DAVON GODCHAUX ADMITS FRUSTRATION OVER CONTRACT SITUATION, ASKS FOR ‘RESPECT’ FROM PATRIOTS

Davon Godchaux is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take this anymore!

Well, it has not gotten to that point yet. However, the New England Patriots defensive tackle did voice some frustration over his current contract situation on Friday. Following the third practice of training camp, Godchaux met with reporters and his status was front and center.

The 29-year-old is looking for a new deal. He’s also looking for some respect from the team with which he spent the last three years.

“It’s frustrating,” Godchaux admitted. “I consider myself one of the dominant run players in the league. Obviously, it’s a passing league. A lot of guys get paid the big money when they pass-rush, which I respect. But at the end of the day I feel like you have to stop the run to get to the pass rush. That’s what a lot of people overlook.

“I’ve been consistent, played the run throughout my years in the league, and I feel like I’m still in my prime. So, I feel like I want to be rewarded like that also. Yeah, it’s frustrating but I’m going to have Drew [Rosenhaus] handle it.”

One of Godchaux’s biggest gripes is the lack of guarantees in the remainder of his current deal, which is set to expire next offseason. He is playing on a $7.15 million salary and carrying a cap hit of $11.8 million, but no part of his scheduled 2024 cash intake is guaranteed.

“At the end of the day, I’m playing on no guarantees. I want some stability,” he said. “I just want to feel some love, too.”

Godchaux joined the Patriots as part of their free agency spending spree in 2021. In the three seasons since, he has appeared in all 52 games as an early-down nose tackle and been a steady presence along the defensive line.

Now entering his eighth year in the league, the former fifth-round draft pick feels he has plenty to offer.

“I got a lot more years in me. I’m 29. In this system, I feel like I can play a long time. Obviously, Vince [Wilfork] played a long time. I feel like I can play just as long as him, even longer,” Godchaux said.

“So, I’m excited. I’m healthy. I’ve been available every game my last three years here. With my position, I play nose tackle, don’t get a lot of recognition, tear up all the blocks, and everybody else gets glorified, gets the stats. But at the end of the day, it starts with the foundation. And I feel like in this 3-4 defense, it starts with the nose tackle. Especially when you talk about the run game, it starts with the nose tackle. I just want some respect.”

Godchaux did admit that the contract negotiation process was a fluid one, and has not yet hit a standstill or major roadblock. The fact that he did report to training camp and is an active participant — despite missing time on Thursday for unrelated reasons — can be regarded as a positive.

And listening to head coach Jerod Mayo, one gets the impression that the team also is trying to find a solution.

“You want to reward the players that embody or encompass what we’re trying to create here from a cultural perspective,” he told reporters on Friday morning. “At the end of the day, it’s all about wins and losses and he helps with that.”

Despite the frustration, Godchaux remains optimistic that he will get a chance to continue playing for the Patriots beyond 2024 — and eventually end his career in New England.

“I would love to be here. I would love to retire here,” he said. “My family loves it here. We’ll see. It’s football heaven here. The greatest of all time played here. I would love to be here, but at the end of the day it’s a business. Hopefully, we can get something done so I can stay here.”

2024-07-26T19:39:26Z dg43tfdfdgfd