Giardi: If you weren't worried about Christian Gonzalez's availability for week one, now might be the time; plus, last word on Peppers?

FOXBOROUGH - The clock is ticking on Christian Gonzalez's availability for Sunday's season opener against Las Vegas, and Monday's update from Mike Vrabel didn't sound too promising.

Gonzalez hasn't practiced since July 29th after injuring his hamstring during the early portion of training camp. While we've seen the cornerback on the field with his teammates since, it's only been as a spectator, and that leg has been covered by a long compression sleeve.

"I wouldn't anticipate him out here today, so hopefully that improves," said Vrabel about Gonzalez practicing on Monday. "But he's working hard and trying to improve, and he wants to be out there. I think (that), which is good for us and for Christian and the team, is to try not to be frustrated. Obviously, those things happen, and it's how we respond to them. It's how hard we work to get back, the communication, all the things that he's doing. So just continue to work hard to get back and try to make sure that we're doing everything we can to help him."

Vrabel didn't want to look too far in the future with Gonzalez's injury, and has stated since May that he won't get into timetables (for any player). But when asked if one of the best cover corners in the game had a setback, perhaps betrayed his own philosophy, at least for a second.

“Well, it just hasn't gone (pause) you know, again, he's working hard," noted Vrabel. "And whether it's again, we could say this one injury is going to be three to four weeks, one's going to be one to two. Everybody heals differently. So just making sure that when the players are back, that they can do their job with confidence, that they can protect themselves out on the field, and that they can't make it any worse. Those are some things that I try to use as guidelines for when players are ready to play and get back there.”

Gonzalez missed a majority of his rookie season (13 games) after suffering a shoulder injury in a week four loss at Dallas. Last year, the former first-round pick from Oregon took a significant step forward, receiving some consideration for All-Pro (there's only first-team), while clearly establishing himself as not only the Patriots' best defender, but arguably their best player. 

Gonzalez didn't rest on his progress, incorporating Pilates into his offseason training and also focusing on improving his ball control and causing turnovers. He looked stronger and just as fast during spring ball and the very beginning of training camp, before the injury arose. In one of his responses, Vrabel used the word 'frustrated' and was later asked if either the player or the team was in that place.

"No, that's in my own personal experience of when you're not in there, right? When you're not in there with the team, I guess, and I appreciate you actually clarifying or asking," responded Vrabel. "Those are just things in the course of my career, or being a coach and dealing with players that they want to they want to play, they want to be out there, right? 

"So those are, I guess, the things that I have tried to talk to all the players about is the time that you're not on the field, is how you stay engaged and stay in the meetings and the schedule and just, you know, they all want to play. So again, I think that was just a broad term for things that I've tried to focus on when guys aren't out there, that could go for Jahlani (Tavai) or anybody else at this point.”

The Patriots have tomorrow off, though just about every player will find himself in Foxborough for treatment, a lift, or film study. That means our next check on Gonzalez will come on Wednesday. If he is unable to go, Vrabel praised the work of both Alex Austin and D.J. James.

LAST WORD ON PEPPERS?

As this was the first time we've gotten a chance to speak to Vrabel since Friday's release of Jabril Peppers, obviously, the coach was asked about the decision. If you were hoping for some sort of revelation as to why the veteran safety was sent packing, sorry to disappoint. There were a lot of words, but not many answers.

"I think that these things are tough decisions," said Vrabel. "I think we're just trying to get it right. And a lot of respect for Jabril as a person and as a player. What we felt was in the best interest of the team at this point was allowing him to have another opportunity elsewhere. There are a lot of things that go into these decisions, and they're never easy, and we're just trying to get it right collectively. 

"I know that there's a personal side and a professional side. I talked about that with the players this morning, and whether you agree with it or disagree with it,  just try to respect it and move forward and continue to build a team, continue to build a program. And I know Jabril will do good things in this league and outside of the field, as well as passionate player. And again, got a lot of respect for him."

But not enough to keep him, even though the Pats are on the hook for $4.2 million. We had opined that there was a scheme-fit issue that may have been rearing its head. Peppers is a downhill player, and the Pats want their safeties to be more versatile and have the ability to play more man-to-man. Vrabel shot down that notion, and so did Peppers via social media.

"That was certainly not the issue," he said. "There are a lot of reasons, you know, I wouldn't say that. We're going to try to do what's best for the team. We have a lot of different schemes that we can run in all three phases: special teams, offense, and defense. So, there's a lot that goes into it. And again, we're just trying to build towards Sunday here, and that's our focus. And again, that was the decision that we had to make."

Vrabel acknowledged the emergence of rookie Craig Woodson, as well as Jaylinn Hawkins' steady play, as positives, while also pointing to finding roles for both Kyle Dugger (assuming he's not traded) and Dell Pettus.

THE CAPTAINS