Stephon Gilmore contract dispute with Patriots is ‘just business’
Five players were not spotted during the Patriots’ mandatory minicamp, none more notable than Stephon Gilmore. The veteran cornerback held out of the workouts as he looks for the team to address his contract situation.
Gilmore currently has a base salary of $7 million, which is way too low for the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Pro. He makes less than other, less impactful cornerbacks such as the Dolphins’ Byron Jones and the Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey. Gilmore, rightfully, wants more.
Contract holdouts have a way of damaging relationships. But that is not the case between Gilmore and the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“The situation hardly seems contentious, as evidenced by Gilmore’s presence in town last week,” wrote Reiss. “Just business, and this is the time for the sides to explore resolutions.”
A relatively peaceful relationship is a good sign for Patriots fans. Without Gilmore, the Patriots would only have J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Joejuan Williams, Jalen Mills, and Michael Jackson at cornerback. There is some intriguing talent there, but none are the lockdown No. 1 corner that Gilmore is.
Patriots training camp is set to take place in late July. Both sides have about a month to iron out the details and get the team’s best player back out on the field on time for it.
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