FOXBORO — Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon was the center of attention during Monday’s training camp practice. On Tuesday, he was MIA.
Judon, who wants a new contract from the Patriots, did not participate in Monday’s session, the Patriots’ first padded practice of the summer, but wearing sweats and a baseball hat, Judon had a long conversation with head coach Jerod Mayo while seated on practice mats. He left the field, returned and had another lengthy chat with Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf.
Judon was not present for Tuesday’s session.
The Pro Bowl pass rusher was a regular at practice for the first four unpadded sessions. He’d play catch with fans before practice and participate in individual and team drills, but things have changed now that the Patriots are in pads.
Judon held in last offseason before the Patriots gave him a pay raise by borrowing money $3 million from his 2024 salary. That leaves him with a $6.5 million base salary and $1 million total in per-game roster bonuses. Judon ranks 41st among NFL edge defenders with $7.5 million due in cash this season. He ranked 23rd last season with $14.2 million in cash.
The outside linebacker spoke on the radio in June and hinted that he didn’t plan to hold in this summer.
“You keep throwing tantrums, tantrums, tantrums, and then you don’t come out there and do what you’re supposed to do? It kind of gets old real fast, you know?” he said on 100.7 WZLX’s “The Rich Shertenlieb Show.” “I ain’t really trying to do that. I’m just trying to come out here and play football, get ready for this upcoming season, and put our defense and ourself in a position to where we can win the most games or be the most effective.
“So that’s what I’m really on right now. I ain’t worried about holding out, sitting out … kind of protesting. … Because that, last year, that stuff was trash. I ain’t really like that. Like, I’m a football player. I don’t want to get into the agency side. So I’m going to come out here and play some football.”
Judon played four games last season before tearing his biceps and missing the rest of the season.
He spoke to reporters during the first week of training camp and said that while he doesn’t want to play on his current contract, he knows he has to.
“Do I think that’s my value? No. But again, that’s not up to me,” Judon said.
“Honestly, it’s tough going into the last year of the deal,” he continued. “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 jealous or envious or something like that. But, honestly, I’ve got to focus on myself. I’m happy for those guys. As much as everybody wanna see me stay around here for a long time, it’s really not up to me. I’d pay myself a lot of money and just stay around here for a long time — but it’s not up to me.
“So, you’ve got to ask those guys that are making those decisions. And they’re trying to do what’s best for the team, rightfully so and understandably. They’re trying to put us in the right spot to win games, and leverage everybody’s contract and the right situation, make sure the salary cap is right. So, where, if we get into a tough spot later in the year, we can sign players and whatnot. But it’s not up to me, I’d pay myself a lot of money and then just be cool with it.”
Judon said he does not want to be traded. The Patriots have given contract extensions to center David Andrews, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, linebacker Jahlani Tavai and safety Jabrill Peppers since the spring.