FOXBOROUGH – On Saturday, I wrote on this site that it feels like a deal between the Patriots and Christian Gonzalez felt inevitable after all the positive vibes from the first day.
Mike Vrabel was confident. Robert Kraft discussed the offer given and Gonzalez was out there playing catch with the fans.
Now, I have my doubts.
While Gonzalez continues to play (and play well) through the light first few days of camp, he spoke to the media on Tuesday and one particular answer has me worried.
When asked if he’d be out there Thursday for the first practice in pads – which is ultimately the first time there’s true risk of a serious injury – Gonzalez said “I’ll be out here.”
But, when a follow up question about whether he’d be participating in that padded practice followed, he was coy.
“I’ll be out here.”
There’s a very good chance we could be going back on Christian Gonzalez Watch on Thursday with a hold-in of sorts.
Gonzalez wouldn’t talk any details when it comes to his contract negations, referring to an early answer several times where he said “Anything with that, I’ll keep that between my team, my agent and the (Patriots), the front office.”
So, when the pads begin popping on Thursday, possibly in front of fans, possibly indoors due to weather, should fans be concerned if Gonzalez is standing on the sideline, tossing a football in the air? Well, yes and no.
No because a deal could get struck at anytime and at least he’s in the building. Yes because the secondary has looked very good early on and Carlton Davis III left practice early on Tuesday. If the negotiations get messy as the physicality ramps up, Gonzalez is more and more likely to sit out and now the defense has some problems.
His teammates love him and believe he deserves everything that he ultimately gets. He loves them in return, but as Gonzalez pointed out, he’s got to handle the business and emotional side of the current situation.
“It’s different, but at the end of the day, it’s business and it’s ball,” he said.
Hopefully, the ball can continue and the business can get done sooner rather than later.