New England Patriots All-Professional cornerback Christian Gonzalez gave a four-word response to being snubbed by Professional Soccer Focus’ prime 25 under-25 checklist.
Gonzalez, 22, missed out on a spot on the PFF rankings which included 5 CBs – Trent McDuffie (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs), Derek Stingley Jr (Houston Texans), Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks), Christian Benford (Buffalo Payments) and Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles).
The choice comes as a shock as Gonzalez was certainly one of 4 CBs throughout the NFL to earn an All-Professional choice final 12 months alongside McDuffie, Stingley Jr and Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos.
When questioned concerning the snub, Gonzalez informed the Boston Herald: “Let the play discuss. That’s all I’ve to say about that.”
WATCH: One of the best of Christian Gonzalez from the 2024 season
Why was Christian Gonzalez snubbed from the PFF under-25 checklist?
It’s exhausting to know – and there in all probability isn’t a sound reply to that query. Finally, Gonzalez deserved to be there and in keeping with All-Professional voters there have been solely three cornerbacks who had a greater season in 2024.
Gonzalez featured because the No 1 nook in a protection that performed man protection on the second-highest charge within the NFL and every week was handed the task of overlaying the opponent’s first possibility large receiver.
The seventeenth total pick of Oregon in 2023 locked up the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr and Davante Adams amongst others all through the season.
Gonzalez held Chase – who led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns – to 3 catches for 15 yards in Week 1.
Hill suffered the same destiny, recording one catch and ten yards when up in opposition to Gonzalez in Week 12 whereas Harrison Jr additionally made only one catch for 23 yards.
Per Professional Soccer Focus, Gonzalez allowed 46 receptions on 84 targets for 499 yards and two touchdowns in 2024 – recording two interceptions and 59 whole tackles.
The teen was the highest-graded participant on the Patriots final season with a 76.0 score, proving his value as a franchise cornerstone going ahead in partnership with star quarterback Drake Maye.
Patriots braced for drastically improved 2025 season underneath Mike Vrabel
The Patriots’ win whole for 2025 has been set at over/underneath 8.5 with Vegas anticipating a drastic enchancment from final season’s dismal 4-13 report.
Jerod Mayo was dismissed after only a 12 months as head coach and the Krafts moved rapidly to nominate Mike Vrabel in his place.
Vrabel is not any stranger to Massachusetts tradition having spent seven years in New England as a participant from 2001 to 2008, profitable three Tremendous Bowls and incomes first-team All-Professional honors in 2007.
Throughout his tenure in Tennessee, Vrabel led the Titans to a primary AFC Championship look in 17 seasons earlier than being eradicated by the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
The Titans received the AFC South in 2020 underneath Vrabel’s information, a primary since 2008, so he’s not wanting high quality teaching expertise and this could assist the Patriots in abundance.
Tennessee secured the No 1 total seed within the AFC a season later with a 12-5 report and Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Yr in 2021.
With franchise QB Maye’s continued growth to look ahead to, issues may very well be on the up in Foxborough.