The San Francisco 49ers lost the Super Bowl to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night, but star safety Dashon Goldson is ready to get back to the game next year-just not on a one-year contract.
According to ESPN.com, Goldson said to the Associated Press that he hopes to get a long-term contract from the 49ers after playing the past two seasons on one-year deals as a franchise player. Goldson said Tuesday he would pursue opportunities with other teams if the 49ers decide not to reward his consistent play with a multi-year deal.
"We haven't spoken anything about a contract, but I don't see why I wouldn't be around," Goldson said Wednesday amid preparations for Sunday's Super Bowl XLVII, according to Mercury News.
The 28-year-old safety played on the 2012 franchise tag for $6.2 million, but said that he's "not for that" again. According to the report, Goldson was set to meet with general manager Trent Baalke after the players cleared out their lockers at the team facility.
"Those guys understand what I've done, and how can you say I don't deserve anything I might receive," Goldson said to National Football Post.
In 2011, Goldson tested free agency and nearly signed an offer from the New England Patriots before taking a $2 millkon deal from San Francisco.
"I really thought highly of (the Patriots' offer) and I was up late at night at my hotel talking with my agent about it," Goldson recalled. "(Coach Bill) Belichick is a good guy. We talked football and he expressed how he wanted me there. But we were on a building stage (with the 49ers) and I wanted to be part of that. We had made strides."
Goldson has been one of the most important players for the 49ers over the past few years and recorded 69 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble during the 2012 season. During the playoffs, Goldson recorded 21 tackles with zero sacks and one forced fumble, which came against the Green Bay Packers in the 45-31 victory in the wild card round. Over the past four seasons, Goldson made at least 67 total tackles and over the past two seasons he has recovered three fumbles and made nine interceptions.
Goldon has been consistently healthy over the latter part of his career, playing in 16 games in three of the past four seasons, while playing in 14 last year. The 49ers defense was one of the top rated in football and allowed the fourth-least passing yards per game in the NFL with just 200 per game.
The safety was drafted in the fourth round with the 126th pick out of Washington and has played his entire career for the 49ers. He was selected as a Pro Bowler for the second straight year and was also named first team All-Pro in the secondary in 2012. If the 49ers were to franchise him again, the number would rise by 120 percent to $7.454 million.