Matthew Judon has ‘excited conversations’ with Patriots about new contract after claiming he didn’t want to be ‘the bad guy’

The 2024 NFL season is quickly approaching, but it appears all is not happy on the New England Patriots’ sideline.

Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon dominated the team’s first full practice of training camp on Monday, and not in a good way.

two

Judon previously said he does not feel his contract adequately represents his value to the team and was seeking an upgrade.

He was watching the defensemen go through their drills during Monday’s practice when new coach Jerod Mayo approached him.

We’re all guessing exactly what was said between the two, but you didn’t need to be an authority on body language to realize it wasn’t the coziest chat.

After speaking for a short period of time, Judon stood up and said something to Mayo in a very direct manner, before leaving the field.

A while later, Judon was seen again, this time having a passionate exchange with director of player personnel Matt Groh and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf.

The player has made it very clear with his actions and also with his words that he is a frustrated figure at the moment.

The apparent tension came on the heels of his strong words in a preview clip from an appearance on the “Shut Up Marc” podcast.

“I love football. I don’t love the football business. I don’t want to be the bad guy,” Judon said.

“I don’t want to be the villain. But it’s like ‘Shoot, help me.’ [space] in the league now.”

Speaking to reporters last week, Judon said he would play on his current contract if necessary, but it was not a prospect he was happy with.

“I mean, if I had to, honestly. This is, again, like I signed a contract. My signature is on it. So I have to play on that,” he said.

“Would I? No. Do I think that’s my worth? No. But again, that’s not up to me.

“Honestly, it’s difficult going into the last year of the deal. You kind of look at everyone in the league and in the building, and you see them making deals and getting it right, and it’s hard not to be envious or jealous and stuff like that.

“But I have to focus on myself. I’m happy for these guys. As much as everyone wants to see me stay here for a long time, it’s really not up to me.

“You have to ask the guys who are making these decisions.”

Mayo would be forgiven for wanting the weeks leading up to the new season to be drama-free.

Either way, he has enough work to do following in the footsteps of the legendary Bill Belichick.

Belichick left the Patriots after nearly a quarter-century as head coach earlier this year.

He led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, most recently in 2019.

But he found life much more difficult in his later years, especially after the departure of great quarterback Tom Brady.