Matthew Slater is returning to New England for a 15th season. The key special teamer is re-signing with the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $2.62MM. The deal includes a $152K signing bonus, according to Doug Kyed of ProFootballFocus.com (via Twitter).
Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, Slater has put together an impressive resume. He’s earned three Super Bowl rings, 10 Pro Bowl appearances, and five All-Pro nods (including two first-team recognitions). Slater needs just one more regular season appearance to claim sole possession of third place on the Patriots all-time games played list (behind Tom Brady and Bruce Armstrong).
Slater earned his third-straight Pro Bowl appearance in 2021 after finishing with 11 tackles in 17 games. The 36-year-old saw time in 80 percent of his team’s special teams snaps.
Originally drafted as a wideout, Slater has collected three touches for 57 yards from scrimmage in his career.
Lol at Bill Belly.. let’s pay everyone on this old aging slow team to come back and be older and slower for nostalgias sake
Yeah that’s BB’s track record
Brady made belly
He’s still one of the best special teams players in the league lol
It honestly would have been easier to say you don’t know about Slater or his game. Dude is still one of the best ST players in the league.
It’s honestly easier to tell me that you’re a pats homer then to acknowledge that McCourty, Hightower and Slater are washed. You watched the Bills not punt for not one but two whole games.. right?
Say it with me: special teams.
If you don’t even make your opponents punt, how important is spending money on special teams?