One of the most invaluable players on the New England Patriots’ roster is Matthew Slater.
The special teams legend is en route to his ninth Pro Bowl and he’s playing at an extremely high level at the age of 35. Slater is the longest tenured Patriot after playing 13 seasons with the team. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, he was asked if a 14th season was a possibility.
“You know, I don’t know,” Slater said.
Slater is going to take some time to think it over, but he won’t play for any team outside of New England if he stays in the league.
“That’s something that Shahrzad [his wife] and I are going to have to pray about and we are going to have to see what we feel like is best for our family,” Slater said. “And obviously there’s got to be a desire from the organization to want me back here. I don’t see myself playing anywhere else. So we’ll be praying about that, like we have been the last couple years. If we feel the Lord is telling us to do something, we want to be obedient in that way.”
I’m certainly thankful for all the things that I’ve been able to continue to do off the football field – relationally, and pouring into guys, and that will all factor in. And then obviously, physically and opportunity wise. We’ll cross that road when we get to it. I think now it’s important, as I mentioned in the last question, to finish out what we started here in 2020 and see where we are when the time comes.”
The Patriots’ locker room would need a new spark if Slater left, but it’s understandable following the difficult season he endured. Because of that difficult season, Slater apologized to Patriots fans.
However it turns out, Bill Belichick knows his team is much better with Slater on it.
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