Andrew Callahan: Jerod Mayo faces first big test with Matthew Judon’s contract standoff
This morning on the Toucher & Hardy radio program, Andrew Callahan from the Boston Herald discussed the Patriots’ training camp, focusing on Matthew Judon. Callahan described Judon’s behavior during the first padded practice, where Judon sat out, had animated conversations with coaches, and then left the field multiple times. He mentioned that Judon did not practice in padded practices last year due to a contract dispute. Callahan highlighted that, despite the concerns, it’s too early to make significant judgments, noting that Judon participated fully in most practices and that the defense typically outperforms the offense early in training camp. He also discussed the potential implications of Judon’s actions and how it reflects on the coaching dynamics between Jerod Mayo and Bill Belichick. Jon Wallach asked if Mayo had passed his first big test with Judon, to which Callahan responded that it’s still too early to tell, but the ongoing contract negotiations are crucial.
WATCH HERE:
TRANSCRIPT:
Fred Toucher
Andrew, thank you for taking this seriously and being in the car with your wife, Justin. But yesterday, a lot of people are saying gloom and doom based on an early preseason camp. Take us through what you witnessed yesterday.
Andrew Callahan: So, what I witnessed yesterday was the Patriots’ first padded practice. Let’s start with Matt Judon, right? I think that’s the first reason for anyone who might be freaking out. For me, it was a bad look for the Patriots. What he did was sit to the side, chat with Jerrod Mayo after stretching, leave after about a minute, come back to the field half an hour later, have this animated 8 to 10-minute conversation with Elliot Wolfe and macro, arms waving as I was told because I was watching drills with my colleagues Zach Cox and Doug Kyed. Then he leaves again. So, I would say…
Andrew Callahan: Judon did not practice in padded practices last year when he obviously had a contract dispute with Bill Belichick. He didn’t do this, but he didn’t practice. That seems to be the line he’s drawing. Other than that, Jacoby Brissett had a great day, Drake Maye had his worst practice, the running game looked good, and it looks like they might be missing Christian Barmore, given that he’s a top-three, top-five player on this team.
Fred Toucher
All right, so let’s get back to Judon. It’s no secret that he wants a new deal. It’s no secret that they’re going to have to give him a little bit more money, at least for this year if they don’t extend him. Are you making inferences about the difference between Mayo and Belichick this early based on incidents like this one?
Andrew Callahan: No, I think it’s too early. And look, I’ll say this: aside from serious health scares like we saw with Christian Barmore (and we all wish him well, hope he comes back soon), there’s nothing within the first five practices of training camp that’s going to have me freaking out. If people are freaking out, I would just ask you this: are you new here? The defense is always ahead of the offense. Matt Judon played hardball head-to-head with Bill Belichick last year. It went all the way to August 1st. We’re not into August yet here today. Again, I will say it’s not a good look for him to come into the middle of practice and seemingly confront macro and Elliot Wolfe, but when he participates fully despite this contract, which is under half of what his value would be in the open market (talking under $7,000,000 base salary), I’m not going to freak out about the one day he wasn’t there when he participated in the other four. Now again, of course, this could get worse, but I would say everyone freaking out is making a lot of this return, which again was not good to grow and wolf. But if Jerrod Mayo had talked to him for that one minute and he leaves, the narrative in my mind would be: look at Jerrod Mayo holding his ground, sending Matt Judon away. Obviously, he didn’t stay, but I just want to make of there’s an 8 to 10-minute period that I think has got a lot of people’s attention within a five-day period that I would say, look, we haven’t learned anything yet, it’s that early.
Jon Wallach
So, you think Jerod Mayo has passed his first big test because Judon is not the only problem he has to deal with. He seems to be in the middle of a lot of stuff early on in his tenure.
Andrew Callahan: Yeah, we’ll see, right? I don’t think the test is over until this contract is resolved, or Judon is traded, or whatever place they arrive at. It’s interesting to me, though, guys, that Judon makes comments about a month ago saying, “Hey, I’m not going to hold in, that was trash, I’m not about that.” Last week, he said, “Hey, look, I don’t like my contract, but I will play on it, I will practice on it.” And then, of course, yesterday he’s not participating in practice at all. So, I would look at this maybe if I’m the Patriots, optically it’s bad, but clearly, them holding their ground is putting pressure on him in a way that’s made him uncomfortable. To me, in negotiations, that’s a sign that you’re winning. Of course, it could get worse; he could make a mess if he chooses to and go completely against his word from a month ago, let’s say like James Harden in the NBA. Personally, guys, I would just hope he picks a lane. Either make the mess and sink into it and own it, or be a good soldier, let your agent handle the contract negotiations, and hope something gets done.
