Former Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore reveals new insight into Panthers trade

FOXBORO — In July, it was no secret Stephon Gilmore missed the start of Patriots training camp because of his torn quad and ongoing contract dispute.

But all along, there was a missing piece to the saga that then led Gilmore to sit out the preseason, the start of the regular season and ultimately get traded to Carolina for a 2023 sixth-round pick.

He was upset with how the Pats handled his rehab.

“I wasn’t ready at the beginning of training camp, I’ll be completely honest with you. But the only thing I didn’t like how they handled my situation with my injury,” Gilmore told Patriots reporters Wednesday via conference call. “A lot went on with that that I didn’t agree with. And now that I’m here, I’m able to do the things I have to do to get me back ready to where I need to be.”

Gilmore declined to elaborate on what the Patriots did or failed to do during the final stages of his recovery. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list in mid-July and remained there for the rest of his New England tenure. During a couple training camp practices, Gilmore was spotted running on separate fields, but he never seen again after early August.

Gilmore made his Panthers debut last Sunday in a 19-17 win over the Falcons. After two weeks of practice, he played 17 defensive snaps and grabbed a game-sealing interception. Gilmore is expected to play Sunday against the Patriots, the first time he’ll face off against his old team since the trade.

Gilmore indicated the split was caused by several factors, not strictly his injury or contract.

“A lot goes into it. It’s not one specific thing. At the end of the day, it’s a business,” he said. “They treated it like a business. We made the best decision for each other.”

In July, he told NFL reporter Josina Anderson he wanted to be paid what he was worth. Gilmore’s contract, which carries a base $7 million this season, remains unchanged in Carolina, despite the fact its value is roughly half of what other elite corners around the league are making. Gilmore, 31, still views himself as one of the NFL’s best.

“It was better for both of us to be in this position,” he said. “I’m happy I’m back home now. Things just didn’t work out. That’s life. You have to move on and adjust and handle your situation the best way you can.”

Until his final day as a Patriot, Gilmore sat in positional meetings and offered tips to young players, including rookie quarterback Mac Jones. His career ended when Bill Belichick called him the morning of Oct. 6 to break the news, a move Gilmore said he never saw coming.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3mFrTPx