Slater

[long distance]

Certainly an injury to monitor. Not saying another huge retirement on horizon but he is the smartest guy who will listen to his body and knows very well his next calling in life.

from Reiss:

After a 2016 season during which he dealt with nagging injuries, Patriots special-teams captain Matthew Slater had to be frustrated Wednesday when he was forced to leave practice and appeared to be in significant discomfort, as he could hardly put one leg in front of the other after apparently pulling up. The severity of Slater's undisclosed ailment might have been tipped off when coach Bill Belichick visited him in the medical tent before Slater departed for the locker room, looking extremely stiff as he walked. Then, on Saturday when the team's injured players worked on the lower practice field, Slater was nowhere to be found. At this point, it looks to be the Patriots' most significant injury through the first nine practices of camp.

 

[RobertWeathers]

While he's still playing at a high level, over the past few years he's been beat up quite a bit.

While he's always made it to the field, gotta wonder when his body will tell him no mas

 

[doesntmatter1]

Slater almost singlehandedly wipes out punt returners. He is the best gunner in the NFL as far as I am concerned. Outside of that we will get by just fine. I hope for a speedy recovery nonetheless.

In the meantime it might be easier to evaluate special team players if Slater isn't there to force fair catches etc.

 

[maineman209]

Slater is 31 (or will be for most of this season), and his contract, like Nink's was, is up at the end of 2017. This past March, I was thinking that both of them might retire at the end of their current contracts.

If Slater chooses to retire early due to accumulating injuries, Ebner appears to be ready to take over Slater's role as ST Captain.

 

[Galeb]

As great as Slater's special teams play is, the biggest loss when he goes will be his leadership.

 

[n1997y]

As great as Slater's special teams play is, the biggest loss when he goes will be his leadership.

Hopefully he will join the coaching staff, whenever his retirement day arrives. Great performer, high character guy, couldn't have a better role model for young players.

 

[Galeb]

Hopefully he will join the coaching staff, whenever his retirement day arrives. Great performer, high character guy, couldn't have a better role model for young players.

Coaching is a ton of work. Heard he's quite the ping pong player, maybe he'll go pro.