Patriots' Mike Vrabel addresses Christian Gonzalez saga

New England Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf suggested that he had "no concerns" that cornerback Christian Gonzalez may not play in the team's Week 1 Super Bowl rematch at the Seattle Seahawks if Gonzalez doesn't sign a contract extension before Sept. 9 arrives. 

However, Gonzalez acknowledged that the situation is "frustrating," and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel later said that he understands "this is probably something that's difficult" for the player. During a Monday appearance on Boston sports radio station WEEI, Vrabel addressed whether or not he expects Gonzalez to play against the Seahawks. 

Mike Vrabel has this Christian Gonzalez "expectation"

"I expect him to be there today and I’m gonna focus on today," Vrabel said about Gonzalez, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I expect every healthy player to play and practice for our football team. That’s my expectation as a head coach." 

Gonzalez missed practice time in August due to an alleged injury that may or may not have been related to the fact that he has just two years remaining on his contract. Earlier this summer, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon signed a record-setting four-year, $132M deal. Gonzalez and Witherspoon are both represented by the Win Sports Group.

"One role that I have is making sure that there’s a separation," Vrabel said about separating the personal and professional aspects of the Gonzalez situation, according to Dan Morrison of Heavy. "We’ve talked about the personal side, the professional side, and trying not to let those two conflict with each other. So, I try to communicate with all the players. I try to coach them. I try to get to know them. I guess I don’t think about it. I just have to go about navigating my job and what I feel like is best for each guy here as they come into how we get them ready and prepared to play and ultimately win."

Does Mike Vrabel have an update after latest Christian Gonzalez report?

On Sunday, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk revealed that the Patriots and Gonzalez are "trying to bridge the gap" regarding the "structure and total dollars" attached to an extension. 

"If/when a new contract is done, it will be a four-year extension," Florio said. 

According to Wolf, the Patriots are prepared to make Gonzalez the league's new highest-paid cornerback.

"I don’t have anything new to add with Christian," Vrabel added during Monday's appearance. "Whatever the events over the weekend or whatever happened over the weekend or didn’t happen over the weekend or what’s gonna happen today moving forward, I don’t think I have anything new to update you on."

Perhaps Vrabel will have a different update on the situation during one of his news conferences that takes place ahead of New England's Week 1 game in Seattle.