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"]

[Zuma]

That would mean if franchised, Gonzalez would make:

2026: 2.81m
2027: $18.12m
2028: $25m
2029: $30m
2030: $43.2m

Average per year: $23.8m for 5 years.

This is good info….thanks

 

[Huckleberry1]

Then Jonathon will be taking over fairly soon because Bobby will have a heart attack and keel over when he finds out the number. In 2019, he was balking paying the GOAT $50M for two years. Lol.

Belichick was the person who didn't want to pay Brady. Belichick didn't want any player making more than he was making.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Belichick was the person who didn't want to pay Brady. Belichick didn't want any player making more than he was making.

While I agree, Bob sided with BB in the end when he could've obviously overruled him. Bob came out after the fact and said he would've matched it, but Tom was already out the door.

 

[upstater1]

Belichick was the person who didn't want to pay Brady. Belichick didn't want any player making more than he was making.

You're talking about the last contract.

Kraft is out here telling everyone that he talked Brady into taking less. Brady even related that conversation with Kraft.

 

[upstater1]

While I agree, Bob sided with BB in the end when he could've obviously overruled him. Bob came out after the fact and said he would've matched it, but Tom was already out the door.

And everyone leaves out the fact that the previous summer Brady was on Ross's boat already negotiating to leave the Patriots!

 

[TheRainMaker]

And everyone leaves out the fact that the previous summer Brady was on Ross's boat already negotiating to leave the Patriots!

Brady initially wanted out in 2017 after the Eagles Super Bowl.

A lot of people rate him so much higher than you do.

The issue I have is that posters want to pay him whatever he wants so early and are getting so angry an agreement hasn't been made. These rookie contracts are in place for a reason. The Pats historically have not extended players 2+ years out which is smart business.

People on this board denigrated him all last year.

Who/what are you referring to?

You're blaming us for not celebrating the signings of Carlton Davis and Harold Landry?

Most posters celebrated the Davis signing. Pats have outs with both players after this season.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[mgteich]

Playing half-heartedly will send the wrong message to the league while he is looking for a new contract. He hasn’t done anything like that yet…in fact it’s been the opposite. His teammates and coaches have praised him for not letting the business side effect his game. I think he’s a standup guy and will continue to honor the contract he agreed to. Revisit in 2027.

Risking his career for under $3M a year also sends the wrong message. It says that all the power in the hands of the owners.

If you have a contract and you greatly underperform, the team cuts you.
If you have a contract and you greatly overperform, the team forces the best players in the league to play fo $3M a year.

The reality is that a player who greatly underperforms or greatly overperforms should not be expected to play for the contract terms for the full length of the contract.

I think the Patriots would be crazy not to sign him to $33m. And yes the amount goes up every year.

$33m AAV starring now is equal to a $44.5M 4-year extension of the current contract.

 

[TommyD4207]

I respect your football knowledge but you have jumped the shark here in this thread. The Boston media which consists of a bunch of Felger copy cats (except Reiss) are Patriot employees. Kraft is rich he should pay him whatever he wants and the best one, Maye may not get done. Hard disagree on all 3. I expect this from the usual rage baiting, negative, drama queens on here but dissapointed to see that some of the better posters have joined them. Can't wait for real football to start.

I'm not saying they're Patriots employees directly. I'm saying they SPEAK to Patriots employees. Those are their sources. National guys have relationships with the agents. Those are their sources. Unless you're a top, top guy like a Schefter, who talks to the owners sometimes, but even then, usually his sources are the agents.

That's why there's a disconnect in the reporting. Patriots employees are telling the beat guys that they're close on a contract, and the agent is saying 'there's no movement'. Both versions are just posturing in the media, the truth's probably in the middle.

 

[TheRainMaker]

You’re an idiot.

The one player they hit on, helped developed into a an all pro they’re gonna screw up. For a team that’s been nothing short of pathetic at drafting, finally hit and they’re being stingy.

Gonna miss you Gonzo, wish Kraft wasn’t so damn cheap.

Ty Law waited 5 years to get his new contract and faced WR's among the NFL's best within his own division twice per year for many years. Gonzo barely faced Hill and only has Garrett Wilson to look forward to. LOL.

Trent McDuffie just waited until his 5th season to get paid playing on Super Bowl winning teams. Jalen Ramsey was regarded as arguably the best in the game for a brief period and he waited until his 5th season to get paid. Surtain got paid after roughly 3 full seasons playing. Witherspoon, Stingley, Horn and Ward all have played in more games than Gonzo before getting paid.

Gonzo has played roughly 2 seasons and you guys want to write him a blank check. LOL. The entitlement here is wild! He is lucky the Pats are even negotiating with him right now.

The good news is, you boy Gonzo has already said he will play this season. So you can stop being a whiney little *****.

 

[rochrist]

So players don't have to honor the remaining year or years on their contracts?? I have a problem with that: sone of Gonzo's Peers from that very Draft have resigned with no issues. They weren't asking for and didn't get Market setting contracts.

A) You do business as business is done. And B) they weren't dealing with the Pats, nickel-and-diming them to death.

 

[Thunderhead]

Patriots star Christian Gonzalez on his contract talks: ‘I’m still frustrated’​

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2026/09/patriots-star-christian-gonzalez-on-his-contract-talks-im-still-frustrated.html

 

[scott99]

I thought we aren’t going to be negotiating through the press ? The best way to end the frustration is sign the contract offered and stop being so greedy.

 

[JoeSixPat]

So Fowler says they are not even close
Reiss and Gonzo’s trainer says there has been movement in the right direction

I will go with Reiss

Yeah - with less than one week before Game 1 I'd say the Patriots have very limited leverage

What is their Plan B at CB if they trade him or he sits out? They don't have one.

And then the storyline for the nationally televised Game 1 of the 2026 NFL season is that the Patriots are playing without the one guy who played well against Seattle in the SB and they can't come to terms on an agreement? Kraft would hate that type of media attention.

Honestly the only problem is that Gonzo knows all of this which gives him some better bargaining power.

 

[JoeSixPat]

And everyone leaves out the fact that the previous summer Brady was on Ross's boat already negotiating to leave the Patriots!

Yeah, Brady's situation isn't really a comparison. Brady was clearly frustrated with the lack of investments on O in the end, despite the fact that he was typically taking less than market value, the team botched the cap and personnel in the end and he knew the team didn't have the firepower to compete. It was kindof back to the Reche Caldwell era though in the Pats case, at the end of Brady's tenure they were in some cap constraints.

In that context I don't really blame Brady for wanting to run out his career with a contender and Tampa was certainly that. I'd think the Dolphins lack of quality players was a factor for Brady as well.

In Gonzo's case, he's going to get paid, $18 million by us next year and a huge contract after that if he stays healthy playing for $3 million this year.

What he wants is security beyond next season given that he's gambling $140 million on playing this year for $3 million. The Pats should get this done as long as Gonzo isn't insisting on contract kickers to keep him the highest paid.

 

[patfanken]

Yeah - with less than one week before Game 1 I'd say the Patriots have very limited leverage

What is their Plan B at CB if they trade him or he sits out? They don't have one.

And then the storyline for the nationally televised Game 1 of the 2026 NFL season is that the Patriots are playing without the one guy who played well against Seattle in the SB and they can't come to terms on an agreement? Kraft would hate that type of media attention.

Honestly the only problem is that Gonzo knows all of this which gives him some better bargaining power.

\]

He is NOT sitting out the first game, Zero chance of it. He is under contract for the next TWO years. Doing it would make him a pariah in his own locker room. It will also lower his value to every team. Who wants to pay over a 100MM to a guy who has PROVEN he will take his toys and go home if you piss him off and things aren't going his way. Gonzo has done NONE of these things so far in TC.

The stuff you describe is the stuff you do when you are a FA,, NOT when you have 2 more years left on your contract. The day I take Gonzo's side in this dispute is the day he comes out and says, give me the same money and terms that the Seahawks gave Witherspoon plus one million more and I will sign. If he does that and is STILL not signed, then I'll complain about the Krafts.

Time has come to find out what **** the dispute is!

 

[slash83]

He’s not getting extended.

 

[Triumph]

Risking his career for under $3M a year also sends the wrong message. It says that all the power in the hands of the owners.

Spot on.

What if the unthinkable happens and Gonzo suffers an injury this season that affects him for the rest of his career? Assuming that he performs at an elite level this season are the Pats going to hold Mayes feet to the fire too after he accrues 3 years?

I wish that we knew more about the terms of the Gonzo contract.

 

[PatsFan2]

He’s not getting extended.

Oh C'mon slash...both sides can come to a reasonable agreement. Remember Gonzo don't have to be the Highest paid player at his position to acquire Generational Wealth. Also let's be honest you don't have to be a rocket scientist knowing the nature of the game: that it's in your best interest to get paid whenever you can. Get paid now or play for 3Mill and get injured * I'm staying clear of the latter*. It's a business if I was Gonzo knowing I'm in good health I would tell my Agent get the Deal Done! as soon as possible.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Yeah - with less than one week before Game 1 I'd say the Patriots have very limited leverage

What is their Plan B at CB if they trade him or he sits out? They don't have one.

And then the storyline for the nationally televised Game 1 of the 2026 NFL season is that the Patriots are playing without the one guy who played well against Seattle in the SB and they can't come to terms on an agreement? Kraft would hate that type of media attention.

Honestly the only problem is that Gonzo knows all of this which gives him some better bargaining power.

I have seen so many times in the past on different teams with regards to large contracts that go down to the 11th hour.
I think it will get done. But who am I. No one. I’ve been wrong before