Shaq Mason Gets Right Back To Football After Inking New Deal
Mason is doing his best to stay focused on football after getting his contract done.

Jan 21, 2018, Foxborough, MA: New England Patriots guard Shaq Mason against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the AFC Championship at Gillette Stadium. (Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsBy 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."

Nov 12, 2017, Denver, CO: New England Patriots guard Shaq Mason in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
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.