The New England Patriots were in a tough spot against the Las Vegas Raiders. After rewatching the tape and looking at the numbers, it might not seem that way, but the secondary was in a major pickle ahead of Week 5.
With Klint Kubiak's team in town, the Patriots' defense would be without Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Karon Prunty, and Channing Canada. Missing two starting cornerbacks against a hot offense was clearly far from ideal.
That's why Gonzalez made up for his absence by being active on the sidelines, coaching up and hyping up his teammates. While you can't say that's why they looked so good, it was a stern reminder that the Patriots are paying him for much more than what he does on the field.
Christian Gonzalez's leadership makes his contract look even better
It took much more time and drama than everyone expected, but the Patriots eventually did right by their defensive superstar. After months of back-and-forth and public criticism of the front office, Gonzo got a much-deserved four-year, $135 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
That type of money should also come with some strings attached. Although it's not in writing, the organization implies that a player making market-resetting money must be active, present, and a leader on and off the field.
Gonzalez clearly wasn't the first player to sit on the sidelines with a headset after missing a game with an injury, but he didn't have to do that, either. He could've just sat down, watched the game, and collected his checks, especially after he was admittedly angry at the team just over a month ago.
The Patriots have one of the youngest rosters in the league, at least in terms of their core guys. As such, it's crucial to have self-motivated, empowered young leaders who are hell-bent on building and maintaining a winning culture.
For more than two decades, this franchise stood by military-style discipline and the highest standards. It wasn't for everyone, but the trophy cabinet shows that Bill Belichick and company may have done a thing or two right.
Mike Vrabel is also well-versed in the Patriot Way, and as a former player, he's known for pushing his guys and demanding nothing but 100 percent commitment on and off the gridiron. Clearly, Gonzalez got the memo, and his leadership might be as valuable as his shutdown cornerback skills.
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