Tag: Matt Judon

Matt Judon’s three-word reaction to Keion White’s breakout performance

Matthew Judon comments on Keion White’s breakout performance

Former New England Patriots linebacker Matt Judon had a three-word reaction to Keion White’s breakout performance in the Patriots’ Week 1 upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

“3 of em,” Judon posted on Instagram, referring to White’s sack total in the game.

White finished the game with four tackles and 2.5 sacks against a Bengals offense led by a returning Joe Burrow. The second-year defensive end wreaked havoc along the offensive front and played game-wrecker in place of Judon, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in August.

There was hope that White could help fill the pass-rushing void left by Judon. So far, so good for the second-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech.

“Passed the torch,” White responded to Judon.

The Patriots got creative by moving White around to multiple spots along the defensive front. It’s impressive that a player with such limited NFL experience was able to seamlessly move between positions like White did in Sunday’s opener.

Judon would make any team instantly better. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler who deserves the respect as such. With that said, White showed he is ready to step beyond the shadows and carry the torch to the moon.

Opposing offenses should be wary.

Latest report on Matt Judon’s exit from Patriots paints ugly picture

The Patriots reportedly grew “sick” of Matthew Judon’s behavior

The latest report on the lead-up to the split between linebacker Matthew Judon and the New England Patriots doesn’t paint a pretty picture.

NFL insider Albert Breer shared some insight on the situation on NBC Sports Boston on Friday. According to Judon, the split was mostly due to the two sides never sitting down and having a face-to-face conversation about a contract extension.

However, Breer explained that things went deeper than just numbers on paper.

“Judon was not as well-liked by the coaches and front office people as you might have thought,” said Breer. “And that was really part of it in the end that they were just sick of him. They felt like there was a public face of Judon, and there was Judon behind the scenes.

“Judon behind the scenes has sort of become a little bit of an operator, and his act had worn thin with people inside the building. It’s something that was an issue in Baltimore, too. So it’s not saying he’s a bad guy, but there was some of this sort of cheerleader stuff on social media that a lot of people in the organization would roll their eyes at.”

Regardless of how things ended, it’s disappointing that the two sides weren’t able to come together and fix things.

Perhaps the situation worked out for the best in the end. Judon got traded to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Patriots got a 2025 third-round draft pick to use in their ongoing rebuild.

It really is a win-win for both sides.

Here’s the first look at former Patriots LB Matt Judon in Falcons attire

Matthew Judon is still rocking the color red

It’s a new team and the same color for former New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon.

The four-time Pro Bowler made his first public appearance since being traded to the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday. He was seen on the sidelines in Baltimore chatting up some of the players ahead of Saturday’s preseason game between the Falcons and Baltimore Ravens.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Judon, who was drafted to Baltimore in 2016. The moment also highlighted his new reality with his third NFL team. After three seasons with the Patriots, the man with the red sleeves will embark on the next chapter in his football journey.

And apparently, he’s keeping the red sleeves intact.

No team ever gets better after losing an impact player like Judon. However, the Patriots have the pieces to still be successful on defense without him.

Second-year outside linebacker Keion White could be on the verge of a breakout year, and Anfernee Jennings, who stepped up when Judon went down with a season-ending injury last year, is back in the fold. The team also has Joshua Uche and Oshane Ximines to help fill the void.

New England prepared well for this moment.

Report: NFL executives ‘shocked’ by Matt Judon trade compensation

A couple of executives were reportedly “shocked” by the return the Patriots got for Matthew Judon

The New England Patriots traded away Pro Bowl linebacker Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday night in a move that sent shockwaves throughout the NFL.

Many Patriots fans were upset by the move, as Judon had been a staple of the Patriots’ pass-rushing attack for the last three seasons. However, there were reportedly at least two executives who were surprised by the return the Patriots got in the trade.

NBC Sports Boston’s Phil A. Perry shared his insights on the move Wednesday night.

“I talked to a couple of executives just tonight about an hour or so ago. One of them use the word ‘shocked’ to describe the return that the Patriots got, figured that it would be a later round pick,” said Perry. “I think even the Patriots, if you gave them some truth serum, were surprised that they ended up getting a third-round pick for Matthew Judon.”

The move undoubtedly was a tough pill to swallow for Patriots fans, who enjoyed both Judon’s production on the field and personality off it.

This could be one of those hard moves that ends up paying off in the long run for a Patriots organization currently undergoing a rebuild.

Falcons reportedly have no new contract deal in place with Matt Judon

Matt Judon is reportedly expected to play on his current deal with the Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons completed the trade for Matthew Judon, but per NFL on CBS’ Jonathan Jones, the team does not have a new contract in place for the former New England Patriots outside linebacker.

So the four-time Pro Bowler will play in Atlanta for the same $6.5 million that he would have played for with New England.

“New Falcons pass rusher Matt Judon will come to Atlanta without a new contract in hand, sources say, and there’s not an expectation one is imminent,” Jones posted on X. “He’s set to play for the Falcons on his current deal that’s paying $6.5 million.”

It’s a risky move for the Falcons, who exchanged a third-round draft pick in the trade with the Patriots.

The New York Jets are in a similar bind right now with linebacker Haason Reddick, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round draft pick. Reddick recently requested a trade after failing to reach an agreement on a new deal with the Jets.

It’s a messy situation that could have been avoided if the Jets made sure to agree on the parameters of a contract with the player before making the trade.

Now, the Falcons have willingly decided to take the same risk with Judon.

This might not be a case of the player stomping his feet and asking to be traded. Judon might very well play out the rest of his contract and walk out of the door for nothing in free agency—all at the expense of a third-round draft pick.

Cardinals could have traded for Matt Judon, who gets sent to Falcons from Patriots

The Falcons only give up a third-round pick to land the veteran pass rushed with 32 sacks over the last three seasons.

After the season-ending knee injury to second-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari, many expected the Arizona Cardinals to make a move to try and bolster their pas rush and outside linebacker position.

While the options in free agency were not ideal, perhaps the most attractive option was making a trade with the New England Patriots for linebacker Matt Judon, who has had 32 sacks over the last three seasons.

He was in a contract dispute with the Patriots entering the final year of his deal and coming off a season in which he played in only four games and had four sacks.

However, the Patriots traded Judon to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons only had to give up a third-round draft pick next year to get him.

Of course, they will now give him a contract extension. Judon turned 32 on Thursday and is coming off a season that ended in injury.

Why didn’t the Cardinals make that deal?

It would have made sense.

The Cardinals lack any proven pass rusher. It is their most glaring need on defense. Judon would have immediately made the defense better.

There were no rumors of the Cardinals even engaging in trade talks. The Falcons reportedly beat out the Chicago Bears for a deal.

However, this trade does sting for many fans. The Cardinals still have done nothing of note at the position other than sign Marquis Haynes, whom they released just days later. Had Judon never been dealt, it would be easy to say that he just wasn’t available. Getting traded to Atlanta, though, means the Cardinals could have gotten him if they wanted, and they apparently just didn’t want to.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Jerod Mayo comments on Matt Judon and Davon Godchaux contract issues

Jerod Mayo shares thoughts on Matt Judon and Davon Godchaux contract situations

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo made it clear that the team wants linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux on the roster.

When speaking with media members on Tuesday, Mayo was asked about the ongoing contract issues with the two standout defenders.

Both Judon and Godchaux are in a contract year and looking to renegotiate their deals. The timing is impeccable on their part considering the team has been on a cash-spending spree, particularly with in-house talent, throughout the offseason.

Things are a bit trickier with Judon and Godchaux being two aging veterans. This isn’t the same situation the Patriots were facing when paying an emerging young superstar talent, like Christian Barmore.

“We want those guys here. We are going to do everything possible,” said Mayo.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss appeared on “Toucher and Hardy” on Monday and reported that the Patriots and Judon are talking. So it isn’t a situation where either side has shut down the possibility of a deal coming together.

Judon missed most of the 2023 season with a torn biceps injury, but when healthy, he has proven to be a Pro Bowl-caliber pass-rusher. Meanwhile, Godchaux has been a dominant run-stuffer along the defensive front with Barmore.

The talent is evident to a Patriots team looking to keep their defensive unit strong heading into the 2024 season. They liked what they had on that side of the ball last year, and they’ve made every effort to ensure that it stays near identical.

Latest update on Matthew Judon’s uncertain contract status with Patriots

Here’s the latest on Matthew Judon’s contract situation

Matthew Judon has reportedly received a contract offer from the New England Patriots, but as of right now, the two sides are “not close” to agreeing on a deal, according to Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna.

The four-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher is entering the final year of his contract in New England, and he could be eyeing free agency in 2025, unless an agreement can be made.

“Matthew Judon has asked for a new contract and the Patriots have made an offer, according to a source close to the situation. But they are not currently close to agreeing to a new deal,” McKenna posted on social media.

Judon turning 32 years old in August might have an impact on the negotiations.

Any smart team would be looking to protect itself from potentially overpaying for an aging player who missed most of 2023 with a season-ending injury.

Of course, Judon might see things differently. When healthy, he has been arguably the Patriots’ best player. The team has been throwing a lot of money around to re-sign other key in-house talents, including Christian Barmore, Kyle Dugger, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, Anfernee Jennings and Mike Onwenu.

Why not pay to keep a top-tier defensive talent like Judon?

The veteran pass-rusher recently shared his doubts on social media about a new deal getting done, when responding to a post from a fan.

“Ion think that’s about to happen,” Judon posted.

The two sides still have plenty of time to revisit the conversation before other teams enter the discussion. Judon showed up at mandatory minicamp, and he has remained a full participant in the spring practices.

At least for the present, this doesn’t appear like an issue that will disrupt what the Patriots have going on the field this season.

Matt Judon takes aim at Patrick Mahomes and officiating in Patriots’ loss

Matt Judon clearly wasn’t happy with the way Sunday’s game was officiated.

New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon clearly wasn’t a fan of the officiating in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Patriots played host to the defending Super Bowl champions in the matchup, which included multiple questionable calls on the field.

This comes a week after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ on-field meltdown after what he deemed as poor officiating in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. Mahomes and coach Andy Reid were both fined for their post-game comments about the officials.

The tables have clearly turned this week with the Chiefs getting the calls and the Patriots getting the short end of the stick. One of the plays in question was this holding penalty on Patriots cornerback Alex Austin, which negated a Jabrill Peppers fumble recovery.

It’s easy to see why that call would upset people. One of those individuals was the Patriots’ four-time Pro Bowl defender, Judon, who took aim at both the officiating and Mahomes after the game.

The Patriots put up a fight against the Chiefs but ultimately fell short in a 27-17 loss. It marked the team’s 11th loss of the season and kept them on track for one of the top-two picks of the 2024 NFL draft.

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Raiders, Patriots final Week 6 injury report: CB Nate Hobbs to miss third straight

Raiders CB Nate Hobbs to miss third straight. Meanwhile the Pats are without WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and DE Matt Judon

It’s getting closer to the time when the Raiders will have wished they just sent Nate Hobbs to injured reserve. The third-year cornerback suffered an ankle injury in the days leading up to their Week four games against the Chargers that caused him to miss that game. Now he will miss his third straight game when a trip to IR would have meant he missed four games.

Hobbs’s absence obviously makes the Raiders short-handed on defense. He is the best cornerback on the roster and their primary slot cornerback. The first three weeks, he was a starter along with Marcus Peters and Jakorian Bennett. It’s possible that come Sunday, Peters could be the one of those three on the field.

Bennett is Questionable for the game after being limited all week with a shoulder injury.

Last week against the Packers, it was Tyler Hall and Amik Robertson who received the bulk of the snaps at cornerback and that figures to be the case again.

Missing for the Patriots is Pro Bowl defensive end Matthew Judon (elbow) along with wide receivers Demario Davis and JuJu Smith-Schuster who both are OUT with concussions. A number of other players are Questionable.