Vrabel Addresses Christian Gonzalez's Contract After Rumors Patriots CB Didn't 'Love' Kraft's Remark

Despite rumors that New England Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez wasn't pleased with team owner Robert Kraft's comments about his potential contract extension, head coach Mike Vrabel isn't sounding any alarms about the ongoing negotiations.

"Everything is pretty unique to itself. Whether that's negotiations or players or a play that we're running, certainly those are unique and individual situations," Vrabel told reporters on Monday. "We'll try to focus on Christian's, and I know he'll focus on his own situation. So we'll continue to work through that, and he'll continue to try to improve and try to get back out onto the field."

During Sunday's episode of SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported, "I don't sense Gonzalez loved" Kraft's public approach to the contract discussions.

Before the Patriots' first training camp practice last month, Kraft told reporters, "We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player, as a person, and that's why we've made an offer to him to make him the highest-paid player to ever play that position in the NFL"

However, Kraft and company didn't move quickly enough, as the market was reset over the weekend when the Seattle Seahawks made Devon Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with a four-year, $132 million contract extension that includes $101 million guaranteed. Fowler explained the difference in Seattle's approach to Witherspoon's deal compared to how New England has handled Gonzalez.

"You've got Witherspoon as $33 million a year, Gonzalez is going to need to top that; that's the play. So, you're looking at probably closer to $35 million per year on a new deal to get this done," Fowler said. "That's sort of the benchmark for a lot of the star non-quarterbacks, regardless of position. They're getting that kind of money or above, and Gonzalez is one of the very best cover corners in the league. Witherspoon, there was optimism throughout. With the Patriots and Gonzalez, not as much optimism, hasn't been as smooth as a negotiation."

Gonzalez has been sidelined for the past week due to an undisclosed injury in practice, but he's been present throughout the Patriots' offseason program. Vrabel's optimism could indicate that it's just a matter of time before the two sides reach an agreement that rewards Gonzalez in a big way.