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"]

[XLIX]

You can't keep drafting at 31 and 32 and expect to be great forever. All the blue chip guys go before 20.

No. Just no.

We took Wynn and Michel. Could have had Lamar.

We took N’Keal. Could’ve had Deebo.

 

[Huckleberry1]

That would have to be unpresented for a player to play roughly two full seasons out of the first three and decide he's holding out.

Beyond that there is nothing in his approach to indicate he would pull a last minute sit out.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Beyond that there is nothing in his approach to indicate he would pull a last minute sit out.

He has already said that he will not negotiate once the season starts. That tells me he's going to be out there Wednesday night.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yes, the way he was so cheap with that Milton Williams contract, and Carlton Davis contract, and Marcus Jones contract, and Rhamondre Stevenson contract, and Mike Onwenu contract, and Morgan Moses contract, and Romero Doubs contract is a disgrace.

I don't know if you saw it in real time but 2 hours into that free agency Thunderheaddwas having a complete meltdown, screaming and crying about how they were blowing it. Later in the year, right before the season started he went on record crying about how bad they were going to be, He predicts disaster over and over and he's always wrong.

 

[n1997y]

What are you talking about? No faith in Vildor?

He couldn’t even make the roster.

Does that give you any faith in him?

 

[n1997y]

I wish we knew what Gonzo wants.

First, it’s not what Gonzo wants, it’s what his agent has convinced him he wants.

And that’s basically to feel he won the negotiation.

At the levels they’re at it’s not a dollar here or there, it’s not a payment schedule or a contract clause.

It’s a **** measuring contest.

And every millimeter, every micron, counts.

 

[Triumph]

First, it’s not what Gonzo wants, it’s what his agent has convinced him he wants.

And that’s basically to feel he won the negotiation.

At the levels they’re at it’s not a dollar here or there, it’s not a payment schedule or a contract clause.

It’s a **** measuring contest.

And every millimeter, every micron, counts.

The Agent works for Gonzo.

So, Gonzo is driving this impasse. He can end it anytime and his agent will still come out Ok.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

He's reportedly being considered for a $140 million extension. That's a pretty big incentive not to play and risk injury.

This year's $3 million salary means nothing in the big picture, but if he were injured, he'd be saying goodbye to what would likely be $150 million if he signs somewhere else as a free agent in the 2027 offseason.

He'd have an incentive to play NEXT season for $18 million and show he's still at the top of his game heading into free agency no doubt.

But I'd ask you, what his incentive is to play for $3 million this year and risk injury and losing a 9 figure payday?

I dunno, The 5 year Contract he signed?

 

[rochrist]

I did not state that Gonzo should not receive the top contract for NFL CBs at the present time. Pre Witherspoon extension, Kraft boasted that NE offered Gonzo the highest contract in NEP history and the highest NFL CB contract. Its too late for Kraft to back peddle now.

And of course we believe Kraft. There's no chance whatsoever that they're playing games with the wording of that, right?

 

[sportnik]

I’m done with Bob Kraft. He doesn’t have BB to hide behind anymore. What a cheap miserable bastard. A modern day Ebenezer Scrooge.

My commitment to this team is fading. There is no legitimate reason not to sign Gonzalez, other than the Krafts being cheap, miserable misers.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

He's reportedly being considered for a $140 million extension. That's a pretty big incentive not to play and risk injury.

This year's $3 million salary means nothing in the big picture, but if he were injured, he'd be saying goodbye to what would likely be $150 million if he signs somewhere else as a free agent in the 2027 offseason.

He'd have an incentive to play NEXT season for $18 million and show he's still at the top of his game heading into free agency no doubt.

But I'd ask you, what his incentive is to play for $3 million this year and risk injury and losing a 9 figure payday?

Then his option, as you point out, is to sit on the bench and refuse to honor his contract. There is no reason the Patriots should make that easy for him to do, and if he wants to poison the well, that doesn't make him a free agent. It makes him someone who, if he wants to play in the NFL, has to come to terms with Your New England Patriots.

Now, if those terms are mutually satisfactory, he'll have the opportunity to do so.

We're all working on this premise that the worst possibility some mediot has spouted is the gospel truth. For example, if he's dictated from on high that he will always be paid 12.5% of the Patriots' cap dollars, to me, the natural response to that is "get f*cked." Per some other observations here, changing the game to arguing over a percentage, even a lower one, is a perfectly good ask. But if any team tolerates it, they're asking to become irrelevant. Gonzo's had really good seasons, especially the last couple. He's the best bet out there at CB. But he can also be injured, he can lose a step, he can lose his edge once he's that fat and happy, or the better QBs can not get injured before playing him You give him a percentage and you have zero recourse without renegotiating -- and why would he do that?

My thing with this particular ask, if it's true, is that time heals all wounds when you spend a limited amount on a contract that you know won't look that huge in a few years. It also gives you sane renegotiation opportunities. The "give me a fixed percentage forever" world is designed to remove the function of evaluation over your career.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I’m done with Bob Kraft. He doesn’t have BB to hide behind anymore. What’s cheap miserable bastard. A modern day Ebenezer Scrooge.

My commitment to this team is fading. There is no legitimate reason not to sign Gonzalez, other than the Krafts being cheap, miserable misers.

You ought to read the other messages in this thread. Simply put, it depends what Gonzo's asking for. There's nobody for whom they should make some of the deals "reported" to be floated.

And I'll say it again: You can call the Krafts "cheap, miserable misers" as soon as they spend less than the cap. They're not "cheap." They are called "cheap" by stars who think you should spend more specifically on them rather than spend on players in general (which the Patriots do consistently.)

It's not that Kraft doesn't want to pay anybody. It's that he doesn't want to pay the prima donna du jour what that player would like him to pay.

 

[Triumph]

And of course we believe Kraft. There's no chance whatsoever that they're playing games with the wording of that, right?

What about Krafts statements that Gonzo was offered the highest contract in Pats history and for an NFL CB is false?

 

[borisman]

I hope it doesn't get to the point where he sits and has to be traded, like with Sauce Gardner. It is what it is though. Play here or go elsewhere.

 

[slash83]

What about Krafts statements that Gonzo was offered the highest contract in Pats history and for an NFL CB is false?

What Kfraft said meant nothing then and means nothing today,

 

[Triumph]

I’m done with Bob Kraft. He doesn’t have BB to hide behind anymore. What a cheap miserable bastard. A modern day Ebenezer Scrooge.

Kraft did not gouge the fans and charge PSLs when he could have. Jets owner Woody Johnson did to go and watch his worthless franchise lose every season. Bills owner Pegula soaked Bills fans for PSLs.

Kraft has openly criticized that fans now need to purchase multiple streaming services to watch NFL games.

My commitment to this team is fading. There is no legitimate reason not to sign Gonzalez, other than the Krafts being cheap, miserable misers.

If Gonzo wants a contract where financial obligations are not fixed then this is all on him.

 

[Triumph]

What Kfraft said meant nothing then and means nothing today,

Then why speak at all.

 

[slash83]

Then why speak at all.

Can’t help himself.

 

[Ross12]

I hope it doesn't get to the point where he sits and has to be traded, like with Sauce Gardner. It is what it is though. Play here or go elsewhere.

At some point this is going to become more ugly. If he tries holding out into the season then I don't have any doubts Vrabel will try to move him. I am sure there is some loser franchise who will pay him the whacked-out contract that he is seeking. He will get his money and never win anything. I don't think Vrabel wants Gonzo setting an example for how to get paid in NE, especially when he didn't personally draft/sign Gonzo.

 

[mike_usagisan]

At some point this is going to become more ugly. If he tries holding out into the season then I don't have any doubts Vrabel will try to move him. I am sure there is some loser franchise who will pay him the whacked-out contract that he is seeking. He will get his money and never win anything. I don't think Vrabel wants Gonzo setting an example for how to get paid in NE, especially when he didn't personally draft/sign Gonzo.

McDuffie says "Hi" as an example of a guy who went to a contender AND got paid. Most teams, contending and not, don't mind paying for great players.

I didn't expect it to get this ugly this quick, though I think this report is just posturing through the media.

That said, I don't think Vrabel minds paying Gonzo even though he didn't draft him. They gave Marcus a big contract even though Vrabel didn't draft him. He just doesn't want Gonzo putting himself above the team.