FOXBORO — In 2011, Patriots captain Matthew Slater was halfway by means of his first Pro Bowl season when an uncommon letter arrived in his Gillette Stadium mailbox.
The return deal with learn Dave Fipp, a reputation Slater acknowledged as belonging to the Dolphins’ particular groups coordinator. Slater and the Patriots had swept Miami that season, first embarrassing them in a season opener and surviving an in depth end in Week 16. Fipp had spent hours finding out Slater and couldn’t cease him.
So as a substitute, he wrote to push Slater ahead with heaps of encouragement and reward.
“l’ll never forget it,” Slater advised the Herald. “Because I’ve had nice conversations with coaches over time, however he’s the one person who’s written me a handwritten be aware. Every time we play Dave, I do not forget that. And I’m tremendous grateful for males like that, who’ve inspired me even when I haven’t labored with them instantly, however they’ve been supportive.
“And I have a lot of respect for Dave, the way he coaches his units and just the person that he is. Everyone I know that’s been around him says they love him.”
Fipp advised native reporters that letter remains to be the one one he’s ever written a participant. Slater has since made 9 extra Pro Bowls and three All-Pro groups and is the Patriots’ longest-tenured captain.
“To have a coach that you don’t work with every day acknowledge your work and the way that you play the game — and you only hope that you represent the game the way you play it the right way –it’s pretty cool for someone outside of this building to recognize that,” Slater stated.
The letter now resides in Slater’s workplace, proper subsequent to memorabilia and recollections from Super Bowl seasons.
“My wife’s like, ‘You’re a hoarder, you’ve gotta get rid of that stuff,’” Slater stated laughing. “But no, it means a lot to me. It was such a classy gesture.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com