FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In his first public comments since walking off the practice field last Monday after what appeared to be an animated conversation with head coach Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon said he wasn't ready to participate that day and left because he didn't want to be a distraction to the team.
Judon, who has been seeking an upgraded contract, explained that when he made it inside Gillette Stadium, he then received a message that led him to return to the field and speak with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and director of player personnel Matt Groh.