The New England Patriots are not "distracted" by ongoing contract extension talks with cornerback Christian Gonzalez. I can’t speak for the rest of the team and how they feel. From a coaching staff standpoint, it’s this: who is available each day, and we go about making a practice plan, or this is what the reps are going to be this day.
"We deal with all different kinds of things each and every day about who is available and who is not available. So I can only speak for myself, and it hasn’t been a distraction. I try to coach everybody that is here each and every day.” Gonzalez, who has been locked in a contract dispute with the club throughout training camp, admitted to being "frustrated" that things haven't been resolved during his latest session with local media on Thursday.
It's expected that the fourth-year cornerback will take the field on Wednesday against the Seattle Seahawks. Gonzalez has participated in the majority of practices this offseason, with his absence throughout the middle of training camp reportedly coming due to an ankle injury that has since been resolved. Vrabel claims that things are on the up-and-up between the coaching staff and the player -- no distractions.
I coach him, I talk to him, communicate with him. That’s the only relationship that I can speak on,” Vrabel said. I’ve gotten to know him over the years that I’ve been here.” It'll remain to be seen whether or not things are resolved by the time the season starts, but every day that the franchise gets closer they run the risk of their star player sitting out.
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