Judon not seen at Pats practice day after spat

Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterJul 30, 2024, 03:10 PM ET
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon didn’t practice for a second straight day Tuesday, and unlike the day before when he appeared to be animated as he spoke to head coach Jerod Mayo on the field, he wasn’t around his teammates at all.

Multiple players told ESPN they didn’t see Judon at the facility Tuesday, but it was unclear if that was Judon’s decision, or dictated by the team after what unfolded Monday.

Judon, who previously said he doesn’t feel his contract reflects his value and was seeking an upgrade, had generated attention by sitting on the top of a flipped-over trash barrel and a gym mat as his teammates went through drills Monday. It was the team’s first day in full pads, and Judon was wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt — seemingly in protest of his contract status.

Mayo walked over to him and spoke to him for a short period of time. Judon then got up and said something to Mayo before walking off the field. Judon also spoke passionately with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and director of player personnel Matt Groh.

On Tuesday, players noted Judon’s absence after the sixth practice of training camp.

“He means a lot [to the team],” fifth-year offensive lineman Mike Onwenu. “We can’t really do nothing about it. We have to continue to do what we have to do at our position.”

The Patriots’ defense was swarming in Judon’s absence Tuesday, capping off practice by winning a one-play challenge from the coaching staff — the ball was placed deep inside the red zone and cornerback Shaun Wade knocked away a Drake Maye fade pass intended for rookie receiver Javon Baker in the end zone — that led to the entire offense dropping for 10 pushups.

Asked about practicing without Judon, third-year cornerback Marcus Jones said: “I don’t know too much about it, but I know Judon, and he’s a great person.”

Judon enters the final year of the four-year, $56 million contract he signed in March 2021. He is scheduled to earn $6.5 million in base salary.

Perhaps complicating contract talks is that Judon, who turns 32 in August, missed 13 games last season with a torn biceps.

On the “Shut Up Marc” podcast posted Monday night, Judon said: “I love football. I don’t love the business of football. I don’t want to be the villain. I don’t want to be the bad guy. But it’s like ‘Shoot, help me out. We got the most cap [space] in the league right now.”