FOXBORO, Mass. — Early in Monday’s training camp practice, the New England Patriots announced Matthew Judon would speak to reporters after the session ended. It was fair to wonder whether we’d get a positive update from Judon, whose practice participation has fluctuated amid his ongoing contract dispute.
Well, after hearing Judon speak for just over four minutes, we have an even blurrier picture of his standing with the Patriots. The star edge rusher kinda-sorta opened up on his situation, but he also dodged many questions and was far less candid and playful than in his last meeting with reporters.
What’s Going On With Matthew Judon?
Let’s do a quick recap of the Judon situation.
Judon, who’s entering a contract year and isn’t guaranteed any money, participated in mandatory minicamp after sitting out voluntary OTAs in the spring. He then participated in the first four non-padded training camp practices, and along the way gave a wildly honest press conference in which he went public with his desire for a new deal.
The situation escalated last Monday when Judon arrived in street clothes for the Patriots’ first fully padded practice. Judon sat on stacked tackle mats for a few minutes then moved to a flipped-over trash bin. It was then that Judon was approached by head coach Jerod Mayo, who appeared to tell him to leave the field.
Roughly 20 minutes later, Judon returned to the field and had an animated discussion with de facto Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf and top front-office assistant Matt Groh.
Jerod Mayo appears to exchange some words with Matthew Judon who is not participating in practice today. Judon seen exiting the field after their conversation 👀 pic.twitter.com/BJvP64tnpS
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 29, 2024
Judon wasn’t at practice the next day and reportedly never went to Gillette Stadium. The Patriots were off on Wednesday, a day that saw Davon Godchaux extended and Judon using social media to refute a report about a new contract offer.
Judon participated in the next three practices, two of which were in full pads. He played well and appeared to be in good spirits.
That brings us to Monday, when Judon participated in another fully padded Patriots training camp practice.
Judon Answers Questions About His Patriots Contract
Monday’s news conference began with Judon recruiting Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who said “next question” when asked about Judon’s contract. Patriots PR then told Tavai to leave the podium, and things got serious.
Here’s the full transcript, with questions paraphrased:
Question: What happened at practice last week?
Judon: “We had a conversation. I didn’t want to be distracting to the team, so I went inside. I wasn’t participating in those drills that day, so I went inside. Then I got a message, so I came back to talk to our GMs, then I went back inside. Sorry, I’m animated and I talk with my hands, but I’m gonna start talking like this (stands straight up) and not be so animated.”
Question: Mayo said you had a “productive conversation”; how would you classify it?
Judon: “I feel like that’s every conversation. Regardless of the emotions involved, you try to get to an understanding. I think just because we don’t agree, don’t mean we don’t understand each other’s side.”
Question: You said you were willing to play under your contract, then you appeared frustrated. Is it fair to say you don’t want to keep practicing without progress on the contract?
Judon: “I didn’t say nothing about practice. I gotta go out there and play, I gotta play the game. I gotta do what I’m contracted and obligated to do so I don’t lose no money.”
Question: What did Mayo and Wolf say about practice?
Judon: “You talk to them.”
Question: Do you feel like a contract is close?
Judon: “You gotta talk to them. Like I told y’all before, I will play myself so we never talk about it. It’s not up to me.”
Question: Is there a contract out there that’s a fair comparison for what you want?
Judon: “No. We have a market set by the highest guide, and everybody falls in line until the next person breaks that contract. Coming from the season I had, I was injured mostly all season. So, that’s not really where my market is. ”
Question: What about your tweet debunking a report about a new contract offer?
Judon: “We’re not gonna talk about no social media.”
Question: Why have you been arriving to practice via the back entrance and not interacting with fans?
Judon: “No change. Usually, I do that when we have pads on.”
Question: Are years on your contract a sticking point?
Judon: “I only got one year on my contract, so it really don’t matter.”
Question: Do you want more years? Is that a sticking point?
Judon: “What I told y’all, I want to stay here for the remainder of my career. Obviously, that would equal more. But I only got one year left. I think with more years would come more money; that’s usually how a contract works. But it’s not up to me.”
Question: Why didn’t you participate in practice on Monday and Tuesday last week, and what changed to have you start participating?
Judon: “I had something going on with me.”
Question: You said on a podcast that you proposed a contract to the Patriots. What was that contract?
Judon: “It’s in my notes, I don’t remember it off the top of my head. … I don’t remember it.”
Question: Are you in a good place mentally?
Judon: “There’s football, and there’s football business — they’re two different things. I love playing football, I love my teammates. I don’t love the business of football. But as long as I’m pointing to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, my mental space is untouched.”
Here’s a full video of Judon’s media availability:
Matt Judon’s complete comments today, where he shared a “message” spurred him to return to practice and confront Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh last Monday.
He declined to address his social media comments, share the details of his contract proposal to the team (“in my notes”) and… pic.twitter.com/BQiqdvAD6W
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 5, 2024
PFN Analysis: Judon Situation Increasingly Difficult To Read
I’m not sure what to make of Judon’s news conference.
Maybe he got a talking-to after the last media availability and had to be less candid this time around, something that might’ve made him uncomfortable. Perhaps he’s just annoyed by the whole situation and didn’t feel like engaging with reporters.
Either way, he didn’t sound or look happy, which was somewhat surprising following his uptick in practice participation.
Still, there’s some meat on this bone. Judon simultaneously downplayed last week’s apparent tantrum while saying Wolf and Groh prompted his much-publicized return to the field. If that’s true, it reflects poorly on Wolf, who should’ve known how the incident would be interpreted by reporters and fans watching practice.
Judon also admitted he’s practicing to avoid being fined — which was the most important answer.
The Judon drama simmered late last week after his return to practice, which led many to wonder whether a deal was close. But Judon on Monday sounded like someone who’d rather stay home until he’s paid, and his bizarre news conference surely will be a major talking point on Boston airwaves over the next day.
This whole thing remains a distraction, and the Patriots must find a resolution — one way or another — sometime soon.