Patriots contract negotiations with Christian Gonzalez remain stalled before season opener

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced a contract extension for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell through the 2030 league season. While the compensation committee finalized that agreement, the Patriots have yet to reach a deal with 24-year-old cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Contract negotiations between the team and the player have struggled to find a middle ground despite recent league-wide benchmarks for cornerback extensions. Following the announcement of the commissioner's new deal, Gonzalez's trainer, Coach Flight, posted a social media response featuring a video of actor Idris Elba. There is no current certainty that Gonzalez will participate in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday. The Patriots face the prospect of starting the game against the defending Super Bowl champions without their top defensive player.

• 11:07 PMYahoo Sports — Christian Gonzalez trainer's cryptic reaction to Robert Kraft comments