One date could reveal all with Patriots' Christian Gonzalez situation

· Yahoo Sports

That lovely saying that we'll cross that bridge when we get to it took on a whole new meaning when Christian Gonzalez was not present for voluntary organized team activities.

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The bridge is here, and the New England Patriots are staring directly at it.

Gonzalez's absence came at a time when he is eligible for a contract extension. The Patriots picked up the $18.1 million fifth-year option on his contract, which secures his deal through the 2027 season. But how realistic is it to expect one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL to play for $4.8 million in 2026?

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"There's no effing way that Christian Gonzalez is gonna play for $4 million this year, and there's no way he's gonna play for $21 million next year, which is the fifth-year option that they've already decided to pick up," NBC Sports Boston's Tom Curran said on WEEI's Rich & Ken with Ted Johnson. "...It's not happening. So this is the dance. He has been at OTAs. He was not at this one. Is this a message? I don't know. The biggest message he could send is to not be at minicamp. And if he is at minicamp, does he participate? Does he participate with just some of the walk-throughs and drills, or does he actually take reps?

The Patriots would do well to get the hint and work towards an extension with Gonzalez, a former All-Pro and Pro Bowl player. Talent doesn't come cheap in the NFL, and Gonzalez has set the bar extraordinarily high through his play on the field.

But how deep is he willing to dig in to prove his point? Would he consider skipping out on mandatory minicamp, which is slated to start on June 15?

That will be the key date to watch for regarding Gonzalez. If he shows up and participates fully, it could potentially buy the Patriots some time on an eventual extension. However, if he sits out in any form, it would put the team's feet to the fire.

Trent McDuffie signed a four-year, $124 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams that pays him around $31 million annually. It also came with $100 million in guaranteed money. Gonzalez's future deal has a great chance of surpassing that contract.

Whether that deal is with the Patriots or not remains to be seen. One would think the team would do everything in its power to keep Gonzalez in New England. At only 23 years old, he could be a foundational piece to help lead a dominant defense for years to come.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: One date could reveal all with Patriots' Christian Gonzalez situation

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