Christian Gonzalez contract dispute rolls into game week with five days until Patriots' opener

The Christian Gonzalez contract standoff is following the Patriots straight into game week. With New England's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks five days away, there is still no resolution on the star cornerback's extension, and Gonzalez is not committing to playing without one.

Gonzalez told reporters Thursday that he is "still frustrated" by the talks and declined to say whether he will be on the field for the opener. "I mean, when that time comes, that's when things will happen," he said.

Coach Mike Vrabel said Friday on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show that the situation has not been a distraction. "When Christian was rehabbing, he was where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there," Vrabel said. "From a coaching staff standpoint, it's this: who is available each day, and we go about making a practice plan. ... 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."

Vrabel also made clear the Patriots will be ready either way, saying the staff will have multiple game plans and adjust based on how the game unfolds. The No. 17 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Gonzalez has recorded 24 passes defensed and three interceptions in 34 games over his first three seasons.