Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is the highest-paid player in the league at his position. It may not last for long.
Witherspoon’s four-year, $132 million extension sets the new-money APY bar at $33 million. Gonzalez will now try to leapfrog that number.
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It was the plan all along, especially since Witherspoon and Gonzalez are represented by the same firm. Witherspoon first, Gonzalez second.
Both had been practicing while awaiting their rewards for three solid NFL seasons. Gonzalez has missed multiple sessions in recent days, but the absence has been attributed to an injury. (Even if it’s an “injury.”)
“He’s not ready to get back out there and practice yet,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Saturday.
Vrabel also was asked whether team and player are on the same page, given his contract status.
“Absolutely,” Vrabel said. “And I think that’s the important thing. I’ve talked about his professionalism, everybody else’s. So, this isn’t anything like that. It was something that happened in practice, and he’s where he’s supposed to be when he needs to be there. Treatment, working with Frank [Piraino] and doing those things. But yes, obviously, that’s my job, is to be on the same page with everybody here, players and coaches. And I’m confident that that’s what we are doing, and everybody has a plan each and every day.”
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The plan likely will now come into closer focus, given that Witherspoon’s deal is done. Late last month, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team had offered a deal that would make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
The bar has now moved to something more than $33 million per year. Once the details are in on the Witherspoon deal, it should be pretty easy to nail the proper amount and structure.
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