Kevin Byard praises Christian Gonzalez during ongoing Patriots contract negotiations

Patriots safety Kevin Byard publicly praised cornerback Christian Gonzalez on Thursday, calling the defender the best player he has ever played with at the position. Byard acknowledged the ongoing contract negotiations between Gonzalez and the Patriots organization while expressing a desire for the team to retain the player long-term. Despite the high praise, the status of a potential contract extension remains unresolved as the team approaches its season opener in Seattle. Gonzalez expressed appreciation for the support from a veteran teammate entering his 11th season in the NFL. The cornerback did not provide a specific timeline for when a deal might be reached between his representation and the Patriots front office. Both players are currently preparing for the upcoming season with the New England secondary.

• 3:37 PMYahoo Sports — Christian Gonzalez isn't taking Kevin Byard’s praise for granted