Christian Gonzalez Responds to His Trainer Calling Patriots' Proposed Contract Language 'Trash'

Christian Gonzalez's trainer gave some insight into the cornerbacks' contract talks with the New England Patriots earlier this week, calling the language in the proposed deal "trash."

On Thursday, Gonzalez didn't disagree with his trainer when asked about his comments.

"He can speak his mind. He's got his thoughts, I've got mine," Gonzalez said, per Karen Guregian of MassLive. "But I back everything he says. He backs everything I say. That's kind of our relationship. We talk every day. He's going to say what he's going to say."

Christian White, Gonzalez's trainer, said that the proposed deal from the Patriots would have made Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in the league, but the language wasn't what the star was looking for.

The Seattle Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon became the NFL's highest-paid cornerback last month when he inked a four-year, $132 million extension, resetting the market and paving the way for Gonzalez to earn even more when he reached a deal with the Patriots.

With the start of the 2026 campaign less than a week away, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that Gonzalez doesn't plan to negotiate during the regular season.

"My understanding of this situation is that if Gonzalez were to sign a market-setting deal — and it will need to be just that — then it has to be buttoned up," Folwer wrote. "And the sides are not close on several elements of the deal."

The Patriots made it clear early in training camp that it values Gonzalez, with team owner Robert Kraft telling reporters that New England planned to give him a historic deal.

"We love Christian," Kraft said. "We love him as a player, as a person. That's why we've made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player to ever play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it's the highest contract in Patriots franchise history."

Gonzalez is entering his fourth season and has already proved he's worth the high price he's asking for. Last year, he had 69 tackles and 10 passes defended as he helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2018.

Asked whether he would consider sitting out the Patriots' season opener against star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks, Gonzalez was noncommittal.

"I mean, when that time comes, that's when things will happen," he said.