Slater to Return in 2023

[aluminum seats]

These anti-Slater takes are legit embarrassing

It’s like saying “Richard Seymour averaged less than three sacks per season, he must have sucked”

 

[crawhammer]

These anti-Slater takes are legit embarrassing

It’s like saying “Richard Seymour averaged less than three sacks per season, he must have sucked”

I know I said I was going to shut up but are you saying Slater is as important as players like Richard Seymour?

 

[rochrist]

I'd like to see those stats. Because there's no way Slater is downing punts inside the 10 "regularly."

I'm sure he made the Pro Bowl 10 times because he's a stiff.

 

[Pape]

I know I said I was going to shut up but are you saying Slater is as important as players like Richard Seymour?

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Guess who’s back, back again, Slater’s back, tell a friend.

The only thing I’ll say is the Bill mantra was get rid of a player one year early rather than one year too late. The fact that Bill is hanging to guys like Slater and DMac really highlights where this roster is in term of talent.

We shouldn’t be ecstatic as we are for a 37 Slater coming back. The fact that a majority of people, myself included, are glad is back is pretty telling.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Guess who’s back, back again, Slater’s back, tell a friend.

The only thing I’ll say is the Bill mantra was get rid of a player one year early rather than one year too late. The fact that Bill is hanging to guys like Slater and DMac really highlights where this roster is in term of talent.

We shouldn’t be ecstatic as we are for a 37 Slater coming back. The fact that a majority of people, myself included, are glad is back is pretty telling.

I've never agreed with the belief Bill dumps older players because they are old.

If you look at history, he dumps older players who aren't performing up to their deals anymore and/or because they are older, doesn't want to assume the long term cap risk.

If the player is old, cheap/on a short-term deal and still of value, they can play here almost forever.

 

[RobertWeathers]

You'd better watch out, lest you get lumped in with FCB as a chronic purveyor of negative takes.

..and stupid ones at that.

 

[Steve102]

..and stupid ones at that.

Staggering.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Guess who’s back, back again, Slater’s back, tell a friend.

The only thing I’ll say is the Bill mantra was get rid of a player one year early rather than one year too late. The fact that Bill is hanging to guys like Slater and DMac really highlights where this roster is in term of talent.

We shouldn’t be ecstatic as we are for a 37 Slater coming back. The fact that a majority of people, myself included, are glad is back is pretty telling.

Keeping Slater and DMac is more a reflection on the leadership in the locker room than lack of talent. Keeping Slater one more year helps with teaching the younger players how to conduct themselves. His skills are still solid and his salary is low so there is no real downside. DMac on the other hand should retire because he has started to become a liability on the field and costs too much.

 

[crawhammer]

I'm sure he made the Pro Bowl 10 times because he's a stiff.

So now pro bowl appearances are the gold standard for evaluating a player? A popularity contest that includes fan voting.

Think about this, at this point Slater wouldn't participate in any pro bowl activity, skills contest, or (flag football) game. A gunner literally has nothing to do at a pro bowl event now.

..and stupid ones at that.

Staggering.

As far as ST players go, the most important ones are the players who actually handle the ball... returners, punters, kickers, holders, and long snappers.

Statements like Slater is one of the greatest ST players of all time are stupid. I posted a list of just great return specialists, all of who are far more impactful than Slater, a gunner. Who's a more impactful ST player, Slater or Devin Hester?

A lot of these all time great returners also were contributors in other phases. Slater registered 1 career reception. He has 1 career TD... a blocked punt that he recovered in the end zone in the 1st quarter of a week 4 game (the only fumble recovery of his career).

Other Slater career highlights...

1 forced fumble
1 blocked punt
35 yard KO return (career long)
3 offensive touches
2% offensive snap percentage
0.8 ST tackles per game

Did I miss anything? Let me know. I won't hold my breath.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Keeping Slater and DMac is more a reflection on the leadership in the locker room than lack of talent. Keeping Slater one more year helps with teaching the younger players how to conduct themselves. His skills are still solid and his salary is low so there is no real downside. DMac on the other hand should retire because he has started to become a liability on the field and costs too much.

DMC isn't coming back for $10m AAV and I agree he isn't the player he once was.

However, seeing how over the last 4 years, hes played in every game and 94% of the snaps, averaged almost 4INTs, 8PDs and almost 70 tackles a year, i'm not sure that kind of production and dependability can be easily replaced.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Guess who’s back, back again, Slater’s back, tell a friend.

The only thing I’ll say is the Bill mantra was get rid of a player one year early rather than one year too late. The fact that Bill is hanging to guys like Slater and DMac really highlights where this roster is in term of talent.

We shouldn’t be ecstatic as we are for a 37 Slater coming back. The fact that a majority of people, myself included, are glad is back is pretty telling.

He actually has kept players he thinks are key locker room guy past their primes before. The issue is just how much playing time they get. Troy Brown was cooked by 2007 but he was still here. Bruschi would have had a roster spot in 2009 had he not decided to retire in camp after seeing his performance.

Both Slater and DMac are not what they were in their primes. But both played well enough to be plus players for the team; I didn’t have any issues with their playing time last year. With Slater back this year at 37, that doesn’t mean that we need to not look for the next special teams ace in case he does have a steep drop in performance this year. It does mean that Belichick has the locker room leader he wants.

 

[RobertWeathers]

So now pro bowl appearances are the gold standard for evaluating a player? A popularity contest that includes fan voting.

Think about this, at this point Slater wouldn't participate in any pro bowl activity, skills contest, or (flag football) game. A gunner literally has nothing to do at a pro bowl event now.



As far as ST players go, the most important ones are the players who actually handle the ball... returners, punters, kickers, holders, and long snappers.

Statements like Slater is one of the greatest ST players of all time are stupid. I posted a list of just great return specialists, all of who are far more impactful than Slater, a gunner. Who's a more impactful ST player, Slater or Devin Hester?

A lot of these all time great returners also were contributors in other phases. Slater registered 1 career reception. He has 1 career TD... a blocked punt that he recovered in the end zone in the 1st quarter of a week 4 game (the only fumble recovery of his career).

Other Slater career highlights...

1 forced fumble
1 blocked punt
35 yard KO return (career long)
3 offensive touches
2% offensive snap percentage
0.8 ST tackles per game

Did I miss anything? Let me know. I won't hold my breath.

You are showing your football ignorance.

You were better off leaving the thread.

 

[crawhammer]

You were better off leaving the thread.

Probably. But not for the reason you state.

You are showing your football ignorance.

Seriously, help me out. Tell me specifically where I'm wrong. Where's the justification for qualifying Slater as a great ST player as it relates to the importance and impact of other all time ST players?

I gave you Slater's career highlights. Literally all of them in a few lines. Tell me what I missed.

I'm not saying Slater sucks at what he does. He registers 0.8 tackles a game and downs a punt occasionally (there's not even an official stat for this "important" task). He doesn't do much. On the field. During the game.

 

[Huckleberry1]

what a complete joke. Slater sucked last year and has sucked for several years. waste of $ and the effing special teams were atrocious....why In the wtf are they bringing him back? is this so Bill the Coach can "communicate" w younger players? such a waste of $

You are a moron.

 

[JackBauer]

crawhammer just take the L dude

 

[DaBruinz]

Here are some ST players worth talking about...

Devin Hester
Deion Sanders
Brian Mitchell
Dante Hall
Josh Cribbs
Eric Metcalf
Dave Meggett
Darren Sproles
Desmond Howard
Antwaan Randle El
Leon Washington
Cordarrelle Patterson
Mel Gray
Glyn Milburn
Gale Sayers

Every single one of them did returns only. We get it. You like them for the flashy TDs they got. Completely ignoring the other FOUR facets of special teams.

 

[DaBruinz]

Generally this notion of "3 phases" drives me crazy. ST is nowhere near as important as offense and defense. And as far as importance of ST players... return specialist, kickers, punters, even long snappers, you know, players who regularly handle the football, are more important than gunners.

So, YOU, Mr. Crawhammer know more than Bill Belichick and every OTHER head coach in the history of football who has stated that Special Teams is just as important as offense and defense.

Slater is more than "just a gunner". He's out there on Opposing Punts, Opposing kick-offs, Opposing Field goals, Kick Coverage, and Punt Coverage. 5 of the 6 Special Teams situations.

Slater has been selected as an ALL-PRO twice FIVE times (2 - 1st team, 3- 2nd team; all in the last 7 years) for his special teams play. You don't get selected as an All-Pro because you contribute nothing..

 

[DaBruinz]

Guess who’s back, back again, Slater’s back, tell a friend.

The only thing I’ll say is the Bill mantra was get rid of a player one year early rather than one year too late. The fact that Bill is hanging to guys like Slater and DMac really highlights where this roster is in term of talent.

We shouldn’t be ecstatic as we are for a 37 Slater coming back. The fact that a majority of people, myself included, are glad is back is pretty telling.

Your take that this highlights where the roster is in terms of talent is as clownish as Crawhammer's. Slater continues to be one of the better special teams players in the league. Go watch his play last year. He's still one of the first guys down on coverages and I can't remember a time where he took out a teammate or blew a major tackle..

 

[RobertWeathers]

Probably. But not for the reason you state.


Seriously, help me out. Tell me specifically where I'm wrong. Where's the justification for qualifying Slater as a great ST player as it relates to the importance and impact of other all time ST players?

I gave you Slater's career highlights. Literally all of them in a few lines. Tell me what I missed.

I'm not saying Slater sucks at what he does. He registers 0.8 tackles a game and downs a punt occasionally (there's not even an official stat for this "important" task). He doesn't do much. On the field. During the game.

I suggested to you last night to look up "hidden yardage".

You haven't done it. If you had you'd understand what I and anyone who understands the importance of his role on STs is.