The NFL is deep into the Super Bowl week for the rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles this upcoming Sunday. It's an odd time of year for the Patriots to be sitting on the sideline and starting their offseason early, but a few current and former players are in New Orleans enjoying the week.
Because of that, there are plenty of interviews to go through and listen to their outlook now that Mike Vrabel and Co. have taken over the team. Fortunately, most of the responses thus far have proven positive, which is a bit reassuring after what has been happening in New England over the last five years.
It's a point that cornerback Christian Gonzalez emphasized when speaking to Pro Football Talk on Wednesday, bringing back some positivity to Foxboro that has been long gone since Tom Brady left and now entering the second season without Bill Belichick over the helm.
However, one of the more interesting parts of his interview was when he was asked about his toughest matchups over the last two years. The player he chose makes a lot of sense, but it also might provide a subtle hint to his new head coach, given the chatter surrounding his potential availability this offseason.
Christian Gonzalez mentioning A.J. Brown might not be a coincidence
Throughout his young career, Gonzalez has already matched up with most of the best wide receivers the league has to offer. He has proven to be a shutdown cornerback against the toughest competition and is expected to be among the best in the position for the foreseeable future.
So when asked about the player he was most impressed with, mentioning Brown is unsurprising. But it also might be a subtle way to tell Vrabel he should attempt trading for the Eagles receiver and reunite with one that got away during his tenure as the Titans' head coach.
#Patriots All-Pro CB Christian Gonzalez says AJ Brown’s skill set surprised him the first time they matched up.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 5, 2025
“AJ Brown I think doesn’t get enough credit as to what he puts out there. He has all the tools. He’s big, fast, strong, extremely smart. You can see him processing —… pic.twitter.com/oTRJfKpRvv
Maybe that's looking too much into it, and it's more wishful thinking than anything for Patriots fans, but given the long list of players Gonzalez has matched up with, it wouldn't be outlandish to think that he could have chosen another player to discuss instead.
He's had to cover guys like Tyreek Hill, DeVonta Smith, Garrett Wilson, and more, most of whom are a cornerback's worst nightmare. So, if he chose one of them, it wouldn't have made anyone bat an eye.
No matter what he meant, underlying meaning or not, the Patriots are lucky to have Gonzalez on their team and being talented enough to shut down a player of Brown's caliber.