New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez was present at the team’s facility on Friday amid ongoing contract extension negotiations. Mike Vrabel, when speaking with the media, said he expects the All-Pro to participate when training camp begins on Saturday.
Veterans reported to Foxboro on Friday after rookies arrived on Tuesday, marking the final domino to fall before New England kicks off its summer sessions.
With Gonzalez entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, the Patriots picked
up his fifth-year option back in April. However, the 24-year-old is seeking a long-term extension.
“Those contract negotiations are ongoing between the club and his agents,” Vrabel said. “I’m excited about having Christian back here with us and the impact that he can make on our football team. Really enjoy the person, really enjoy the player, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Gonzalez was present at all three mandatory minicamp practices in June, but he was a limited participant, sitting out of team drills. Vrabel also expects his star cornerback’s participation level to change.
“Yeah. We’re getting ready to prepare to win,” Vrabel said about Gonzalez possibly increasing his participation from minicamp. “And that’s what this is going to take through training camp. We talked about this last year: earning a role, building a team, and preparing to win.
“And players have an opportunity to earn a role. Coaches are going to be there to help them. We all have to build a team, and I have to do my best to prepare us to win by our situations in the way we practice throughout training camp.”
Another cornerback from Gonzalez’s draft class, Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks, is also due for an extension. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said during Tuesday’s program that Witherspoon’s negotiations seem to be further along than Gonzalez’s.
Rapoport added that he wouldn’t be surprised if a new deal for Gonzalez materializes at some point shortly after a potential Witherspoon resolution in Seattle.
“I don’t think they have anything to do with one another,” Vrabel said when asked if the team has been waiting for things to shake out in Seattle. “We’re not negotiating with the Seahawks. We’re negotiating with Christian’s representatives, and I don’t think that there’s anything different than just our communication with them.”
New England’s first training camp practice on Saturday is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. E.T. and will be open to public attendance.
