Foxborough - It took longer than both sides would have preferred, but Friday’s announcement of a reworked contract for Matthew Judon from the Patriots was always the logical conclusion.
“I’m happy. They’re happy, We shook hands and now we playing football,” Judon said Sunday.
Armed with that contract, Judon was much more involved in the actual playing of football at Sunday and - to no surprise - would have had at least one sack during a first-team offense versus first-team defense period.
“How I look?” asked Judon, adding that it’s been easy to stay ready, “As you all can see, I’m filling out this sweatshirt. I’m in pretty good shape - I’m in really good shape and just ready to play football.”
“Yeah, it’s just good to have Ju(don) back on the team,” said fellow edge rusher Josh Uche. “The energy, the spirit, the wisdom that he gives to everyone is a blessing.”
Conversations about a new deal, or what eventually ended up happening with a one-year redo (2024 remains unchanged), started way back in the spring and then lingered into the summer months. Rather than risk injury, or staying at home and getting fined 50K per day (CBA rules), Judon showed up for camp, though largely spent time either on the lower grass field working on conditioning or just watching the rest of his teammates practice. Not ideal, but the player’s importance to the defense and the influence that he wields in the locker room necessitated that the Pats make an alteration, even if they could have stood firm, something not lost on Judon.
“I think it represents they want to keep me around here, or keep me happy or just they representing they see what I did and they appreciate it, ‘ he said. “Honestly, they didn’t have to. If we’re being quite frank, they didn’t have to but they could have said, ‘You signed this and this is what you’re going to do.’ They helped me out so I could help the team out.”
Judon’s presence is unlike just about any other player on the roster. But his talent is of even more importance. Put those together and you have a player the Pats can’t really live without if they’re looking to find their way back to the postseason.
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