Matthew Judon practiced in entrance of reporters Monday for the primary time since his season-ending harm final October.
At some point later, he opened up about his contract standing throughout a radio interview.
The Patriots borrowed from Judon’s 2024 wage to present him a elevate final August, and the four-time Professional Bowl go rusher now could be set to earn simply $6.5 million this season, plus one other $1 million in per-game roster bonuses.
That’s under market worth for a participant who led New England in sacks in 2021 and ’22. Judon was requested Tuesday whether or not he plans to “hold-in” throughout coaching camp — attend obligatory practices however not take part — if the Patriots don’t give him a brand new contract.
The brief reply: No.
Judon mentioned he didn’t be ok with the “tantrums” he threw earlier than final summer season’s pay bump and doesn’t plan to take the identical method this time.
“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 mentioned 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, who skipped the Patriots’ voluntary OTA practices, mentioned he and the staff “(aren’t) far apart” on a reworked deal. The 31-year-old missed the ultimate 13 video games final season after tearing his bicep in a Week 4 loss to Dallas.
“You’ve seen me with my helmet and jersey on (Monday),” Judon mentioned. “I’m not mad. You’ve got to hear it, like, I had a setback last year and I only got to play four games. And in that fourth game, we were getting our butt whooped. After that, I couldn’t do nothing else about nothing else. So I’m trying to play football. I want to play football. That’s what I’ve been blessed to do. I’ve been blessed to be really good at it. And so playing football is what I really want to do. The money will come. It’ll come if I’m good enough, right? If they value what I do.
“I’ve got goals. I’ve got goals and aspirations I want to get done in my career and just my legacy. So when I go back and tell my sons, ‘Your dad was kind of a baller,’ it’ll be true. It’ll be true. I think my kids and stuff are going to be set up for the rest of their life (with) how much I have already been paid. So I’m going to be all right whatever I get paid.”
Linebacker kicker?
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo on Monday mentioned veteran linebacker Jahlani Tavai has been begging to attempt his hand at kickoffs. Tavai confirmed that Tuesday throughout a Patriots neighborhood occasion, saying his rugby abilities may make him an asset in that position.
“Yeah, why not?” he advised the Herald because the Patriots wrapped up a subject day at Lilla G. Frederick Center Faculty in Dorchester. “I can do it. I still have a little bit of my kicking background from rugby. If I get an opportunity, why not try it?”
The NFL’s radical new kickoff format, which goals to incentivize returns whereas mitigating harm threat, seemingly will put kickers in tackling conditions extra typically. So, groups may benefit from having a defensive participant deal with kickoff duties — assuming, in fact, that participant can kick.
The Chiefs, for instance, plan to experiment with security Justin Reid, who’s seen motion as an emergency alternative kicker up to now and is a much more succesful tackler than Kansas Metropolis’s common kickoff man, Harrison Butker. Tavai would love an opportunity to check out for that gig.
“I’m looking forward to it if it does happen,” he mentioned. “If it doesn’t, I’ve still got the defense and other places on special teams that I play.”
Mayo burdened that Tavai must “get healthy” earlier than he’ll even contemplate the linebacker’s request. An undisclosed harm has stored the underrated ‘backer off the sphere this spring.
“Every day it’s just getting better, and that’s just been my mentality,” mentioned Tavai, who seemed spry enjoying flag soccer with children on Tuesday. “Just make sure that I take one day at a time and get to where I need to be.”
Jones on mend
One other veteran defender working his means again from harm is cornerback Jonathan Jones, who underwent offseason surgical procedure.
Jones missed three video games with an ankle harm early final season, then handled a lingering knee ailment. He performed by way of the latter, beginning the ultimate 13 video games for New England.
“(I feel) good,” Jones mentioned. “I just wanted to get that taken care of. I dealt with it all last year and kind of wanted to come out and start fresh and be healthy.”
Jones’ restoration has restricted his participation this spring, leading to elevated reps for gamers like Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson and Azizi Hearn. The 30-year-old Jones initiatives as a starter at outdoors nook, his main place for the final two seasons after manning the slot earlier in his profession.
Additional factors
The Patriots claimed rookie linebacker Steele Chambers off waivers from the Lions and waived rookie linebacker Jay Particular person in a corresponding roster transfer. Chambers went undrafted out of Ohio State this spring … Patriots gamers are excited to welcome Tom Brady again to Gillette Stadium on Wednesday for his jersey retirement ceremony. “It’s gonna be dope,” offensive lineman Mike Onwenu mentioned. “A lot of old guys coming in. There’s gonna be a lot of new faces and a lot of old faces, so it’ll be good to talk to them and just pick their brains, and see Tom for sure.” … Onwenu has been the Patriots’ best choice at proper deal with since halfway by way of final season, however he noticed time at his outdated proper guard spot throughout Monday’s minicamp follow. Why? “Pretty much just getting the best five on the field,” he mentioned Tuesday. “I’ve obviously played guard before, so they wanted me to just practice a little bit of both just in case.” … The Celtics will play Sport 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday in Dallas. Jones’ prediction: “I feel a sweep coming.”
