Patriots Extend Special Teams Captain Matthew Slater For 2-Years

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Extend Special Teams Captain Matthew Slater For 2-Years

Ian Logue

Matthew Slater has been an intricate player on special teams for the Patriots in recent years and it appears they'd like to make sure he stays there.

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[RayClay]

Have to admit, that's a real solid unit this year.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Awesome. Slater is an excellent player, a tremendous open field tackler. He's a great leader and a great representative of the team.

 

[jsull87]

Awesome news. The guy is a weapon. I'm glad to have him for years to come

 

[Ochmed Jones]

He is now the highest paid special teamer in the the nfl.

 

[patchick]

He is now the highest paid special teamer in the the nfl.

And yet, in another thread, posters speculated that the Patriots would let Stephen Gostkowski walk rather than pay him what the market demands. I'd be very surprised -- they value ST here.

As for Slater, he's not just an elite gunner but a genuine captain. (Remember how after the Marathon bombings, BB asked Slater to address the team?) Also a great role model for young players to embrace their ST roles rather than sulking about them.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

And yet, in another thread, posters speculated that the Patriots would let Stephen Gostkowski walk rather than pay him what the market demands. I'd be very surprised -- they value ST here.

As for Slater, he's not just an elite gunner but a genuine captain. (Remember how after the Marathon bombings, BB asked Slater to address the team?) Also a great role model for young players to embrace their ST roles rather than sulking about them.

As always Patchick makes sense. Surprised this doesn't have more replies, Slater is everything a Patriot should be.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[mayoclinic]

And yet, in another thread, posters speculated that the Patriots would let Stephen Gostkowski walk rather than pay him what the market demands. I'd be very surprised -- they value ST .

There's no doubt they value STs, and Gostkowski. The question in my mind is more one of priorities. Do they value keeping Gostkowski more than keeping Revis? McCourty? Vereen? The best depth on the defensive front 7 that we've seen in a while? At some point they may have to make some choices.

 

[mgteich]

There's no doubt they value STs, and Gostkowski. The question in my mind is more one of priorities. Do they value keeping Gostkowski more than keeping Revis? McCourty? Vereen? The best depth on the defensive front 7 that we've seen in a while? At some point they may have to make some choices.

I'm sure there folks that think that we shouldn't pay Slater top dollar since this signing would make it less likely that we sign Revis and McCourty. There are other that think the same way about Gostkowski.

Yes, every year choices are made. For some positions, Belichick invests less than other teams; RB is a glaring example. For some, Belichick invests lots more; special teams is the glaring example. This issue is a money priority issue. It is also a position priority issue. How many teams have six special teamers who only rarely do anything else (Slater, Bolden, C White, Ebner, Wilson and Jones).

AN ASIDE
For me, the allocation of resources (cap and position) is a very interesting part Belichick's decision-making. Obviously, there are many other GM responsibilities (the draft, securing players, contract negotiation, choosing coaches).

 

[mgteich]

He is now the highest paid special teamer in the the nfl.

And Gostkowski will be the highest paid kicker in the NFL.

 

[Miguel]

He is now the highest paid special teamer in the the nfl.

If Slater was not already the highest paid special teamer, who was it?