The 49ers passed on using the franchise tag on safety Dashon Goldson earlier this week, something that made the safety happy.
His happiness isn’t because he doesn’t want to remain with the team, however. Goldson said during an interview with Sirius XM Radio that he is still hopeful that he can work out a long-term contract that allows him to stay with the 49ers in 2013 and beyond, although he admitted that there isn’t much talk about a contract going on right now.
“I still hope there’s a future for me in San Francisco but as far as the overall feeling, it feels good. I really hope something works out in San Francisco, its home for me,” Goldson said, via Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’re making good progress of bringing that tradition back. Right now, there has not been much talk. Hopefully something picks up and if they are not, I will be interested in what other teams would have to say.”
During the interview, Goldson said, via the San Jose Mercury News, that he was open to playing “pretty much anywhere” if things don’t work out in San Francisco. He was was asked about the prospect of playing for the Bengals and had a positive reaction to that possibility.
“I like those guys down there. I went to school with Reggie Nelson, played with Nate Clements, I was here with Taylor Mays and Manny Lawson so I’m familiar with some of those guys and how they play,” Goldson said. “They’ve got a good football team down there. They’re on track and they’ve got a good quarterback and receivers. I will have to consider all my options and we’ll have to see whose interested in me.”
The Bengals do have a need to upgrade at safety, although Goldson figures to have quite a few bidders when free agency gets underway next week.