The New England Patriots are diving headfirst into a new chapter. Jerod Mayo has taken over the reins from HC Bill Belichick, who had been in charge for more than twenty years. Additionally, the team will see some fresh faces in their special teams unit, as the renowned special teamer Matthew Slater will no longer be present. Slater recently announced his retirement, which did not come as a surprise since he was already honored by the team in Week 18 of the previous season and had hinted at leaving the game. In light of this, Belichick expressed his admiration for Slater in a heartfelt message (via Adam Schefter). “Matthew Slater deserves all the praise one can receive. He is an extraordinary individual and the greatest special teams player in NFL history. His unwavering work ethic, day in and day out, has paved the way for his unmatched performance. Matthew exemplifies what it means to be an intense competitor and a remarkable human being,” Belichick stated.
Bill Belichick statement on Matthew Slater: “Matthew Slater deserves all the praise one can receive. He is an extraordinary individual and the greatest special teams player in NFL history. His unwavering work ethic, day in and day out, has paved the way for his unmatched… pic.twitter.com/myW1BeuuDa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 20, 2024
Coming from a coach, this is the ultimate compliment. Slater is undeniably one of the most exceptional special teams players of all time and should be a strong contender for the Hall of Fame as soon as he becomes eligible. His impact on the team extended far beyond the field, as he also served as a strong presence and voice in the locker room during his decade-long tenure as one of the team’s captains. He played a crucial role in establishing and upholding the culture and high standards that made the New England Patriots the team to beat in the NFL. Now, it remains to be seen if first-year coach Jerod Mayo will choose to retain Slater to assist him during the transition to this new era of Patriots football.
According to the Source thecoldwire.com