Here’s the full transcript of what New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon had to say on Monday, August 5, 2024:
On how he’s feeling:
Judon feels great. (Jahlani Tavai answered)
Matthew Judon: “You’re an idiot.” (Laughs)
On if he has any contract updates he can share:
“Next question.” (Jahlani Tavai answered)
On a serious note, the fact we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t ask you what happened last Monday from your perspective:
“We had a conversation. I didn’t want to be distracting to the team, so I went inside. I wasn’t participating in those drills that day. So I went inside, and then I got a message, so I came back and talked to our GMs. Then I went back inside. Sorry, I’m animated. I talk with my hands. I’m going to start talking like this and not be so animated.”
Jerod Mayo said you guys had a productive conversation, and how would you classify that?
“I feel like that’s every conversation, right? Regardless of the emotions involved, you try to get to an understanding. And I think just because we don’t agree, don’t mean we don’t understand each other’s side.”
You had said that you were willing to play for the contract, even though obviously you didn’t feel like it was your value. The read is on Monday that there was a frustration point there. Is that fair to say that you were just like, ‘Can’t keep doing this if I don’t get, or feel like there’s some progress?’
“No, I got to play. I didn’t say nothing about practice. I got to go out there and play. I got to play the game. I got to do what I’m contracted and obligated to do so I don’t lose no money.”
What did they say about practice, though?
“Who is they?”
Jerod [Mayo], [Matt] Groh:
“You talk to them. You talk to them.”
Do you feel like you’re in a place where you’re getting close to where you want to get to, or is it still up in the air with you?
“You got to talk to them, man. Like I told you before, I would pay myself, and we would never talk about it. But it’s not up to me.”
Is there another contract out there that you can point to as a framework and say, ‘This is what I feel like. This is a guy who’s comparable to me, who is getting this much money?’
“No. We have a market. It’s set by the the highest guy. Then everybody falls in line until the next person is up to break that contract. Coming from the season I had, I was injured, mostly all season. That’s not really where my market is. But like I said, I don’t think it’s $6.5 [million].”
Can I ask you for a clarification on the tweet? I know you’ve said in the past, you don’t always run your Twitter account.
“We’re not going to talk about no social media.”
Since that practice, it seems like you’ve been coming out the back-end, and we haven’t seen too many catches with the fans. Just wondering why the change?
“No change. Usually, I’ll do that when we got pads on.”
Matthew, in addition to money, is years on your contract a big sticking point right now?
“I only got one year left on my contract, so it really don’t matter.”
Do you want more on the team? Is that a [sticking point]?
“Well, I told you I wanted to stay here for the rest of the remainder of my career. Obviously, that would equal more, but I only got one year left. I think with more years, we’ll come more money. That’s usually how a contract works, but it’s not up to me. I’ll be telling you all, bro, they come out here every day. You all just don’t ask them questions. You all be asking them questions.”
Why didn’t you participate in practice? I’m referring to the last week. What changed to have you start participating in practice?
“I had something going on with me.”
You said you proposed a contract to the Patriots in a recent podcast? What was the contract that you proposed to them?
“You said what?”
On a recent podcast, you shared that you made an offer to the Patriots, something you felt comfortable with. What was that contract?
“It’s in my notes. I don’t remember off the top of my head, but somebody asked me if I was in a good mood. I’m always in a great mood. You already know that. But I don’t remember. It’s in my notes, though. If I have my phone, I’ll show you all, but I don’t.”
Are you in a good place, Matthew?
“What? Mentally? Yeah. Bro, I told you all, man, there’s football and it’s the football business. They’re two different things. I love playing football. I love my teammates. I don’t like the business of football. But long as I’m pointing to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, my mental space is untouched. I can go to somewhere to where he loves me, I love him, and I can praise him wherever I’m at within life, whether that’s emotionally, physically, mentally, or in business-wise. That has nothing to do with the man that I am.”
“I appreciate you all, though.”
(Editor’s Note: This transcript is done via the available footage and is subject to typos. If you spot something, please take a moment to let me know in the comments below.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
Same questions looking for a slip up drama nugget.