Drake Maye: Christian Gonzalez’s main focus is football, not his contract

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez wants a new contract, but he’s not sitting out training camp to get one. Drake Maye appreciates that.

Maye, the Patriots’ quarterback and team captain, said that Gonzalez is one of the players he most looks up to, even though they’re exactly the same age — Gonzalez turned 24 last month and Maye turns 24 next month — because Gonzalez has such a businesslike approach.

“I think that shows his main focus, and that’s football,” Maye said. “He’s the best corner in the league, in my opinion. He’s not a big rah-rah guy, he does it his own way, but he does it at the highest level, so I’m glad to be his teammate. We’re around the same age, and I tell him . . . Gonzo is someone I look up to, even as the same age. I look up to how he does things. How he handles himself.”

Maye said one of the reasons the Patriots have had success is the way they practice against each other, which includes Maye throwing to A.J. Brown, with Gonzalez in coverage, on the first day of training camp.

“I think it’s great to see him out here playing around,” Maye said. “You saw it in the locker room before, everybody was wondering what’s Gonzo gonna do? First play he’s guarding A.J. in man coverage. That’s the Patriots.”