There’s a new leader in the New England Patriots organization and sometimes that means being the bad guy, at least in the mind of a few. When Jerod Mayo was on an NFL playing field, he was the story many times for the team, now that he is the head coach he is making a lot of headlines.

Everyone knows the current situation with Matthew Judon; he is hopping to sign a new long-term deal, one that is lucrative to stay with the team that he loves and while those details are being resolved between his agent and the team’s front office, he is not practicing.

Here is where coach Mayo enters. While Judon was on the sideline observing what was going on the field, Jerod approached him and seemed to have a somewhat intense word exchange, one that finished with the player walking off from head coach. This has been a topic of conversation, but that’s not the only thing going on.

The absence of Bill Belichick is more than felt

Jerod Mayo was one of the most advanced students of Bill Belichick while the current coach was a player, and the former coach was the main guy in Foxborough. People know they have a great relationship, and many believe that they communicate frequently but that is not the case.

Belichick has apparently not been quick to reach out to his successor to the surprise of all. “We haven’t had a lot of communication,” Mayo said while speaking to Kay Adams after a Patriots practice. “I learned a lot from Bill… but it’s a different time, it’s a different era and hopefully we can have that same success.”

Only time will tell if they talk or get together soon and if Matthew Judon signs a new deal fast enough to start the season with his future assured.