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"]

[DoubleDeluxe]

Season is two weeks out to the day. At what point do you think resentment will build if it hasn't already?

Until a deal is done.
If a new deal doesn’t come prior to kickoff, you could argue Gonzo would have resentment and not play as hard.
You could also argue not playing hard would damage the value of his deal if it’s deferred till next year.

 

[Thunderhead]

Will people still be defending the Krafts a week from today if Gonzo still isn't signed? Two weeks from today? If he sits out the first month of the season?

Just want to know where that line is.

 

[Thunderhead]

Until a deal is done.
If a new deal doesn’t come prior to kickoff, you could argue Gonzo would have resentment and not play as hard.
You could also argue not playing hard would damage the value of his deal if it’s deferred till next year.

Could argue?! It would be beyond any doubt at that point. He CLEARLY wants to get paid, and wanted it yesterday.

 

[p8ryts]

sick of players always wanting to be the highest paid at their position, which lasts only a year. He's not Witherspoon.

I kind of agree. If he was the player we saw against Njigba, then I say yes. But I didn't see that player that often. Is he above average, yes, but beyond that I don't know.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

sick of players always wanting to be the highest paid at their position, which lasts only a year. He's not Witherspoon.

Meaning what, you think Witherspoon is better?

 

[Thunderhead]

This was five months ago.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Could argue?! It would be beyond any doubt at that point. He CLEARLY wants to get paid, and wanted it yesterday.

Yes, I acknowledged that.
My point is, will that impact his play on the field?
Perhaps.
But that would only damage his value next year if he puts a year of ****ty tape out.
Perhaps he plays pissed off like a man on a mission and has a career year as a **** you to the Pats, forcing an even bigger deal next year or a trade.

 

[Thunderhead]

Yes, I acknowledged that.
My point is, will that impact his play on the field?
Perhaps.
But that would only damage his value next year if he puts a year of ****ty tape out.
Perhaps he plays pissed off like a man on a mission and has a career year as a **** you to the Pats, forcing an even bigger deal next year or a trade.

Good question. I was thinking more about Gonzalez the person and his relationship with the Patriots FO/organization. I think any Pats fan wants Gonzalez to be happy and to WANT to be a Patriot, which becomes less and less likely the longer he goes unsigned.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Good question. I was thinking more about Gonzalez the person and his relationship with the Patriots FO/organization. I think any Pats fan wants Gonzalez to be happy and to WANT to be a Patriot, which becomes less and less likely the longer he goes unsigned.

I want him here and happy.
I believe a deal will cure all ills, even if it’s in the 11th hour.
We have to remember that both sides are negotiating. Very well could be Gonzo’s team holding up the deal with some outlandish asks. If those asks are met, it won’t matter if the deal was done a week ago, or the day before kickoff.
Now if the deal is being held up by the Pats on some legitimate asks, that’s a different story.
But none of us know those details, we can speculate all we want.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Breer thinks Gonzalez is going to sit out if a deal isn’t done soon.

Other media is starting to agree.

 

[Uptown]

sick of players always wanting to be the highest paid at their position, which lasts only a year. He's not Witherspoon.

You got that right! He’s better..

 

[slash83]

Breer thinks Gonzalez is going to sit out if a deal isn’t done soon.

Other media is starting to agree.

Good force Kraft to pay up.

 

[upstater1]

Yes, I acknowledged that.
My point is, will that impact his play on the field?
Perhaps.
But that would only damage his value next year if he puts a year of ****ty tape out.
Perhaps he plays pissed off like a man on a mission and has a career year as a **** you to the Pats, forcing an even bigger deal next year or a trade.

If he plays out the year without a contract and plays well, there is no doubt he will be traded. But don't expect much in a trade. Gardner was traded for 2 #1s because his contract was locked up. Gonzalez will not be the same. The team trading for him will know they are giving up ($39-40m a year [11% of cap]) and they will not give you more than a 2nd rounder for the privilege of that kind of payout. Gonzalez will be incentivized in the last year of his contract to hit the free agent market without a trade, so he has absolutely no incentive to agree to a smaller contract at that point.

His only incentive right now to agreeing to a smaller deal with the Patriots than he wants is the prospect of not hitting it big until March of 2028.

Once that incentive passes, he can wait until March 2028 unless someone breaks the bank in a trade with the Patriots.

That's why now is the time. Now... or never.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Good force Kraft to pay up.

It's hard to armchair QB these negotiations.

Kraft is on record as saying they have a proposal in place to make him the highest paid QB. I believe him.

Clearly Gonzo has an issue with something pertaining to the deal structure and/or believes (according to Curran) should be paid as if its a 2027 league year. That is a slippery slope.

It takes two sides to agree to a deal.