FOXBORO — Patriots particular groups captain and group legend Matthew Slater walked to the rostrum carrying considered one of Bill Belichick’s favourite articles and clothes and sporting one of many head coach’s favourite sayings.
Slater, sporting a inexperienced hoodie donning the phrase “day by day” in a information convention Thursday morning, is taking issues at that as he prepares for the Patriots’ season finale, which additionally might be his final NFL sport.
After fielding questions dancing across the matter for over six minutes, Slater was lastly requested if he’s determined that Sunday would be the final sport of his illustrious 16-year profession which has seen him win three Super Bowls, play in two extra and decide up eight All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl alternatives, a spot on the Patriots’ All-2010s and All-Dynasty Teams and the Bart Starr Award and Art Rooney Award.
“It sounds like you guys have decided for me,” Slater mentioned to laughs.
“My plan is to just take it like any season. My wife and I will make that decision with my family and go from there.”
Slater, one of many remnants of the Patriots’ 18-year dynasty nonetheless on the roster, acknowledged that Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Jets will likely be emotional as his profession winds down, no matter what he finally decides.
“One thing I will say is I feel very appreciated by the people in the building. Certain just thankful for how everyone has treated me this week, and the thanks they’ve expressed and things like that. I’m sure it’ll be emotional Sunday for obvious reasons. But my job is to focus on playing football, and I’ve always tried to do my job. So, that’s not going to change on Sunday.”
Belichick referred to Slater as “just about the perfect player” in a information convention final week and mentioned he believes the special-teamer is “eventually going to be a Hall of Fame candidate.”
There are not any different special-teams protection gamers within the Pro Football Hall of Fame, however Belichick mentioned he would put Slater in over Bills special-teams legend Steve Tasker.
Belichick’s future stays unsure as Patriots head coach, so he additionally might be getting ready for his final sport with the group. ESPN reported Thursday that the plan is for Belichick to satisfy with proprietor Robert Kraft and group president on Monday after the Patriots’ sport in opposition to the Jets. The Patriots are 4-12 on the season. It’s essentially the most video games the Patriots have misplaced below Belichick’s tenure as head coach and Kraft’s possession.
Slater has a deep appreciation for Belichick.
“It’s been transformative. I wouldn’t have had a third of the career that I’ve had without Coach,” Slater mentioned. “He’s pushed me every step of the way. He’s shown belief in me when I think a lot of people wouldn’t have. And he’s given me the opportunity coming out of college where a lot of other teams would not have. He’s kept me around a lot longer than I thought he would. I certainly appreciate that. I certainly appreciate the way he leads from the front, his example, his sacrifice, his accountability. I could go on about Coach, but simply stated, I’m not standing up here talking to you without Coach.”
Slater was chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA. He performed at large receiver and security earlier than settling into his function because the league’s high core special-teams participant.
Slater mentioned he started his profession with the legacy of being Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive sort out Jackie Slater’s son. That definitely has transcended after 16 years as a group chief.
“The thing that I value most and the thing that I hope people remember me by when my time is up is what I did off the football field, how I engage with the community, how I try to use my platform the right way to connect with people, uplift them and bring the people around me up. That’s always been my approach as servanthood, and that stems from my faith in Christ. I believe he was a great servant, a great leader. And I’ve tried to emulate that in every aspect of my life. It hasn’t been perfect by any mean, but I hope when people think about me, they don’t just think about a guy who was running up and down covering kicks, but they think about a guy who tried to pursue manhood to the best of his ability, tried to help the people around him to the best of his ability and tried to serve others to the best of his ability.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com