Jerod Mayo says what needed to be said about Matthew Judon and Davon Godchaux amid contract uncertainty

Linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux are entering the final year of their deals and are looking for new contracts.

However, despite the veterans reporting back for training camp on Tuesday, the two do not have new deals yet.

And there were some questions about whether they would hold out from practice until a deal is done. Jerod Mayo put that narrative to rest when speaking with the media.

"The relationship (between those players and the team) is still good," Mayo said. "At least from my perspective. I know that their teammates definitely respect them. Those are valuable pieces of the organization. They've done a lot for us."

His next sentence was very telling about what might be to come.

"Hopefully we can get something done and those guys are here. I want them here. (Patriots executive vice president of player personnel) Eliot (Wolf) wants them here. The team wants them here," Mayo added. "There is a business aspect to everything, though."

Mayo wasn't kidding when he said the team wants those two guys to stick around.

Following Mayo's press conference, linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley and cornerback Jonathan Jones spoke with the media and were asked about the significance of keeping those two players.

"Those guys make a lot of plays," Jones said. "Those guys got those plays that aren't always calculated in the stat book. But those are players that are necessary."

Bentley was asked specifically about Judon, and his answer shows just how beloved the linebacker is in the locker room.

“I think you already know the answer. He’s a very significant part to what we want to do with the defense. Not going to get into all the stuff they got going on. Leave that up to them, Bentley said. "Glad to have him on the field, so whatever they can do to get that done."

Mayo confirmed that the two players did report for the start of training camp, so this is a good sign.

Now let's see if they can lock down these two integral pieces of the defense.