Matthew Judon Seeks Contract Upgrade with Patriots

New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon expressed frustration over his contract situation during the team's first padded practice of training camp, where he did not participate despite being present. Judon was seen having animated discussions with head coach Jerod Mayo and front office executives, voicing his dissatisfaction with a contract that pays him $6.5 million in the final year. He has publicly stated he feels undervalued and even wrote a contract proposal to the team that went unanswered. Despite his discontent, he emphasized his commitment to playing, saying, 'I signed the deal; there's my signature on it, so I've got to play on it.' The Patriots have the second-most salary cap space in the NFL, which adds to Judon's frustration as he looks for a new deal. Coach Mayo acknowledged Judon's hard work on the field but noted the complexities of contract negotiations.