Goodness, is Matthew Judon the gift that keeps on giving or what?

Certainly not for New England Patriot head coach Jerod Mayo or general manager Eliot Wolf. But for we media types, oh, he was a cool refreshing bucket of icewater on scorching hot day.

The was a buzz on Media Hill while the Patriots practiced, because there was word that Judon might talk Monday or Tuesday. Those of us who show up at camp here and there – c’mon, there’s only so many 7 on 7 drills we can take – were salivating. Ready-made column. Even the regulars were in prayer that it would be true with pretty much a quiet day otherwise while the Patriots practiced in brutal hot sun as nary a cloud showed up until the two-plus hour session was just about over.

Judon joked with fellow linebacker Jahlani Tavai, and had Tavai serve as his mouthpiece. That lasted a couple of times and than we got down to business.

What happened last Monday when the linebacker put on what looked like a hissyfit on the sidelines with his head coach?

“We had a conversation,” Judon said. “I didn’t want to be a distraction to the team so I went inside. I wasn’t participating in those drills that day. I went inside.”

But then, Judon said, something changed.

“I got message so I came back and talked to our GM (Wolf) and then I went back inside,” he said. “I’m sorry, I’m animated and I talk with my hands.”

As for the conversation with Mayo that took place off the field that got him back on the field last week, Judon said every conversation is productive.

“Regardless of the emotions involved, you try to get to an understanding,” Judon said. “Just because we don’t agree, don’t mean we don’t understand each other’s side.”

Oh Mayo and Judon understand their side. The Patriots want to see a soon-to-be 32-year old linebacker who didn’t play for the final two-thirds of last season get on the field and do something. But long term, guaranteed dough, etc.? Why?

A Judon who played all of last year and dominated would have a legitimate gripe. Not this Judon. At least he knows he’s not in the upper echelon market-wise.

“That’s not where my market is,” he said. “But you know, like I said, I don’t think it’s $6.5 (million).”

A player comes right out and says his salary, which is almost unheard of. You know that if Bill Belichick were here Judon wouldn’t feel so free to be that specific. Or even talk. Or put on the show he did last week.

But Mayo has been trying to be the voice of reason. The guess here is until a deal is reached – if one is – Judon will be told by the team to zip it. His agents should be telling him that too.

Usually starters don’t get a sniff of the first preseason game, but it might be a good idea to give Judon a quarter on Thursday night because of all the time he missed.

But we’ll see. Judon wears it all on his red sleeves, but couldn’t remember what contract he proposed during a podcast. So why didn’t he practice last Monday and then was not even at the facility last Tuesday? “I had something going on with me,” he said.

Meanwhile there’s a lot more going on with his team that really deserves the attention as they have their preseason opener on Thursday. There’s a receiver battle. The Drake Maye saga continues while it looks like this is Jacoby Brissett’s team for the time being. He was10 of 13 with an interception and Maye was 5 of 10 with an interception and scrambled here and there. It’s Brissett’s job.

Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon talks to the media Monday after training camp practice behind Gillette Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon talks to the media Monday after training camp practice behind Gillette Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

A bigger problem is defensive tackle Christian Barmore’s absence.The Patriots defensive line needs to be a strength and Barmore, out for a while with blood clots, was arguably their rock.

So the Patriots may all be cheering Judon on in his salary dispute, but Tavai had a good answer to a question about that.

“Everybody else has a job to secure,” he said. “We’re not worried about everybody else. We just care about the moment. We’re on the field, playing football, and showcasing whatever we have. We all get that Judon’s got something going on, but there’s 89 other guys who got their jobs on the line, so I’m sure they’re worried about other things.”

That, friends, is the reality of an NFL training camp

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.