FOXBORO — It would violate the Patriot Way, the code of conduct Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater have labored to uphold the final 13 years, to look previous a pivotal regular-season recreation and much into the longer term.
They did it anyway.
After Sunday’s 23-21 win over Miami, the longest tenured Patriots acknowledged they could have performed the ultimate residence recreation of their careers. Slater, 37, and McCourty, 35, are at present taking part in out the ultimate years of their contracts. Even if the Pats make the playoffs, all of their ensuing video games would happen away from Foxboro.
So earlier than Sunday’s kickoff, Slater and McCourty soaked within the scene round them as they stretched, and later took the sphere with their family members.
“I took a moment, spent some time with my family on the field. It’s been a great run,” McCourty mentioned. “To come out here, if this was the last one, I think to be able to leave Gillette with a win, very similar to how my first-ever game was a win. I’ve had a lot of fun.”
Slater mentioned he and McCourty have shared “numerous discussions” about their futures. Both gamers have been public about considering retirement lately, however neither dedicated to taking part in one other yr or retiring Sunday.
“I don’t know what my future holds,” Slater mentioned. “I haven’t spent a ton of time thinking about it, I’ve been trying to stay in the moment. I certainly took time to appreciate being in this stadium and running out of that tunnel today. Saw a couple of signs that were thanking (McCourty) and myself. I don’t know what either of us have in store, but I think when you get to this stage of it, you try to take in every moment and savor it.”
The Patriots drafted Slater and McCourty a yr aside. Together, they’ve reached 5 Super Bowls, gained three championships and served as captains yearly since 2011.
“What those two guys have done, what they mean to this organization, what they mean to me personally, what they’ve done here,” Bill Belichick mentioned Sunday, “it’s pretty impressive. Pretty elite.”
Over his profession, Slater has made a league file 10 Pro Bowls as a particular teamer. He additionally earned two All-Pro nods. Slater is broadly thought of to be a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. Belichick referred to as him maybe one of the best particular groups participant ever.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been or ever going to be a player better than Matt Slater as an overall special teams player and the leadership he brought to the team,” Belichick mentioned.
McCourty has backboned the Patriots’ secondary for 13 straight seasons. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie cornerback in 2010, and 6 years later as a security and earned three All-Pro second-team honors alongside the best way. McCourty has began each recreation of his NFL profession, and earlier this yr grew to become the twenty fourth participant in NFL historical past to play 200 video games for a similar franchise.
“Devin has done about everything a player could do for this program. … His off-the-the field leadership, on-the-field leadership is superior, as good as anybody I’ve ever coached at that position. He does everything right,” Belichick mentioned. “He’s finished all the things proper since he’s been right here. He is aware of the road calls. He is aware of the protection inside and outside, so he has whole respect from all people due to his preparation and his unselfish play. Same factor for Slater. “
Source: www.bostonherald.com