Stephon Gilmore is a No-Show at Patriots Mandatory Minicamp
Ever since the start of free agency, when Bill Belichick began ruthlessly burning villages, salting their fields, and taking their people and livestock captive as the spoils of war, it's been nothing but good news in Foxboro. And the winning streak continued with OTAs as we got confirmation that Dont'a Hightower, the big, swinging dong of the Pats defense, is officially back. In the words of the great Big Ern McCracken, we've been riding a gravy train with biscuit wheels.
Until now.
Like a family reunion where some of the relatives have unresolved issues, getting everyone back together has brought some problems to the surface that need to be addressed.
Source - Perennial Pro Bowl cornerback [Stephon] Gilmore, who is in the final year of his contract and slated to make $7.9 million, will not be at Monday’s practice, a league source confirmed. If Gilmore misses all week with unexcused absences, he could be fined up to $93,085.
Oh yeah, Stephon Gilmore's contract. That old thing. I'm a big proponent of ignoring huge and difficult problems until they are either forgotten or resolve themselves. I don't recommend the practice, but it's always worked for me. Somehow this contract hasn't extended itself. And getting the band back together makes it sort of obligatory that it get sorted out one way or another.
And by no means will it be easy. A huge part of the reason Gilmore is being so underpaid in 2021 is so that 2020 Gilmore wasn't even underer paid. He was set to make $10.5 million last year, but was coming off a Defensive POTY season, so the team agreed to give him an advance on his allowance of $4.5 million. Which was great for Gilly Lock if you were one of those people who truly thought the world was coming to an end last year. But for all involved, it was kicking the can down the road. And now we're a year further down the road, the can is at everyone's feet again and no one seems to know what to do.
The simple solution would seem to be just give him a raise and be done with it. He represents the single best free agent signings in team history (respect to Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison). So extend him and keep this thing going.
But if we've learned anything over the last 21 years, it's that the real solution is never simple. Yes, according to the only Patriots salary cap source worth citing, they have space. And Gilmore is working for relative chump change:
But with the Patriots, it's not always about economic justice as much as it is leverage. Rarely do you get a major bump until it's your turn, or unless you make it worth the team's while by giving them extra years so they can spread out the hit or whatever. In Gilmore's case, last year, he was dealing from a position of strength. This year, not so much. He was good last season, not great. He missed the last five games with injury. And in the 11 games he did play, he was credited with two passes broken up, one interception, two touchdowns allowed, and a passer rating when targeted of 96.7. Again, I'll happily take that guy back. But they're a huge step back from his 2019 when he had 13 PBUs, six INTs, one TD and a passer rating of 48.0. Those 2020 numbers don't scream,
If I'm representing the Patriots on this one, to me those stats sort of clear their throat, talk in an uncertain, awkward voice, and say "Maybe we have a Prove It year and talk after the season???" Though I doubt Gilmore would think he needs to prove a damned thing at this point.
And one of the most interesting things in all of this (to me anyway, I'm easily amused by this stuff), is that by all the reports, Matt Patricia is involved with the negotiations. In fact, his signature has been on all the contracts they've signed this year. Which makes you wonder how negotiations will be affected by the fact he's talking about one of the best players he ever coached. When a guy is a major part of the reason you got your head coaching job, it can't be easy to explain to him why he doesn't deserve what he wants.
The thing is, we've seen this before. When the guy running your organization has been there so long his tenure is old enough to buy booze and cannabis, there's nothing you haven't seen before. There has been long and protracted contract drama in the past. Cornerstone players that grew bitter and held out. But that in the end deals were worked out. Just sticking with cornerbacks who wore 24, Ty Law's were brutal, and harsh words were said. But he reupped for a while. Vince Wilfork's were contentious. Logan Mankins. And all those guys eventually ended their careers elsewhere, as I have no doubt Gilmore will. But hopefully not until he gives the Patriots another season or two like he did from 2017-19.
It's all going to come down to what it always does: Keeping the business side separate from the football side. Negotiating in good faith. And coming up with a deal that is best for all involved. It's been done before, and can be done again. Otherwise, we're probably looking at a return to the trade rumors from last October when Gilmore put his house on the market. Regardless, this is looking like it's going to be a long, drawn out process that might go all summer. And I'm going to suggest that the Patriots brush up on their negotiation skills. Personally I always go with Jack Donaghy's legendary Boca 2002 seminar.
This is how I've always handled my Barstool contract talks. And as you can see, I'm still here.