PATRIOTS NEWS Slater gone

[Force Zero Boomer]

Tasker getting in has or at least should have no bearing whatsoever on Slater getting in.

"If A got in, then why isn't B in?" Eventually that argument will get Stanley Morgan in the Hall. Not sure it will work for Slater, though.

 

[Triumph]

Lol

I can't fight but my brother can lol he loves BB and Slater just as much as me

Spanky wont be a problem, but if you start to win watch out for his dog Petey.

 

[PaulThePat]

My lasting memory of Slater will be him saying "we want the ball" after the Falcons OT coin toss. Have a vague memory that we had said the wrong thing in a recent OT and Slater was being OTT obvious in both words/gesture to make sure we got the ball.

 

[203Pat]

Did you just use Mayo and force together? Mayo forced nothing during his tenure, as the weakest coach in Pats history. Mayo's culture is what you get by default when no one is establishing a winning culture. Really, it's the opposite of what you said. A winning culture needs to architected, communicated, modeled, cultivated and enforced. It does not happen organically. This is true of any large team, sports or otherwise. It is a constant, dynamic process, but it gets easier once established and team members -- not just the leaders -- understand the goals and work to preserve and enhance the culture.

"Forced" or not, what Mayo tried to do to build a culture was will it into existence rather than work for it. To me, at least, culture is something that comes organically through what you mentioned. The Patriots culture during the dynasty was labeled as "The Patriot Way," and Bill has scoffed at that label numerous times. In my opinion, Bill felt it somewhat discredited the culture they built. A lot of people thought the "The Patriot Way" thing was some sort of magic fairy dust that was sprinkled onto the organization, but it was years of hard work, attention to detail, and holding each other accountable. When you focus on dialing in all the little things, it all ties into the big picture, and that is what drives the culture. Mayo tried to take the easy way back-in to a locker room culture by talking about it without any of the work that it takes to build it.

 

[203Pat]

Religion is a big big part of a lot of FB player's lives, just is what it is.

The thing I usually wonder when it comes to sports and religion is the percentage of religious athletes higher than the general population, or is it just the fact that some of the more heavily religious players have the platform to let the world know their beliefs? I don't have an issue with players being religious or crediting god or whatever, but having a guy on staff like Easterby or Slater who is paid to push religion in the locker room has always rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[Captain Cliche]

I know this will ruffle some feathers as I am about as anti-religion as it gets, but I don't know why the team (or any team) needs some sort of religious/spiritual advisor/team chaplain/snake oil salesmen. Can't think of many industries where some religious guy just hangs around the building waiting for someone to counsel. That always seemed like it should be a "do that on your own time" thing to me.

I don't know if it's just the numbers, but it appeared to me BB targeted players with leadership roles (team captains) and many of them seemed to also be religious. Maybe he saw that as a sign of stability?

Mayo's staff was basically guys he played with (or coached here with) or the first guy to accept the offer. Mayo seemed to try and force culture where a guy like Vrabel who has been around a while seems to know culture will be built organically if you have the right guys.

BB repeatedly said you can't coach morale/culture.
Ultimately you need leadership players that police their own.
During their hay day, opposing coaches would say the Patriots had several players that refuse to lose.

I saw one article that said in a not subtle way...Vrabel (when he was a player) told some rookies that were throwing tape balls at each other to '"Knock that **** off and get your faces in the playbook."
Glad he's back.

I also read somewhere that players would occasionally (rarely) tell the coaches that a certain toxic player had to go. This would explain why players that seemed needed were suddenly and inexplicable cut.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

Best role for Slater inside the Patriots organization would probably be as a goodwill ambassador for the team or something

 

[Patsfan1645]

Then why didn't he start to do that last season?

Who knows...Its no reason to speculate as that would be all that we could do. But I think he has the knowledge and the ability to communicate in a way that he could coach.

 

[DaBruinz]

When people say that Bill didn't show favorites I point them to Slater. An incredibly overrated and overpaid player who had the good fortune to be Jackie's kid. That made him an obvious favorite with Bill and Bob.

Yeah.. So over-rated that he was an 5-time ALL-PRO Special teams player.

Seriously. Your take is

 

[DarrylS]

I always thought he was heir apparent to Andre Tippett, Patriots' executive director of community affairs.
Andre is 65 years old now, thought he might be retiring.

 

[DaBruinz]

Every thread doesn't need to be derailed by your nonsense either, but most are.

If it makes you happy, rather than give my opinions on a message board (what a wild idea huh?) I'll just sit back and watch @sb1 spin you around like a toy. That's been worth the price of admission.

Says the guy posted the nonsense and showing that kids playing Peewee Football have a better grasp of the game than he does.

 

[DaBruinz]

Too bad about Slater but his job was just featherbedding.

I don't agree that it was "featherbedding". He's a consummate professional who can relate to all level of player. Maye couldn't say enough good things about him.

Slater is the kind of guy you want mentoring players on how to keep your nose clean in a league where it's very easy to get off track and end up as a POS like Tyreek Hill or Cierre Woods or Rae Carruth or the TE who shall not be named.

 

[DaBruinz]

Tasker is a 9 time finalist and he's still not in. His resume might be better than Slater's.

I doubt there will be any such discussion.

Tasker was a 5 time first team all pro special teamer. 7 Pro-Bowls.
Slater was 2 time first team 4 time 2nd team All-Pro. 10 Pro-Bowls.

BOTH deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, IMHO.

The HOF is supposed to be about the best players during their time. Tasker and Slater BOTH fall into that Category. As does Morton Anderson.

The fact that the Hall of Fame Selection Committees have been so biased as to purposely shun these players is why it's really just a joke.

 

[signbabybrady]

I always thought he was heir apparent to Andre Tippett, Patriots' executive director of community affairs.
Andre is 65 years old now, thought he might be retiring.

Hopefully Andre has that locked up for at least another decade. I've heard him speak and met him at functions several times he's a great ambassador for the team. I love hearing his stories and I've got a decent number of autographs of his.

 

[Zuma]

Hopefully Andre has that locked up for at least another decade. I've heard him speak and met him at functions several times he's a great ambassador for the team. I love hearing his stories and I've got a decent number of autographs of his.

I’ve told the story here before…Tippett beat the crap out of me more than once. I’ll leave it there for speculation.

 

[signbabybrady]

I’ve told the story here before…Tippett beat the crap out of me more than once. I’ll leave it there for speculation.

Did I mention I can't fight lol

 

[archstanton543]

The thing I usually wonder when it comes to sports and religion is the percentage of religious athletes higher than the general population, or is it just the fact that some of the more heavily religious players have the platform to let the world know their beliefs? I don't have an issue with players being religious or crediting god or whatever, but having a guy on staff like Easterby or Slater who is paid to push religion in the locker room has always rubbed me the wrong way.

A lot of them come from impoverished backgrounds and/or the South and Midwest where religion is much more part of life. A lot of sects of Christianity are into proselytization so they're under an obligation to tell you about it....and if they sincerely believe in God, they're going to thank Him for His blessings when something good happens.

80% of people on the planet are religious. You're more likely to run into someone who's religious than not.

 

[Steve102]

Tasker was a 5 time first team all pro special teamer. 7 Pro-Bowls.
Slater was 2 time first team 4 time 2nd team All-Pro. 10 Pro-Bowls.

BOTH deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, IMHO.

The HOF is supposed to be about the best players during their time. Tasker and Slater BOTH fall into that Category. As does Morton Anderson.

The fact that the Hall of Fame Selection Committees have been so biased as to purposely shun these players is why it's really just a joke.

Because they, like some posters, remember in their chitty HS career, that's where the coach stuck Little Timmy so he'd get some playtime. Special Teams is where you hide kids, but we aren't talking about some podunk high school team. This is the NFL, where all three phases have playmakers on them.

 

[Zuma]

Did I mention I can't fight lol

Yep that was it

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Later Slater