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"]

[Thunderhead]

Leave it to this organization to **** up monumentally, draft a corner, turn him into an all pro, then do nothing.

It's ****ing pathetic. The Krafts are genuinely shameless. I hope they're roasted the entire broadcast on Wednesday for being cheap.

 

[upstater1]

Lots of assumptions here about what's being offered. From my understanding, unless we're simply being lied to by Kraft, Gonzo has an excellent offer on the table. If Gonzo chooses to break up the relationship between him and the team over not being able to squeeze out even more, that's a him problem. There will be other players who can take his spot and do very well. There always are.

OK. It's an excellent offer. FOR LESS.

And no it's obvious we can't move on from him and succeed. Because this defense isn't built for that. It's the kind of D that relies on a player like him.

We'll find another like him you say? We last drafted an All-Pro CB over 20 years ago.

 

[upstater1]

I just dont see blowing up future cap space for a corner. I also feel like Gonzo’s agent is the culprit and he is too young to pay attention to the agent being difficult.

Meanwhile, the team we're playing on Wednesday:

Devon Witherspoon (CB): Agreed to a four-year, $132 million contract extension in August 2026, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with $101 million guaranteed. [1, 2]

---

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR): Signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension in March 2026 (averaging $42.15 million annually) after the team exercised his fifth-year option. [1, 2, 3]

Leonard Williams signed a three-year, $90 million contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks in August 2026, keeping him under contract through the 2029 season. [1, 2]

Left tackle Charles Cross signed a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension in January 2026, tying him to the franchise through the 2030 season. [1, 2, 3]

Next year the Seahawks have to sign Sam Darnold and Byron Murphy and a bunch of other players.

 

[sportnik]

Wikipedia just updated their definition of cheap with a picture of Bob Kraft.

If you ask me, it’s long overdue.

 

[slash83]

Wikipedia just updated their definition of cheap with a picture of Bob Kraft.

If you ask me, it’s long overdue.

Greedbag cheapskate

 

[TommyD4207]

Lots of assumptions here about what's being offered. From my understanding, unless we're simply being lied to by Kraft, Gonzo has an excellent offer on the table. If Gonzo chooses to break up the relationship between him and the team over not being able to squeeze out even more, that's a him problem. There will be other players who can take his spot and do very well. There always are.

You are being lied to by kraft.
It is far from the first time.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Lots of assumptions here about what's being offered. From my understanding, unless we're simply being lied to by Kraft, Gonzo has an excellent offer on the table. If Gonzo chooses to break up the relationship between him and the team over not being able to squeeze out even more, that's a him problem. There will be other players who can take his spot and do very well. There always are.

So we are making assumptions.
But you are making the ultimate assumption that Kraft's words are to be taken at face value.
And even if the offer was "to make him the highest paid CB", that can mean many things.
He did not say "we made him an offer for the most guaranteed money". That is the real important part.
Pats have been known to structure contracts with values that will never be reached, and that's probably the type of offer they had presented to Gonzo.
And who's going to take his spot and do very well?
Certainly no one in 2026.
A 2027 draft pick? That's a coin flip at best that the player drafted will be a good starter, and the odds are much less he will be an all pro caliber player like Gonzo. And....even if he was that type of player, odds are even further he would be that right away.
So now we are flipping a coin to see if a 2027 draft pick can turn into a good player or better in..2028, 2029?
Kraft needs to get off his wallet and sign him, because our Defence becomes exponentially worse without him.

 

[patman12]

Leave it to this organization to **** up monumentally, draft a corner, turn him into an all pro, then do nothing.

I think Gonzo would be in a similar situation if he played for any other team. Kraft was on record about making him the highest paid CB and I don’t think that has changed. From what has been rumored, it’s the years that are the major sticking point but again, that’s speculation, so we probably won’t have the full picture until the situation is settled.

 

[upstater1]

I think Gonzo would be in a similar situation if he played for any other team. Kraft was on record about making him the highest paid CB and I don’t think that has changed. From what has been rumored, it’s the years that are the major sticking point but again, that’s speculation, so we probably won’t have the full picture until the situation is settled.

Every other player in his category in his draft class has signed.

There have been 9 top of the market deals for players in the first round in his draft class.

 

[rkarp1]

only fools will criticize with out knowing any details

 

[Huckleberry1]

No, it’s not just about being paid. Reports are that his demands would obligate a percentage of the cap to him in perpetuity.

Gonzo is not worth destroying the Pats’ cap structure for.

No player is, even Maye.

Sorry, but there are reports about complete and total ******** these days. There was a report the other day that they had made a HUGE signing, Ju Ju Smith Schuster. There was a report a couple of weeks ago that Vrabel had lost control of the team because Nick Degennaro had come to practice smelling of alcohol and had been immediately released, also complete ********. The number of reports that are 100% garbage on the internet is beyond belief. And despite the fact that there is a rumor that Gonzalez wants a consistent percentage of the cap it has never been confirmed, which puts it firmly in the ******** category until someone actually confirms it as fact. If it is confirmed then at that point people can be as critical as they want of the demand, but until then it is in the complete ******** bucket.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Honestly, I want him in our defense, but that "want" isn't an inflexible need. That is quite an offer, and I doubt it's reality. But if it is, does Vrabes turn that down?

Anyway, it's all in the mix, all the information is of dubious value, and it keeps the wheels turning until next season. I'm not sick of the "rumor tracking" nature of these types of threads, but I am baffled by guy that show up spouting how sick they are of a cheap owner. He's an owner managing a business. Surprise, it's not just the players that have to look at it that way.

My take? The whole, "hey maybe he'll play maybe he won't" storyline is generated by "he hasn't said he will play." Well, neither have most of the other 52 guys. The difference is, nobody is trying to make up clickbait based on absence of a post saying HEY EVERYBODY I'M PLAYING!

I don't know what s being asked or offered, but when it comes to the " owner running a business" excuse I have zero sympathy for any of them. Kraft bought the team for 180 million, it's now worth 10.4 Billion, and he's worth 13.8 billion. There is no excuse for him not to spend every penny allowable to compete for Championships. The amount of revenue he is taking in is grotesque, and the idea that he can't afford to pay Gonzalez because of his business needs is absurd. The only point at which they should be drawing a line is the one where giving him more damages their ability to compete for championships. So if the Patriots argument is that paying Gonzalez like Will Anderson or Myles Garrett would hinder their ability to put a great team together and stay competitive I can accept that, and if Gonzalez actually is demanding a consistent % of their cap, which has never been confirmed, I would tell him to pound sand, because that's not a viable way to maintain a quality team. But if their reason is because the Kraft's won't make as much money then they can pound sand, Vrabel and Co. should leave for a better organization, and Patriot fans should give up on the team and stop supporting them .

 

[TommyD4207]

I think Gonzo would be in a similar situation if he played for any other team.

Every other first round corner who was worthwhile (pro bowl, all pro) had their deals done im the last 5 years, except Trent mcduffie who was traded and then paid by the rams.

So, no, literally the opposite.

 

[Triumph]

Well, honestly, exactly that. We have no idea who is telling the truth, what the offers are, what the contract language is, none of it.
Which is why it's premature to start in on the 'greedy ******* ship his ass out of town' nonsense. I do know that over the years, aa bunch of this kind of stuff has turned out to be not so flattering to the Krafts in the end.

It makes no sense for Kraft to voluntarily make statements in support of Gonzo and his new contract and then not follow through. Every sports media outlet in the country would rip Kraft for being a lying dog. Bob Kraft is still one of the top most influential owners in the NFL and he has a seat at the big table upfront. If what you claim is fact then Krafts word would be worth 5hit amongst his NFL peers and to potential players wanting to sign in NE.

That is not the kind of franchise that Kraft is building post Belichick.

 

[slash83]

I think Gonzo would be in a similar situation if he played for any other team. Kraft was on record about making him the highest paid CB and I don’t think that has changed. From what has been rumored, it’s the years that are the major sticking point but again, that’s speculation, so we probably won’t have the full picture until the situation is settled.

Except many other teams take care of their home grown elite talent players, unlike this organization. 7 of the 8 all pro players from that draft class have been extended, guess which team hasn’t took care of theirs?

Kraft saying they have an offer to make him the highest paid corner doesn’t mean jack, not sure why that’s hard to comprehend for some people.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I don't know what s being asked or offered, but when it comes to the " owner running a business" excuse I have zero sympathy for any of them. Kraft bought the team for 180 million, it's now worth 10.4 Billion, and he's worth 13.8 billion. There is no excuse for him not to spend every penny allowable to compete for Championships. The amount of revenue he is taking in is grotesque, and the idea that he can't afford to pay Gonzalez because of his business needs is absurd. The only point at which they should be drawing a line is the one where giving him more damages their ability to compete for championships. So if the Patriots argument is that paying Gonzalez like Will Anderson or Myles Garrett would hinder their ability to put a great team together and stay competitive I can accept that, and if Gonzalez actually is demanding a consistent % of their cap, which has never been confirmed, I would tell him to pound sand, because that's not a viable way to maintain a quality team. But if their reason is because the Kraft's won't make as much money then they can pound sand, Vrabel and Co. should leave for a better organization, and Patriot fans should give up on the team and stop supporting them .

nobody’s making excuses and nobody wants your “sympathy.” You can play games with clauses, imaginary money, guaranteed money, escalators, whatever, but at the end of the day, each cap dollar can only be spent once. Kraft doesn’t make a single extra dollar by giving a handful of linebackers, say, another $2m per year by holding the line on superstar spend. But by doing that, we build the depth that the team has announced is our weakness.

Gonzo & his people are smart. They know that you mischaracterizing this as ownership greed adds pressure. You’re doing your part for one individual.

I’m a New England Patriots fan, not a crypto-hater or a Gonzalez cultist pretending to be a NE fan.

I’d be mad if Kraft pocketed the difference between the ask and what the team pays. He doesn’t. He doesn’t behave in the way you suggest. Look up the price of a soda at Foxborough vs. other stadiums. It’s half the price that you pay in a lot of them.

But hey, if slander is your purpose without regard to reality. You do you.

The if-then you offer is promising. Research whether the Patriots spend to the cap, and whether there are other signs of the owner avarice you suggest. THEN, if you find that NE is truly cheap, I guess now you have discovered why they only went to the AFCCG sometimes instead of winning the SB like they did 6 times in 20 years.

I’m really sorry that, As is unlikely, Christian Gonzalez might not be able to work with the team.

If he’s a team-wrecker, though, it’s not tragedy but farce.

Like I said, look into it. Is Kraft cheap, or just cheap if you’re a fantasy football poster child?

In NE, for the super talented, they don’t ask for a horrible deal for players but they ask for restraint. At that level it’s about pride. You don’t get to make that pride the be-all end-all in NE.

 

[upstater1]

I don't know what s being asked or offered, but when it comes to the " owner running a business" excuse I have zero sympathy for any of them. Kraft bought the team for 180 million, it's now worth 10.4 Billion, and he's worth 13.8 billion. There is no excuse for him not to spend every penny allowable to compete for Championships. The amount of revenue he is taking in is grotesque, and the idea that he can't afford to pay Gonzalez because of his business needs is absurd. The only point at which they should be drawing a line is the one where giving him more damages their ability to compete for championships. So if the Patriots argument is that paying Gonzalez like Will Anderson or Myles Garrett would hinder their ability to put a great team together and stay competitive I can accept that, and if Gonzalez actually is demanding a consistent % of their cap, which has never been confirmed, I would tell him to pound sand, because that's not a viable way to maintain a quality team. But if their reason is because the Kraft's won't make as much money then they can pound sand, Vrabel and Co. should leave for a better organization, and Patriot fans should give up on the team and stop supporting them .

There's something known as the Billionaire advantage. While most of us who have investments earn 8-9% a year (ex. S&P), billionaires earn 13% on average.

I'm convinced this is how Kraft is looking at things:

"We all agree to make him the highest paid at $32.5m per year, but he wants $65m in guaranteed money up front as a signing bonus. We only want to give him $40m immediately and another $20m in a year, with the remaining guaranteed money in his 6th year."

For Kraft, effectively, a $65m payout becomes a $68m payout because he knows he'll earn $3m on the amount he doesn't pay immediately. The same thinking goes for Gonzalez. He can make 10% on the $60m he gets immediately (before taxes).

$3m may seem like nothing to us, but if Kraft has a policy that says, I'm only shelling out $300m in cash per year, because if I do $400m this year like the Seahawks are doing (and extended the payout into the future), that's a whopping $52m I'm foregoing in investment gains.

Effectively, the Seahawks owner not only paid $100m more than what Kraft would pay, in this scenario, but actually he paid $113m more.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

There's something known as the Billionaire advantage. While most of us who have investments earn 8-9% a year (ex. S&P), billionaires earn 13% on average.

I'm convinced this is how Kraft is looking at things:

"We all agree to make him the highest paid at $32.5m per year, but he wants $65m in guaranteed money up front as a signing bonus. We only want to give him $40m immediately and another $20m in a year, with the remaining guaranteed money in his 6th year."

For Kraft, effectively, a $65m payout becomes a $68m payout because he knows he'll earn $3m on the amount he doesn't pay immediately. The same thinking goes for Gonzalez. He can make 10% on the $60m he gets immediately (before taxes).

$3m may seem like nothing to us, but if Kraft has a policy that says, I'm only shelling out $300m in cash per year, because if I do $400m this year like the Seahawks are doing (and extended the payout into the future), that's a whopping $52m I'm foregoing in investment gains.

Effectively, the Seahawks owner not only paid $100m more than what Kraft would pay, in this scenario, but actually he paid $113m more.

This is good analysis, and very probable that's how Kraft has extrapolated the numbers.
That's a smart financial decision, however a bad football one.
When owners treat an NFL team (or any pro sports team) like a business first, and a team second, ultimately those decisions will rear their heads on the field.
If dying with more coins in the coffer is more important than winning, ultimately it is the team and fans that suffer.

 

[slash83]

Today’s the last day to get it done, no point of return after today. The beginning of the end for Gonzo and the Pats.

 

[upstater1]

Today’s the last day to get it done, no point of return after today. The beginning of the end for Gonzo and the Pats.

Yep. Anyone who talks about them revisiting the contract after the season doesn't understand how this works. Now is the ONLY time they can do a deal.

Using the same %s as part of the cap as Witherspoon's deal (11% of current cap at $33m per, but obviously that is spread out into future years), the AAV if Gonzalez has an AP year would be $36m over 6 years. He'd get a $35m signing bonus and would probably ask for the same 2nd year bonus Witherspoon is getting which is $11m, for a total bonus up front of $46m. The guarantees would be refigured with the new $327m salary cap.

Ultimately, he'll be a lot more expensive for the Patriots.

Gonzalez will only miss out on the $11m more that Witherspoon is making than him this year.

This is why it makes no sense for the Patriots to sign Gonzalez after an All-Pro season.