XFN Football

XFN FOOTBALL

NE New England Patriots AFC EAST · TEAM FEED View team feed

RUMOR: Christian Gonzalez, Patriots extension talks 'nowhere' ahead of opener; Could a move be made?

Adam Schefter isn't optimistic the Christian Gonzalez contract saga gets resolved before the Patriots open the season. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Schefter said talks between Gonzalez and New England are "nowhere" as Wednesd…

Posted

Adam Schefter isn't optimistic the Christian Gonzalez contract saga gets resolved before the Patriots open the season. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Schefter said talks between Gonzalez and New England are "nowhere" as Wednesday night's opener against Seattle approaches.

"As of right now, talks are nowhere… as of right now it's hard to imagine that the two sides would be able to make up the difference to get a deal done by opening night," Schefter said. Gonzalez also hasn't committed to playing the season without a new contract. Teams that have been floated in the last couple of weeks: the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. The Cowboys just recently opened up more cap space for maximum flexibility for the year.

The standoff has been building for weeks. The Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon reset the top of the cornerback market — and Gonzalez shares the same agent, Reggie Johnson. New England reportedly made an offer that would have made Gonzalez the NFL's highest-paid cornerback, yet the sides remain far apart. Gonzalez expressed disappointment in late August, and Ari Meirov has characterized the negotiations as "weird," with the team at times negotiating through the media.

A deal by opening night looks increasingly unlikely. If the sides can't close the gap, all eyes turn to whether Gonzalez suits up against the Seahawks or if a team makes a push for one of the league's premier young corners.

ne