Patriots linebacker Matt Judon is reacting to news that he will refuse to play if the Patriots don’t give him a new contract.
“Before you guys attack me, I didn’t say that. By no means, don’t let them make me the villain,” Judon he wrote on the social networks.
According to Boston.com, Judon was refuting a report from longtime Patriots reporter Greg Bedard, who said on his podcast that Judon “will not play under his current contract.”
Judon missed most of the Patriots’ offseason volunteer work, but he participated in mandatory minicamp and indicated he is willing to do whatever is asked of him, even if he doesn’t like his current contract.
“I’m just going to get ready to play,” Judon said last month.
The Patriots veterans will be at training camp on July 23, and Judon’s public comments have indicated he will be there. Whether he is willing to practice without a new contract, however, is another question. Judon has a $6.5 million base salary for 2024, and if he meets that, he will reach free agency in March 2025.
