Patriots LB Matt Judon reveals how teammates have helped his career year

FOXBORO — Matt Judon is enjoying a career year.

Perhaps he should thank Bill Belichick.

Or Matthew Slater. Or Devin McCourty. Or even Adrian Phillips and Ja’Whaun Bentley.

According to Judon, he’s stolen from all of them while matching a career high in sacks this season with seven games still to play.

“I appreciate all my teammates, man. For the season I’m having, I always give the credit to my teammates,” Judon told reporters Tuesday. “Seriously.”

More specifically, the 29-year-old said he’s adopted riding the wind bike from Slater, a 14th-year vet and 9-time Pro Bowler. After workouts, Judon said he’ll hang in the sauna with Phillips and Bentley. Though Judon admits he can’t stand the heat like they do.

And sometimes the former Raven will soak in a salt bath or in the hot tub, a la Devin McCourty; the second-longest tenured Patriot after Slater.

“That’s how you create bonds, and that’s how you become a family,” Judon said. “So I just appreciate everybody in that locker room.”

Shortly after Judon opened his first training camp in New England, word of his impact on the locker room began trickling out. And as he did Tuesday, Judon deflected credit to his teammates. He said the Patriots had welcomed him for the person he is, and that’s what allowed for such a seamless transition.

What Judon omitted, until Tuesday, is that his presence has begun to rub off on his teammates. The dancing, the blaring music, the extra running and work on ankle mobility. Judon claimed he’s also coached up young pass rushers Josh Uche and Ronnie Perkins in private sessions.

And Perkins isn’t the only rookie Judon’s reached. In an effort to further connect the locker room, Judon often approaches rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who wouldn’t reveal much about their conversations except to say Judon is a “funny guy.”

“Mac (Jones) really doesn’t talk, so I always go talk to him, make him talk. And the practice-squad guys, they kind of don’t talk, don’t ‘ have big roles on the team … but I make sure we talk to them because they are a part of the team, and they get us better every week,” Judon said. “So I don’t want to shun them or make them feel different.”

In addition to his sacks, Judon’s posted 37 tackles and a team-high 19 QB hits this year. If he stays healthy, the veteran pass rusher should start every game in a season for only the second time in his career.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3czxrp3