Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Locked On Patriots - August 15, 2019: Matthew Slater, Always There

Episode Date: August 15, 2019

As part of an ongoing series, host Mike D’Abate takes a look at the New England Patriots team captains.  This week, he chronicles the faith and perseverance of special teams captain and wide receiver, Matthew Slater.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thank you. on Podcast Network. I am your host, Mike DeBate, and I cover the Patriots for FullPressCoverage.com, which is where you can always find my written work, and you can also reach out to me on Twitter at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C, and be sure to follow Locked On Patriots on Twitter at L-O underscore Patriots. In the coming days leading up to the Patriots' season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, I wanted to take some time to introduce you all to some information that you may or may not know about the Patriots' team captains. On Monday, I discussed a bit about Tom Brady and his contract status, but mostly about his work ethic and determination being the reason why he continues to play at such a high level,

even at the uncharted territory age of 42. Today I wanted to share some background information on Patriots wide receiver and special teams captain Matthew Slater. Slater is among the most respected players in the NFL, and there are good reasons for that, and I'm happy to share some of those with you today. But first, a brief update on the Patriots news of the day. As Rob Thomas said in the Santana Hit Smooth, man it was a hot one in Nashville yesterday when the Patriots and the Titans took the field for the first of two joint practices this week. Isaiah Wynn continued to work his way into being more of a regular participant.

He split reps with Dan Skipper at left tackle and looked to be easing his way back into the lineup. Look for him to maybe get some action in Saturday's game against the Tennessee Titans. I think the Patriots want to see exactly what they have in Wynn and what they can expect in the regular season. However, it would not shock me if they still continued to

hold him out. Definitely want to err on the side of caution, but it's looking more and more likely like he may see some action. So I would say yes, but don't quote me on that. May not happen. You never know with the Patriots and Bill Belichick and their brain trust, but Wynn looks like he's definitely making strides to being the Patriots' starting left tackle as the season begins. Wide receiver Nikhil Harry was a surprise suit-up yesterday, but he did not practice while he continues to heal from his injury. We briefly spoke about Harry yesterday, but just his presence on the field is encouraging. Not sure if that translates into him seeing any action on Saturday.

I'd say that's highly unlikely, but still more of a positive than a negative when it comes to Nikhil Harry. Linebacker Jamie Collins was absent from the field yesterday on Wednesday, but all looks to be okay on that front. He is back on the field as the Patriots practice today on Thursday, so it looks like Collins is just fine. The day didn't pass, however, without some injury concerns, and wide receiver Philip Dorsett left practice midway through after hauling in a pass down the seam from Tom Brady. Dorsett wasn't limping as he left the field, but he was walking gingerly after crashing to the ground with the reception. It should Harris leave the field with an unknown injury. For the Patriots' wide receiver crew that's already without Harry, if they have to be without Dorsett or Harris for any period of time, even if it's brief, that is going to put extra pressure on the group going forward. So look for maybe a heavy dose this week of Jacoby Myers, possibly Brexton Berrios.

Some of these guys will get increased reps if either Harris or Dorsett or both are held out of Saturday's game. The Patriots defense had a very strong day against the Titans offense. They forced a number of throwaways by Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. JC Jackson, who's a cornerback, second year cornerback, particularly was solid. Jason McCourty did get beat over the top on a couple of plays by Titans rookie A.J. Brown and later by Taewon Taylor, but overall a pretty impressive showing for the Patriots defense against the Titans on Wednesday. And in the feel-good story of the day, Titans coach Mike Vrabel could be seen jawing at his old teammates Tom Brady and Benjamin Watson.

He commented that it seemed like old times, making comments obviously about Brady's age, Watson's age, and the two were going back and forth. And it really did have that nostalgic feel to it. From his days as a Patriots defender, Vrabel is definitely beloved in New England and with good cause. But Vrabel turned 44 on Wednesday, and in a very touching tribute, Pat's head coach Bill Belichick sent the Patriots rookies to sing happy birthday to him. That provided a bit of a lighthearted move for the day. And as we wrap the news of the day,

I just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that support for today's show comes from Manscaped, who is number one in men's below the belt grooming. You may have seen Manscaped on Shark Tank and Men's Journal recently named their Lawnmower 2.0 as one of the best tools in men's grooming. Get 20% off and free shipping with promo code LOCKEDON at Manscaped.com. That is LOCKEDON, all one word, at MANSCAPED.COM. His is a voice that New England Patriots players and fans alike know well. It's easily distinguished as the leader of the team's post-game victory cheer, you know, the, aww yeah, yep, that's this man.

And it's so commonly seen throughout social media. When the team is set to begin overtime, as they famously did during 2018's AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, that same distinctive voice can clearly be heard calling the coin toss to determine possession. It's the voice of a team captain. As such, he is one of the most respected players in the Patriots' locker room. And for the 52 remaining players on that roster, his voice remains poignant for reasons beyond just the football field. And while faith is a subjective subject for most, and this podcast today is not an endorsement of

any individual faith, religion, or creed, I bring it to you today as the best example of what makes this man who he is, and why his contributions to the Patriots go well beyond the gridiron. It's been said many times that football is the ultimate team game. To win, it takes a total team effort. The talent has to be there, as does the game planning, coaching, and even a little bit of luck. However, one of the most important elements of success in football, as in life, is faith. And successful teams almost always credit their prosperity to employing players that demonstrate enormous faith in each other. And that faith can come from a number of sources. But for Matthew Slater of the

New England Patriots, his faith remains rooted within an audience of one. And I'll get into what he means by that in a little bit. But let's give a little background as to why Slater is so well respected among his teammates and what makes him who he is. Every Monday from the opening of training camp through the season's end, Slater presides over a team Bible study. And up until this past year, he did so in tandem with Patriots character coach and former team chaplain Jack Easterby, who now works for the Houston Texans. And about 10 to 12 players regularly attend this, including safety and fellow captain Devin McCourty.

The team holds a prayer service before games, and these services are kept on a low profile. There's no cameras, there's no print media to cover them, but it's just a group of teammates that come together to celebrate their faith. And Slater, who's always front and center for these events, they look to Slater for guidance and support during these moments. And it sets the standard on the field on game day, but Slater really takes his greatest pride in the spiritual example he sets each and every day. And that's something that he always, always prides himself on, and something that really makes him stand out when he takes the

field of play. Those of you know about Slater's history, and some of you may not know, that Slater grew up in Southern California, and he's really no stranger to football. His father, Jackie Slater, was an all-pro defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1995. The elder Slater, Jackie meaning, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So to no one's surprise, Matthew developed his love of football from his dad, and he did follow in his father's footsteps, and really has become quite the professional himself. He uses the example that has been set by his father, and quickly developed a love for the

fundamentals and the nuances of the game. Recently, he even revealed to the Boston Globe that he always calls heads during the coin toss, just as his father did during his playing days. So if any of you are wondering why Matthew Slater always calls heads, it's because his father did the same thing. But in addition to his love of football, Jackie Slater passed his deep Christian faith to his son as well. And as a result, Jackie and his wife Annie and Matthew all share a religious connection to this day. And that connection has helped to shape both the man and the athlete that Slater has become. Slater on the football field is definitely no stranger to accolades. He's one of the NFL's standout special team players. He's earned seven Pro Bowl selections and two Super Bowl championships.

On the field, he is universally recognized as exemplifying what's quote-unquote known as the Patriot Way, or always knowing what needs to be done at the time it's needed most. Most of his teammates and Patriots players alike, from either current or former, would say that one would be hard-pressed to find someone on the team that's more respected than Matthew Slater. Super Bowls are not often decided primarily by special teams prowess, but anyone that watched Super Bowl 53 knows that this game was decided by special teams. Slater was always in the right place at the right time, making stops, downing punts from Ryan Allen, and that really solidified that victory en route to the 13-3 win over the LA Rams and earning the Pats a sixth Super Bowl

championship. But for all of his on-field success, the argument can be made that Slater is, as or more respected, off the field. Slater was honored with the 2017 Bart Starr Award, and this honor was voted on by his peers and is given annually to a player who exemplifies character and leadership on and off the field. His father, Jackie, also won the award in 1995, so it made them the first father-son duo in the NFL to receive this accolade. And in accepting this award, Slater cited his faith as the core pillar of his life. And in an interview he gave to Mike Lowe of the Portland Press-Herald, Matthew Slater

detailed the role that faith has played in his life. And I'm using Matthew's words here now. Quote, it's something from a very young age that has given me direction and purpose beyond what I do professionally. It's helped me lead in the home and it's helped me lead on the job. Obviously, I work and prepare to play football. I'm always going to give everything I have. But I think on the back end, where you get off the football field, the relationships which you build with people, especially in the locker room and the community and in your home, that's very important. Unquote. Slater's moral compass has directed him well within the Patriots organization. He's second to none in terms of community outreach.

In 2013, Slater was awarded the Ron Burton Community Service Award by team owner Robert Kraft, and he was done so because of his strong commitment to community service and leadership. He's also the team's representative for the United Way, and he works closely with the organization in the greater Boston area. Slater's reach also extends far beyond the Patriots. On October 25, 2016, Slater hosted a fundraiser titled Matthew vs. Matthew to benefit the victims of Hurricane Matthew and the devastation that was so, so prevalent in those areas during that time.

He raised over $60,000 for an organization known as Samaritan's Purse, which still assists in efforts in areas of the Carolinas and Haiti that were affected by the storm's devastation. And even now, three years later, he continues to raise funds and awareness for people that need it most. And because of the faith that he has, not only in himself, in his teammates, but also in the greater good, Matthew Slater's impact is indelible, whether it's on the football field or whether it's in the community. I'll continue with more on Matthew Slater in just a moment,

but I wanted to take a moment to let you know that you should be listening to Locked On NFL. The new Locked On NFL is on fire. Last week, it was one of the most listened to NFL shows. With expert analysis of former NFL scout Matt Williamson and hosted by Brian Peacock, Locked On NFL is your daily national podcast on all things NFL, including Matt's unique take on the game. Follow Locked On NFL now on your favorite podcast provider. Throughout all of his success, faith and spirituality remain the center of Matthew Slater's heart and soul.

He is active in something called Professional Athletes Outreach, and that is a fellowship and spiritual ministry that has existed since 1971. In addition, Slater has also told his faith story by video on TheIncrease.com, and that is a website where professional athletes share their stories based on their own faith and its implications in their own life. But in perhaps the best blend of his two passions, he has worked with Football Sunday. That's a 30-minute film that is available for churches to show on Super Bowl Sundays, and it also aired back in February when the Patriots played in Super Bowl 53. For as much passion as he has for his individual faith, however, Slater is never one to force that faith on anyone, especially his teammates.

Rather, he simply vows to always be there for them, should they need him. Coincidentally, they often do, and Slater's friend and teammate, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, had this to say about him in 2017. I'm using Julian's words here. Quote, Matthew Slater is probably the best teammate I've ever had. He's the ultimate team guy where you can talk to him about anything and he can help you. He comes from a strong family. He's a great role model for guys in the locker room, not only just kids, but also by the way he lives his life, he is the real deal. Edelman's words are very telling here. They really tell the story of Matthew Slater. At no time does he mention his faith or does he mention prayer or anything to that effect.

He simply mentions the fact that Slater is always there for his teammates. Whenever they need a helping hand, an extra ear to lend, someone to actually help them breaking down plays or interpreting playbook options, or even interpreting what Bill Belichick may mean by a glance or a certain look that he gives his players, Slater is always there for that. And Edelman's words are very, very poignant when it comes to that. It shows Slater's impact on the team, and it also shows the impact that he had on Julian Edelman as not only a teammate and a football player, but also a man. But Matthew Slater would be the first to tell you faith has not always been an easy path for him. His faith

was tested and then reaffirmed in his freshman year at UCLA, which is where Slater went to college. He offered the following insight in a recent interview, and I use, again, Matthew's own words, quote, when I got to college, I really had to personalize my faith, and there were some tough decisions that needed to be made. I hadn't made all the right ones. I remember coming home and my dad really challenged me. He said, hey, this is the time for you to become a man. When you say you want to be this kind of man and you profess that, well, it's time to start acting on it. There was a time when I had to trigger my faith. Some of that has continued to develop and will continue to develop, unquote. Again, these are very telling words from Slater. For someone who is constantly heralded for his faith by mostly everyone around him,

players, teammates, coaches, even the media has done a great job of professing this, Slater is constantly looking to continue to develop his faith. And that says something about his character. He's never satisfied with one result. He's always looking to be a better man and a better person. And a lot of that is translated to his play on the field and really embodies what it means to be a New England Patriot. They're constantly looking for ways to improve and ways to be a better team. So that faith really has mirrored a lot of what we see on the field as well as in the locker room where Slater has had such an impact

on everyone he's ever played with. In every aspect of his life, Matthew Slater is continually challenged by the lessons taught to him by his father. One might say things came full circle this past February at Super Bowl 53. The Pats were taking on the LA Rams, Jackie's former team, and it was also the same franchise over which the Patriots scored their first Super Bowl victory in 2002. For Slater, however, that game had a full circle feel for a different reason. As we previously stated, his father is a Rams legend,

and Jackie Slater's number 78 has even been retired by the organization. However, both the younger and the elder Slaters were ever the consummate professionals. Matthew was proudly wearing the Patriots' colors. The red, white, and blue were donned very proudly by Matthew on that day, and he was heavily relied upon to do his job on the field. Yet the shadow of his father didn't loom ominously over his shoulder. Instead, it was a legacy that he's both proud and comfortable to embrace. In fact, the greatest way that Matthew Slater continues to honor his father's legacy

is to continue to embody the faith and character he inherited from him. Jackie Slater always unquestionably watches his son proudly, and will do so again this year, as his son perseveres both in body and in spirit on the field of battle. And I'd venture to guess that he would be most proud if the Pats and the Rams had a rematch in Super Bowl 54. Hey, it could happen. Two teams are very well evenly matched, very well stacked,

could be a possibility this year, so we'll see. Not my official prediction, but we will see. But it's that perseverance that led Matthew Slater to a place of not only professional success, but also spiritual peace. He's always appreciative of his fans, his teammates, his family. But Slater often states that he performs, as I said earlier, for a quote-unquote audience of one. And in this case, he is referring to a supreme being, or God. And that method of focus has helped him to become a better athlete, a better friend, a better teammate, a better family

member, but most of all, a better man overall. And it's for that reason that he's both loved and well-respected. And it's hard to argue that Slater's audience, whether it be human or divine, could not be more pleased with his performance. I hope that you enjoyed this look at Matthew Slater and some of the contributions that he helps to make his team better and help to make him the captain that he is for the New England Patriots. Again, in anticipation of the season, I will be chronicling each of the Pats captains at some point in the next couple of weeks as we head towards September. As for me, I will be back tomorrow with a quick preview of the Pats-Titans tilt on Saturday, and we will be talking some Patriots salary cap with the very

best in the business. Miguel Benzon of Boston Sports Journal joins me, so stay tuned for that. It's going to be a great show. As always, make sure to join us each and every day on the Locked On Patriots podcast and subscribe to Locked On Patriots via your favorite podcast provider. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate, and I thank you so much for listening today. Have a great day, everybody.