New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon and the team are reportedly “far, far, far” apart in contract negotiations, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi.
Judon was not at practice on Tuesday, following his public display of frustration when speaking with Patriots coach Jerod Mayo on the field on Monday. The four-time Pro Bowler is looking for a restructured deal in the final year of his contract, and things appear to be reaching a boiling point.
Judon has been a key defensive player for New England since he arrived in 2021. He has tallied 32 sacks and 133 combined tackles in three years with New England.
Giardi wrote:
Judon said all the right things less than a week ago. He admitted not getting a contract extension or a raise bothered him, but he signed the deal and said he would honor it. That changed late Monday morning, and from what I can gather from talking to league sources, Judon’s frustration bubbled over because the two sides remained far, far, far apart on any modifications to the deal.
One has to wonder how this situation will ultimately play out, especially if the two sides fail to reach a middle ground at the negotiating table.
Hopefully, a fair resolution for both sides comes soon because the Patriots are clearly a better football team with Judon on the field.