New England Patriots: Why Matthew Slater is a Hall of Famer

Matthew Slater was one of the few New England Patriots players to get a Pro Bowl nod and it shows how special of a player he is. Slater should be headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he retires.

The New England Patriots are used to seeing a lot more of their players make the Pro Bowl compared to the three who were selected this year. In a year full of disappointments, Matthew Slater has been one of the few players who were consistent.

Slater has been able to etch out an entire career with his ability on special teams. That isn’t something that a lot of players have been able to do.

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This Patriots season has been filled with players not living up to their potential. While some players like J.C. Jackson and Damien Harris have had impressive seasons, that can’t be said for the rest of the crew.

Slater doesn’t exactly get the love that he deserves. As a member of the special teams unit, his job is a thankless one. Unless Slater makes a spectacular play covering a punt, he is pretty much ignored.

But this is Slater’s ninth trip to the Pro Bowl. The only Patriots player who has more Pro Bowl honors is Tom Brady. Does that put Slater’s greatness into perspective?

Well if that doesn’t, just listen to what Bill Belichick said. He called Slater one of the best in NFL history.

"“It’s got to be at the top,’’ Bill Belichick said Tuesday when asked about Slater’s place in NFL special teams lore. “I can’t think of anybody that’s done more than he has and that’s done it over a very consistent period of time at an extremely high level, in addition to all the other qualities that he brings off the field — leadership, just doing the right thing, just the person and human being that he is. But his competitiveness on the field, he’s a great teammate — just outstanding in all areas.’’"

Slater is a shoo-in for the Patriots Hall of Fame. If he doesn’t get into that it would be a bigger shock than Brady leaving New England. But what about a spot in Canton, Ohio?

When fans think of great special teams players, they think of Slater. He has absolutely redefined what it means to be a member of the unit.

There is also Slater’s role in the locker room. Compared to punters and kickers who can be left on their own island, Slater is a leader in the locker room and has even been named captain. It’s clear how highly his teammates view him.

So it might seem crazy to believe that Slater should be in the Hall of Fame. They haven’t even put Steve Tasker in yet for crying out loud.

But Slater is that great and deserves to be honored. If Belichick thinks he’s the best, Slater deserves a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.