Patriots News 7-7, Judon Out? Gibson, Tavai To Play Big Roles
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Good morning. Here are your Patriots news and notes for July 7. From all of us at PatsFans.com, we hope that you had a Happy and safe July 4th holiday. We all salute the flag and, therefore, ourselves.
The Patriots announced the training camp dates that are open to the public, and you can find those on the Patriots website. However, remember that dates and times are subject to change, so check with the site for any updates before making the trek down Route 1.
Matthew Judon: The Patriot star linebacker was one of the people I, and many others, expected to be extended during the rebuilding phase of the Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo regime. However, as time passed, the team extended the list to several other players, and Judon was still waiting.
Our Ian Logue posted on Friday that Judon may be just playing out the string on the final year of his contract that pays him $6.5 million in 2024.
A Judon fan posted on “X” that “If the @Patriots don’t give @man_dammn an extension this season, we’re f****d. Pay the man what he wants. We want a solid defense,” Judon replied, “[I don’t] think that’s about to happen.”
Soon after, Judon added another post with a Spongebob Meme that said, “IGHT IMMA HEAD OUT,” showing the character backing out the door, which closed behind him.
This could have meant that Judon was backing out of the conversation, which became negative. He had made his point. However, could this also mean the team isn’t interested in keeping him beyond this season?
While he is 32 and coming off a serious injury, he’s still playing at a high level and was on pace for a career year in 2023. That injury was a biceps tendon and won’t affect his speed off the edge or his agility.
Judon’s absence last year did affect the sack totals, as not only were his stats missing, but Josh Uche’s went way down without Judon’s presence on the opposite side. Speaking of Uche, he bet on himself this season, remaining on a one-year contract. Keion White is showing signs of blossoming in Year 2.
It is an intriguing situation; Judon remains one of the most popular players on and off the field. Right now, one could argue that he is the face of the franchise. He could be moved at the trade deadline to a team in a Super Bowl run that needs that one extra pass rusher to put them over the top.
One thing is for sure: nobody here wants to see him go, but the NFL is a business, and Judon himself knows this.
Of course, it may be posturing on his part. Not long ago, he told Mike Giardi on a podcast that the negotiations were close to finalizing a deal. “Bro, I’m in the building right now,” said Judon. “We ain’t far apart, you feel me? You’ve seen me with my helmet and jersey on. I’m not mad.”
While moving on is an option, I think the Patriots would be crazy to part ways with him. They should find some common ground and hammer things out. He’s too big a part of the defense to let go right now.
Brady: “A liar?” on Mahomes: Tom Brady recently said he admires how much fun Patrick Mahomes has on the football field and added that if given the chance, he might have changed his ways if he could do it all over again.
Brady’s former teammate Christian Fauria, now a sports radio host on WEEI, jokingly said that Brady isn’t telling the truth.
“I think Brady is a liar,” Fauria laughed. “When I heard it, I was like, ‘Who’s he kidding? He can’t change. He can’t downshift. This is not who he is. He’s not wired like Mahomes.’”
“I’ve seen him have a great time; I’ve heard him laugh and joke around,” Fauria added.
“But when it came to the game, you could see it during certain passes or where he won a game or got a first down.
“He’s extremely happy, he’s celebrating like a little kid, but the reality is he is just wired so differently than Mahomes. Everything about him is different.”
Davon Godchaux: Along with Judon, Godchaux’s contract status remains an issue. He is in the final year of a two-year extension he signed last year. He will turn 30 this season, which may be his last opportunity to sign a hefty contract.
However, Godchaux is invaluable because no one else on the roster is built like him. He and Christian Barmore are an excellent duo in the middle of the defense, eating up double teams inside.
In large part due to Godchaux, the Patriots were the #1 defense in the league yards per rush last year, allowing just 3.3 yards per rush. A two-year extension at the end of this year’s deal would serve the team well.
Jason McIntire: The FS1 host placed the Patriots along with the Broncos, Giants, Raiders, and the Cardinals in the lowest tier of his Super Bowl favorites; the “Absolutely No Way” tier. And that is fair enough, I don’t think anyone thinks that in the first year of rebuilding that they’d be a juggernaut.
However, putting the Jets in the top tier is curiously high at best. Granted, the Jets defense is stacked, having arguably one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. There aren’t any glaring weaknesses there.
But Aaron Rodgers is 40-years old and played four (4) snaps last year. Rodgers skipped the mandatory minicamp a few weeks ago when he (reported by McIntire) jetted off to Egypt to partake in whatever activity he deemed more important. McIntire himself called out Rodgers for this, stating he was “at his breaking point” with Rodgers and the Jets. What a turnaround that was for McIntire.
I do agree with McIntire that Robert Saleh really botched this entire scenario, when Saleh said that none of the players have an issue with it. It’s called “mandatory minicamp” for a reason. And for the guy playing the most important position to skip it after missing nearly the entire season, is a poor reflection on the coach.
I can’t see Rodgers at this point in his career leading a team to a Super Bowl. Yes, crazier stuff has happened, but make the playoffs first, then get on the SB hype train if you wish.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: This past week, we took the week off as Derek was traveling. However, we’ll return this week with the latest news from Foxboro in our PatsFans.com podcast.
Two weeks ago, Derek Havens and I talked about some minicamp thoughts and where the team may possibly be headed in training camp regarding the 53-man roster. We’ll have a full roster prediction soon. Please check it out.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t in is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed the game with how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
When the Patriots signed Antonio Gibson back in March, the move didn’t resonate much in NFL circles, but don’t be surprised if it pays nice dividends this year. Gibson’s touches dropped the past two seasons, but his receptions went up and therein lies in his value.
I could see him in a James White-type of role, however in Alex Van Pelt’s offense, perhaps that would be more correct as a Kareem Hunt-type of role where he could be lined up in the backfield and then split out into the slot. I could also envision Jaheim Bell in that type of role.
Rhamondre Stevenson is the #1 back on the Patriots, and he has plenty of pass catching ability of his own. But Gibson, a converted wide receiver is a different type of player. Plus, they’ll want to keep Stevenson fresh later in games and down the stretch of the season.
Jahlani Tavai was the latest Patriot to be rewarded with a contract extension. Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo have been resigning key free agents and rewarding players on the final year of their contracts.
His contract extension is for three years worth a total of $15 million, and up to $21 million if he meets some incentives.
Tavai has found a home in New England after flaming out with the Lions. A former 2nd-round pick, his playing time has increased every year and he had his most productive season in 2023.
Tavai, a 6’2”, 255-pound linebacker, is versatile and can play inside, outside, and special teams. He is a physical down-hill thumper in the running game, but is a smart, intelligent player who is rarely out of position.
Ideally, the Patriots should use Takitaki or maybe Raekwon McMillan in Tavai’s STs role. In a perfect world, Tavai would remain inside with Ja’Whaun Bentley on early downs and Marte Mapu on passing downs and combine with Judon, Uche, and Keion White who are the pass rushers.
A motor vehicle accident has resulted in the death of Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson. Killed along with Jackson were two former college football players, Isaiah Hazel, 23, who played at Maryland and Charlotte and Anthony Lytton Jr. 24, who played at Florida State and Penn State. All three were former high school teammates.
According to the Maryland State Police, the three were traveling in a Dodge Charger at 3:14 a.m. on Saturday morning, when they were hit by an Infiniti Q50 attempting to change lanes at a high speed.
The Charger, driven by Hazel, was forced off the road and hit several tree stumps. Both Jackson and Hazel were pronounced dead at the scene. Lytton, who was in the backseat, was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Neither the driver of the Infiniti, nor her two passengers were injured. The driver of a third car was also uninjured. MSP stated that alcohol may have played a role in the accident.
“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the Vikings said in a released statement. “Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement.
“Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
Jackson was drafted in the 4th-round of this year’s NFL Draft and was competing for a starting cornerback position.
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“Well, I think Jahlani has a few things going for him. “One, he’s a pretty smart kid, and he’s played both inside and outside in college and then with Matt in Detroit. So when we got him last year, he had a lot of familiarity with our system, a lot of techniques and things that we did and so forth. But just overall, he kind of has that skillset that he can play on the end of the line, play off the line, has some pass-rush ability, plays on all four phases of the kicking game.”
Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on Jahlani Tavai in 2022.
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
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