Patriots do not want to give him a bump over the next 2 years--they just want to give him guarnateed money.

That's the Witherspoon deal. He is getting paid at rates 2 years from now. Do the math. $33m per is 10% of the future cap. This year's cap is 305m. If Witherspoon were making $33m immediately, his cap hit would be 11% of the cap. Instead, he's getting a bundle in guaranteed money ($106m) and getting paid at 10% of what the cap will be in 2 years.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Gonzo has probably 10 years at most to make as much money as he can to support himself for the rest of his life, his family for the rest of theirs and any future generations in his bloodline that he can. I'll never fault any of these guys for looking out for their own best interests.

 

[mgteich]

fair enough. Let us look at $45M of new money spread over 2028-2032. Where is the ASK excessive?

Gonzo wants to be the highest paid CB in the NFL.
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1) Let us start with $35M AAV being acceptable for a 2027 free agent. I could see his agent as think this would be LOW by 2027.

2) Then, how much additional money in bonus would Gonzo expect to want to think that he is appropriately paid for 2026. Currently, Gonzo will be paid $20.4M for his 2026 and 2027 services.

Will he want $39.6M for 2026 and 2027 as a bonus bring his total of $60M or $30M per year. Is that outrageous for Gonzo to want to be paid $30M a year for the next 2 years and $35m a year thereafter?

NEW MONEY
2026-2027 $39.6M
2028-2032 $140M
total new money of $179.6M or $44.9M per year of new money

 

[Huckleberry1]

Interesting situation for the team and agent. The team has their template with Witherspoon deal done, they shouldn't be offering less. It's also an interesting situation for the agent as Gonzalez is going to expect more, but the agent can't really look for a deal that's much bigger than the one he got for Witherspoon without Witherspoon wondering why he wasn't trying to get him that money. He can't try for 36+ without looking bad. So the parameters are pretty clear, I think we're looking at $34 a year with $105 guaranteed. The Patriots should get that done and move on to the next deal.

 

[captain stone]

He’s waiting for Witherspoon to sign which I have a feeling the Seahawks don’t even want to do. Gonzo doesn’t want some random player to leapfrog him within a few months which I’ve mentioned has been an ongoing problem in the NFL.

It's only a problem because a few hyper-greedy players & their scummy agents have made it a problem.

"Leap-frogging" is an economic Reality that has been part of professional sports for over one hundred years.

Seems like some of these narcissistic jocks need to re-read Matthew Chapter 20, if they've ever read or heard it at all.

 

[captain stone]

These chicken little posts are always ridiculous. Gonzalez has been in camp and participating. No phantom "hold in" injuries. I think a deal will get done but the quirk is him and Devon Witherspoon play the same position, are comparable players, were drafted the same year, are both up for a deal, and have the same agent. It will get done but they're waiting for the first domino to fall.

You mean he Was in camp & participating...

 

[captain stone]

The one thing these NFL players love doing is suffering an injury right after they get paid.

And in some cases, before they get paid too...