Unhappy with his current contract situation, New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon had an animated conversation with head coach Jerod Mayo and Patriots’ front-office members while not participating in practice on Monday.
Judon had been a full participant in four previous practices before sitting out the team’s first full-pads practice at training camp.
He told reporters at camp on July 24 that he wanted to upgrade his contract, which will pay him a base salary of $6.5 million in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal.
“Honestly, it’s tough going into the last year of the deal. You kind of look at everybody around the league and in the building, and you see them getting deals done and worked out, and it’s tough to not be envious or jealous and stuff like that,” Judon said that day.
“But I have to focus on myself. I’m happy for those guys. As much as everybody wants to see me stay around here for a long time, it’s really not up to me. You have to ask those guys who are making those decisions.”
On Monday, Mayo approached Judon, who was watching practice from the sidelines, and spoke briefly before the linebacker replied and left the field.
Judon also engaged in talks with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and director of player personnel Matt Groh.
Judon, who turns 32 on Aug. 15, said on a recent podcast that he hasn’t heard back from the Patriots after sending them his own contract proposal.
The nine-year veteran missed 13 games last season after suffering a torn biceps against the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 4 loss.
In eight seasons, Judon has 369 tackles, 66 1/2 sacks, 165 quarterback hits, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 114 games (82 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2016-20) and Patriots (2021-2024).
