Things have been getting hot between the New England Patriots and star edge rusher Matthew Judon over his contract situation.
Earlier in the offseason, Judon said he wasn't trying to cause problems as he waited for a new deal or an adjustment, but after watching other teammates get extensions, he's been more obvious in showing his discontent.
On Monday, New England held their first passed practice session of training camp, and Judon was on the field without a uniform. He then departed after animated conversations with Jerod Mayo, Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh.
Then, on Monday night, Judon's appearance on the "Shut Up Marc" podcast (originally recorded July 21) was released.
During his guest spot, Judon spoke about his deal.
"I love football. I don't love the business of football," Judon said. "I don't want to be the villain. I don't want to be the bad guy. But it's like 'Shoot, help me out. We got the most cap [space] in the league right now.
"Honestly, it's tough going into the last year of the deal. You kind of look at everybody around the league and in the building, and you see them getting deals done and worked out, and it's tough to not be envious or jealous and stuff like that.
"But I have to focus on myself. I'm happy for those guys. As much as everybody wants to see me stay around here for a long time, it's really not up to me. You have to ask those guys who are making those decisions."
Judon also mentioned that he wrote up his last contract offer to the Patriots, and they hadn't responded at the time of the recording.
"I wrote out my own contract and sent it to them. They just ain't respond yet," Judon said. "I don't do most of the talking to them. They let me play football, and I got an agent, but that one thing I did do."
New England might need to address this situation before it becomes a bigger issue for the team, and that's not something that Mayo needs to be worrying about during his first season leading the organization.
