Pats LB Judon to play this season on current deal

New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon confirmed that he will honor his current contract for this season. Despite a recent conflict with head coach Jerod Mayo and team executives about his contract status, the four-time Pro Bowler was back on the practice field on Monday. “I gotta play,” Judon stated to the press post-session. “This ain’t about practice. I have to fulfill my contractual obligations to avoid any financial losses.” Judon, who has sporadically participated in training camp while aiming for a pay raise from his $6.5 million base salary in the final year of his $56 million deal, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025. “I hope to remain with the team for the rest of my career,” he expressed. “With only one year left, it’s not entirely up to me.” Judon also addressed his recent altercation with Mayo for the first time, stating, “We had a conversation. I didn’t want to cause any distractions, so I stepped out that day.” A veteran of nine years, Judon turns 32 on August 15 and missed a significant portion of last season due to a torn biceps. Throughout his career, he has accumulated impressive stats with 369 tackles, 66.5 sacks, 165 quarterback hits, nine forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 114 games (82 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2016-20) and Patriots. –Field Level Media