Foxboro, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – The New England Patriots prevented special
teams ace Matthew Slater from hitting the open market in the offseason, with
the wide receiver agreeing to terms on a two-year extension on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed, though an ESPN report said the deal is
worth $4 million and includes a $100,000 bonus if Slater is selected to the
Pro Bowl.
Slater has been named to the Pro Bowl as the AFC’s special teamer in each of
the last three years and was a first team All-Pro in both 2011 and 2012. The
29-year-old has recorded 83 special teams tackles since 2010.
“He’s really pretty much a model player. I’d love to have 53 guys like him,”
said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick of Slater.
“His personality, his intelligence, his toughness, his character — both on
and off the field — his leadership is all exemplary. You couldn’t really find
anything any better.”
Slater, the son of Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater, was in the
final season of a three-year contract he signed in March of 2012. The UCLA
product entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick of New England in 2008.
