With a $101 million guarantee in his pocket, Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon has to be the happiest man in the National Football League.
You have to surmise that his deal was one of the last hurdles in the Christian Gonzalez extension negotiations, and the he and the New England Patriots will be closing in on locking that down.
Gonzalez missed his second straight practice on Saturday morning, with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel doubling down on the fact that his absence is not a “hold in” but that it’s injury related.
Vrabel adamant about injury
“I don't think I would expect Christian, nor should you expect Christian. Nope. Working hard, conditioning, but will not be practicing. He's not ready to get back out there and practice yet,” said Vrabel, with a very careful choice of words.
As word leaked through social media about Gonzalez’ desire to reset the cornerback market on Friday, Witherspoon’s extension, making him the top paid corner in the game, has to place some more specific parameters on a deal with the Patriots.
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Blueprint is now clear
Gonzalez, in the fourth year of his rookie deal, is set to make just over $2.2 million this season. The team has already OK’d the fifth-year option for just over $18 million next year.
Vrabel, when asked if the two sides were “on the same page,” Vrabel was again selective in his words, almost cryptic.
“Absolutely. And I think that's the important thing. I've talked about his professionalism, everybody else's. So, this isn't anything like that,” the coach said.
“It was something that happened in practice, and he's where he's supposed to be when he needs to be there. Treatment, working with Frank (Piraino) and doing those things. But yes, obviously, that's my job, is to be on the same page with everybody here, players and coaches. And I'm confident that that's what we are doing, and everybody has a plan each and every day.”
Time to lock it down
The Witherspoon deal, set in concrete now, means the Patriots and the agents have rock-solid numbers to work from.
If the Patriots want to keep Gonzalez and keep him happy – owner Robert Kraft is on the record saying both – it will happen sooner than later. That’s good news for the player, for the Patriots and for their fans.
