Shaq Mason Gets Right Back To Football After Inking New Deal

By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com

Shaq Mason is glad that he doesn't have to think about his contract situation for a long time. In fact, he wasn't even thinking about it too much before signing a five-year extension to stay in New England.

The right guard will make up to $50 million over the life of his new deal, which could keep him in a Patriots uniform through the 2023 season. Speaking to reporters in the Patriots locker room after practice, he indicated that he trusted his agent to handle the money while he handled the football.

"I wasn’t really putting too much thought into it," Mason said about his contract. "I was just focused on playing ball. The other stuff I didn’t put too much thought into."

Mason, who turns 25 years old on Tuesday, certainly got himself a nice little birthday present. The guard thanked the Krafts and Patriots coaches for "believing in me," before diving right back into his focus on getting ready for the actual football season.

"It’s definitely a good thing to get done," said Mason. "But just moving forward, I’m focused on the season. That’s over and done with now, and I got practice tomorrow."

Mason will now man the Patriots' offensive interior a much richer man than he was yesterday. But he's going to do his best to be the same player for the next 5-6 years, regardless of how much he costs on paper. His comments weren't the most expansive, but they sure showed why Bill Belichick and the Patriots wanted to keep him around long-term.

"It all goes into just working," Mason said. "Just come out every day, try to do my job. That’s the same mindset moving forward."

Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.