Tag Archives: Matthew Slater

The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #18-#21

NUMBER EIGHTEEN

Wide receiver Randy Vataha was one of New England’s better players in the early-1970’s catching passes from Jim Plunkett. Vataha was a teammate of Plunkett’s back in Stanford and their chemistry carried through to the pros. Vataha’s best season came in 1975 when he had 720 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.

Donte’ Stallworth played one season plus one game with the Patriots. In 2007, Stallworth wore the #18 jersey and contributed to one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. One of his great plays occurred in the Divisional Round game against the Jaguars. On this day, Tom Brady was absolutely on fire as he’s prone to be in big games. In a nail-biter, Brady hit Stallworth on a short pattern and #18 streaked down the sideline for a huge-gainer that turned out to be the clincher.

Streeter Lecka

Stallworth came back for one game in 2012 wearing #19, caught a long touchdown on Monday Night Football and was subsequently injured on the play.

Special Teams Standout

Matthew Slater is clearly the best player to ever wear jersey #18 for the Patriots. Slater is the son of the Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater of Los Angeles Rams fame. Slater has become one of the best special-teamers in NFL history. He’s been named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and is a perennial team captain. He even correctly called the coin toss before New England’s championship drive in Super Bowl LI.

Slater will go down as one of Bill Belichick’s favorite players and will live forever in Patriots lore.

NUMBER NINETEEN

Do you remember who punted for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI? If you said Tom Tupa, you got it. The one time backup quarterback of the Phoenix Cardinals became a full-time punter when it became brutally obvious that he was better at kicking a football than throwing it. He wore #19 for the Patriots for three seasons under Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll.

In 1999, he left New England for the Jets and in an incredible twist of fate, Vinnie Testaverde tore his ACL and Tupa was forced into emergency quarterback action. The Jets were heavily favored going into 1999 to defend their AFC East title, but once Testaverde went down, their hopes were dashed. Tupa made a decent appearance as he threw touchdown pass. He made the Pro Bowl as a member of the Jets in 1999 and won a Super Bowl as a member of the Buccaneers after the 2002 season.

The Patriots used their third round draft choice in 2009 on a kick return specialist named Brandon Tate. His only season of productivity in New England turned out to be in the Patriots 2010 season when they finished 14-2. He returned two kickoffs for scores that season before leaving for the Cincinnati Bengals. To his credit, he’s still in the league.

Nineteens in the Super Bowl

The Patriots got some Super Bowl championship contributions from two other players wearing #19. Brandon “Jojo” LaFell had an excellent season in New England in 2014 as he made several key plays in the Patriots march toward their first World Championship in ten years. Against the Ravens in the playoffs, he caught the winning touchdown, then scored the first points in the Patriots win over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX.

Unfortunately, he had an injury-plagued, drop-filled campaign in 2015. The Patriots moved on from LaFell and drafted a new #19. That guy’s name is Malcolm Mitchell. Mitchell’s finest game as a Patriot may have come in New England’s dramatic win over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Time and again, Tom Brady targeted Mitchell in the second half and Mitchell was up to the task in the biggest game of his life.

Sadly, Mitchell never saw the field in 2017, but it’s hard to say it mattered much when New England was able to throw for over 500 yards in the Super Bowl without him. However, he’ll be a welcome addition back to the fold in 2018.

NUMBER TWENTY

Only one player has ever worn #20 for the Patriots and only one player ever will. Gino Cappelletti is truly one of the most beloved of all Patriots. He played for Boston from 1960-1970 and upon retirement held countless franchise records. He was the AFL MVP in 1964 and was named to five All-Star teams.

Perhaps he is best known as a game analyst for almost 30 years. The combination of Gil Santos-Gino Cappelletti was in the booth for New England’s first three Super Bowl championships. Cappalletti also was in the booth for Boston College games. He is a New England treasure for sure!

NUMBER TWENTY-ONE

We have quite the potpourri of players who wore #21. But, let’s face, does anybody besides Malcolm Butler really matter? Butler made the single most impactful interception in the history of professional football. When he stepped in front of Russell Wilson pass with seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX, it allowed the Patriots to win their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.

Perhaps the greatest thing about Butler, though, was his spirit to keep playing and performing at a high level even after his career-defining play. Butler is not the greatest cornerback in NFL history, but one can never fault him for lack of effort. He plays hard on every play, tackles well and goes for the turnover. His last game with the Patriots in Super Bowl LII was shrouded in controversy, but Butler took the high road as he departed for the Titans, praising Coach Belichick despite his benching. Frankly, it will be weird and a little sad to see him in that Tennessee jersey in 2018.

Best of the Rest

Speaking of DB’s, let’s go way back to the Parcells era when he had a #21 named Ricky Reynolds. Reynolds was exactly the kind of player Parcells loved: He was a scrappy veteran. Reynolds contributed in a big way down the stretch as he scored two touchdowns in December of the 1994 season. New England’s strong play down the stretch catapulted them to a surprising playoff spot. They were derailed by Bill Belichick’s Cleveland Browns.

Reynolds played another year and a half with the Patriots and retired following the 1996 campaign.

Randall Gay was another defensive back that wore #21 during his time in New England. Gay mostly played on special teams but saw extensive action in the Patriots Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Eagles. Unfortunately, Gay struggled up against Terrell Owens. Gay had a strong season as part of the supporting cast of the 2007 team that ran rampant through the NFL only to lose the Super Bowl in the waning seconds.

Gay’s best seasons were spent wearing #20 for the New Orleans Saints where he played in his third Super Bowl.

Our final #21 was a sensational player but not while he was a member of the Patriots. Fred Taylor amassed 11,000 rushing yards, including seven 1,000-yard seasons while wearing #28 for the Jaguars. His two seasons with New England were uninspiring and unnecessary.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

What to Do with the Patriots Free Agents

What to Do With the Patriots Free Agents

Nate Solder

New England should do everything they can to keep their left tackle around

Image credit: USA Today

He may not be an All-Pro, but Solder is one of the most important pieces to this offense. Solder joined the Patriots as a first round pick in 2011, and has called New England his home ever since. He spent his rookie year at right tackle before switching to left tackle after longtime lineman Matt Light retired. Since then, Solder has established himself as one of the top 10-15 left tackles in football.

There will be a market for Solder, but it would come as a surprise to see him leave. Quality starting tackles are incredibly hard to come by in the league, and head coach Bill Belichick knows that. Factor in quarterback Tom Brady’s age, and it’s now more important than ever to ensure Brady receives as little punishment as possible.

Additionally, Solder has always appeared to love New England. He passed up his previous chance at free agency to sign a two-year extension for below market value. Expect him to return once again, but this time he’ll receive a paycheck in line with his worth. A three-year deal worth roughly $11.5-12 million a year would likely keep Solder around.

Malcolm Butler

It would be great to get Butler back, but that isn’t going to happen. Butler has been a great cornerback in his four years with the Patriots, but will most definitely be playing somewhere else next season.

It will be fascinating to see what type of market emerges for Butler. The one-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler didn’t have his best season in 2017. Combine the down year with being benched in the Super Bowl, and teams will likely be afraid to invest heavily in the West Alabama product. Ironically, his value has probably dropped enough that the Patriots could afford him, if they wanted to.

Unfortunately, the Patriots won’t offer him anything, and Butler wouldn’t take the offer if they did. Super Bowl 52 was an unceremonious end for a Patriots legend, but it was definitely the end. Expect Butler to sign a one-year deal with any of the other 31 teams and to hit free agency again next year.

Dion Lewis

This type of hard-nosed running will earn Lewis a big payday

Image credit: USA Today

While Butler had a disappointing 2017, Lewis had a career year. After starting the season at the bottom of the depth chart, Lewis became the lead back after just five games. His 2016 season was average, but Lewis showed in 2017 that he was completely recovered from his 2015 ACL tear.

Lewis was genuinely one of the best all-around backs in football this last season, and he’s hitting free agency at the perfect time. Health has always been an issue for him, but he managed to play in all 19 games in 2017. After initially coming to the Patriots on a futures contract in late 2015, Lewis is finally set to get a big payday.

Unfortunately, that payday probably won’t be coming from New England. The Patriots have never been known to invest heavily in their running backs, and Lewis likely played his way out of New England’s price range. It’s easy to see a team like the Oakland Raiders banking on Lewis staying healthy and giving him a multi-year deal for roughly $6-7 million a year.

Rex Burkhead

Burkhead just finished his first year in New England after signing a one-year deal the previous offseason. He did that knowing that the Patriots offense was a perfect fit for his skill set. The plan was to spend one year with the Patriots, then enter free agency with a vastly improved market.

Unfortunately for Burkhead, Dion Lewis happened. Lewis stole Burkhead’s spotlight, and Burkhead enters the 2018 offseason without the market he anticipated. This actually works out well for the Patriots. Burkhead suffered some injuries, but played very well when he was on the field. He showed great ability in both the pass and run game, scoring a combined eight touchdowns in ten games.

With Lewis likely gone, the Patriots need running backs and Burkhead needs a home. Another one-year deal makes perfect sense for both sides. The Patriots get their guy for 2018, and Burkhead has another chance to cash in during free agency.

Matthew Slater

Slater will remain in New England until he hangs up his cleats for good. The longtime Patriot has found a home in New England as the heart and soul of the team. Injuries have limited him in recent years, but Slater remains the best all-around special teamer in the league.

Bill Belichick loves Slater, and there’s no doubt that his career will end in a Patriot jersey. Nobody values special teams as much as the Patriots, so Slater brings more value to the Patriots than he would to any other franchise. He’ll stick around.

Danny Amendola

Danny Amendola always comes up with the biggest plays in the biggest moments

Image credit: Boston Herald

Amendola won’t be playing for any team other than the Patriots in 2018. Amendola’s coming off yet another fantastic postseason run, hauling in 26 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns. He doesn’t put up the same regular season numbers as someone like Julian Edelman, but he’s always there when the Patriots need a big play.

Amendola brings more value to the Patriots than he would any other franchise due to his phenomenal chemistry with Brady. However, the Patriots would still likely retain Amendola’s services if an unlikely bidding war broke out for him. Amendola calls New England his home, and has taken pay cuts the past three seasons in order to stay with the team.

The only plausible way Amendola would have left is if Josh McDaniels had departed for the Indianapolis Colts. However, since the longtime offensive coordinator stayed in New England, Amendola is sure to stay as well. Age and injuries are a factor with Amendola, but expect the Patriots to make a two-year offer to the longtime Patriot.

Marquis Flowers

The Patriots should resign Flowers yesterday. Flowers came over from the Cincinnati Bengals for a seventh round pick. Initially acquired as a special teamer, Flowers didn’t make a defensive impact until injuries struck late in the season. Once he was on the field, he showed why he shouldn’t be taken off.

Flowers put all his raw athleticism together to become one of the Patriots best defenders down the stretch. After not recording a single sack through his first two and a half seasons, Flowers recorded 3.5 in the final two weeks of the regular season. He showed great promise as a pass rusher and played above expectations across the board. His ceiling isn’t as high as former Patriot Jamie Collins, but he has a similar skill set.

Flowers saw playing time throughout the playoffs, and the team would love to have him back. Judging from Flowers’ twitter feed, he likes it in New England too. He’s credited the New England coaching staff for slowing down the game and helping him transform into more than just a special teamer. Look for the Patriots to resign him to a two or three year deal. Watching him bolt for Matt Patricia’s Lions wouldn’t be a surprise either.

Cameron Fleming/LaAdrian Waddle

This is kind of cheating, but these two can be lumped together since their situations are so similar. Both players have gone back and forth as the top backup at tackle. Due to injuries to the starting tackles, both have seen extensive time on the field filling in at both tackle positions. And now, both tackles are hitting free agency at the same time.

While you’d never want either to be your starter for a 16-game season, both have shown that they’re capable of playing adequate football when needed. As mentioned earlier, this free agency class has no depth at tackle beyond Solder. When factoring in a poor draft class at tackle, these two could be in line to get overpaid.

What the Patriots do with these two depends on how the Patriots value the talent they already have. Tackle Andrew Jelks missed all of last season, but should be making his return next season. Undrafted rookie Cole Croston was the primary backup along the entire line in 2017. When Marcus Cannon and one of Fleming/Waddle were injured, he would have been the next guy off the bench.

Frankly, none of the depth options are too reliable. New England probably won’t be able to retain both players, but they should try to bring back one. Fleming’s market is probably lower than Waddle’s, so the Patriots will most likely try to bring Fleming back on a short deal for high backup money.

Ricky Jean Francois

Jean Francois has definitely earned a ticket back to training camp, if nothing else. Jean Francois was picked up off waivers prior to New England’s matchup against the Denver Broncos. He was cut two weeks later, but came back for New England’s Week 14 game against Miami.

He didn’t set the world on fire, but he performed above what’s expected from the waiver wire. Jean Francois became the void filling run stuffer that Alan Branch failed to be. His market is basically non-existent, as a veterans minimum contract would probably be enough to sign him. If any other team were interested in the longtime veteran, they would have claimed him either time he went on waivers.

James Harrison

Another midseason acquisition, Harrison made even more of an impact than Jean Francois and was a big part of fixing the defense enough to go to the Super Bowl. The Patriots edge defenders struggled setting the edge against run plays all season until Harrison showed up.

He’s not the same player that won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, but he showed there’s still something left in his tank. Harrison was more than capable of setting the edge against the run, and was a big reason for the run defenses improvement in the road up to the Super Bowl. He still showed the ability to get to the quarterback, and was one of the Patriots best defensive players in the Super Bowl. Admittedly, that’s not saying much, but it’s still true.

The biggest knack against Harrison is his age. He’ll be 40 at the start of next year, and the Patriots defense needs to get younger, not older. If the Patriots do bring Harrison back, it would be at the veteran’s minimum. Regardless of what they do with him, look for the Patriots to acquire some more help on the edge.

Special Teamers

Several members of the special teams unit are set to hit free agency. Nate Ebner, Johnson Bademosi, Brandon Bolden, Brandon King, and Bernard Reedy are all scheduled to test the open market this offseason.

The biggest priorities for New England will probably be Ebner and Bolden. Both are the longest tenured members of the Patriots special teams, and both play the biggest roles. Ebner is coming off a season-ending injury, but he’s expected to be fully recovered for the 2018 season. Nate Ebner’s importance to the special teams is second only to Slater, and Belichick won’t let him get out of Foxboro.

Bolden, while not on Ebner or Slater’s level, is still a big member of the special teams unit. While his best role is on special teams, he’s also a competent backup for the running backs. A jack of all trades and master of none, Bolden has filled in as the early down back, goal line back, and third down back during his tenure in New England. He’s one of the more underappreciated Patriots, and Belichick will surely sign him back.

Bademosi and King will both likely be back due to lack of market interest. Both have performed well on special teams, but not so well as to draw attention from other teams. While King is a linebacker in name only, Bademosi actually does offer some upside as a cornerback. He just shouldn’t be playing ahead of Malcolm Butler. As for Reedy, he’ll probably earn a training camp invite, but it would be astonishing to see him make the final roster.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

The Least Deserving Pro Bowlers of 2017-18 Season

Top Five Least Deserving AFC Pro Bowlers

Quarterback Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers finished second in the league in passing yardage and helped the Chargers finish 2017 with a winning record after 0-4 start. However, Alex Smith should be the AFC’s third-string quarterback. Smith threw fewer interceptions all year than Rivers threw in two games against the Kansas City Chiefs. Likewise, Smith was the best player in the NFL in September and finished 2017 with a ridiculous 118.0 road passer rating. Rivers was good but Smith was better. The voters got this one wrong.

Wide Receiver A.J.Green, Cincinnati Bengals

This was the closest competition in the AFC. Green had a fine season as he made some big plays and beautiful catches. The only reason he did not deserve this selection is because he took the spot away from Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins. Landry led the entire NFL in receptions and in a down season for the Dolphins, he competed hard on every play of every game. Landry is the quintessential guy you love to have on your team and hate as an opponent. It would be great to see Landry catch passes from an elite quarterback someday.

Special Teams Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

Slater is one of the top five special teamers to ever play in the NFL. Still, there is no way he deserved the Pro Bowl nod for his injury-plagued 2017 campaign. There were two very strong candidates for that honor. Brynden Trawick of the Tennessee Titans is the highest paid special teamer in the NFL and he is fantastic. Due to Slater going to the Super Bowl, Trawick will be playing on Sunday in the Pro Bowl. Michael Thomas of the Miami Dolphins may have been better than both in 2017. In fact, Pro Football Focus named Thomas as their Special Teams Player of the Year.

Center Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders

Hudson is a very nice player. Jack Del Rio referred to him as the “staple holding this thing together” when describing what he means to the Raiders. Oakland’s offense struggled so rewarding them with offensive linemen in the Pro Bowl makes little sense. Hudson’s 2017 was not in the same category as Patriots center David Andrews. Over the season, when New England passed almost 600 times, Andrews allowed two sacks. Whenever he is in pass protection, he bears the additional weight of guarding for arguably the best and most popular player in sports history. In addition to his fine work as a pass blocker, he paved the way for Dion Lewis and the running game. The Patriots love to run up the middle and that is where Andrews does his best work.

Guard Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills

Incognito made the Pro Bowl because his name is instantly recognizable from a list of people playing the least glamorous position. Make no mistake, Incognito is an above-average football player. He is not a Pro Bowler, though. The Bills offense finished twenty-ninth in the NFL. Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy were hit the backfield multiple times in every ball game except one. Joel Bitonio of the lowly Cleveland Browns deserved this spot. He was the most consistent offensive player for the Brown in 2017. Someday, Cleveland will field a relevant team again and Bitonio will be a key member of their improved squad.

Top Five Least Deserving NFC Pro Bowlers

Running Back Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Of all the players in the 2018 Pro Bowl game, Kamara deserves to be here the least. Granted, he is an amazing talent. He has rare abilities in the mold of a Marshall Faulk or Thurman Thomas. There is simply no way he should be in the Pro Bowl ahead of Jordan Howard of the Chicago Bears. It is likely Kamara got in ahead of Howard because Kamara makes camera-friendly plays week in and week out. Also, it could be that Howard plays for a mediocre Chicago team. While Kamara does not deserve to be in the Pro Bowl, it will entertaining to watch him play in the Pro Bowl!

Center Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons

Mack is the heart and soul of the Atlanta Falcons and he is an outstanding football player. Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles, though, is the best center in the NFL and had perhaps the best season of any offensive linemen in the whole league. This was an egregious oversight by the voters. Kelce rightfully was named first-team All-Pro.

Tackle Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys

Smith’s play suffered due to injuries in 2017. When healthy, he is unquestionably the best. If the 2018 Cowboys get a full season out of Smith and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys will be right back in the NFC East mix. He certainly did not deserve this Pro Bowl spot ahead of David Bakhtari of the Green Bay Packers. Bakhtari is one of the most unsung players in the league. Without Aaron Rodgers and any semblance of a running game most of the season, Bakhtari showed up in a massive way for the overachieving Packers.

Linebacker Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings had a tremendous regular season on defense. Thus, the voters rewarded certain individuals due to the team success. Barr no doubt contributed to Minnesota’s accomplishments, but there were definitely people who belonged in the Pro Bowl ahead of him. Tajir Whitehead of the Detroit Lions and Robert Quinn of the Los Angeles Rams both had better statistical seasons than Barr. Even K.J.Wright of the Seattle Seahawks or Preston Smith of the Washington Redskins could have been considered. It could be that voters went with the eye test. Barr’s hit that knocked Rodgers out for the season was replayed over and over again. Whitehead did not have a signature hit or play in 2017 so he flew under the radar while Barr was constantly in front of our faces.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles

Jenkins is a super football player. Harrison Smith is the best at what they do, though. Like Green for the AFC, Jenkins does not deserve to be in the Pro Bowl only because there is someone out there that had a better season at the same position. Again, Smith was rightfully named first-team All-Pro. Jenkins deserves to play in the only Bowl game that matters: the Super Bowl!