Christian Gonzalez at Patriots minicamp after skipping OTAs amid contract stalemate
The New England Patriots kicked off mandatory minicamp Tuesday at Gillette Stadium and star cornerback Christian Gonzalez was there. He skipped voluntary team workouts during the offseason as he remains at a stalemate in contract negotiations.
Gonzalez is eligible for an extension and is widely expected to eventually be paid among the top defensive backs in the NFL.
But for now, with no new contract reached with the team, he had been absent from Patriots OTA sessions throughout the offseason.
Practices became mandatory Tuesday, meaning Gonzalez would have faced fines for each day he wasn't there.
"I've got obligations. I'm here," Gonzalez said Tuesday about reporting to minicamp. "Of course I want to be here. I've said this multiple times, I've been drafted here. I want to be rewarded as a Patriot. I love this town, I love this city. So yeah, of course I want to be here."
Gonzalez said "I hope so" when asked if he feels that negotiations are getting close to a resolution.
"That's up to my agents and the team, and I hope we get something done," Gonzalez said. "It's between them two, both sides to get it done. I want to be here, so that's what I'm going to say."
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that every player who is under contract is present at minicamp. That includes Gonzalez and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who has been the subject of trade rumors during the offseason and also missed OTAs.
"It's been a great day to have everybody back," Vrabel said.
Vrabel said "conversations have been great" with Gonzalez.
"I'm not involved in the negotiations. I'm involved in coaching this team," Vrabel said.
The coach said earlier in the day he expected Boutte and Gonzalez to be limited on Tuesday as they work their way up to full speed after missing OTAs. Boutte was more involved during the minicamp session than Gonzalez, who participated in individual drills but not team drills.
One player who was not practicing was second round draft pick Gabe Jacas. The edge rusher out of Illinois has not signed his rookie deal. Vrabel also said Jacas "had a procedure" during the offseason.
Jacas has not been able to participate in any on-field sessions with the team since being drafted.