The Patriots switch up offensive and defensive game plans as much or more than any team in the league, which leads to a fair amount of turnover at some positions as the Pats look for the right mix for each and every situation.
Special teams work doesn’t fluctuate as much, which means the job profile for players on those units doesn’t change much from game-to-game or season-to-season. Wide receiver Matthew Slater has filled one of those roles quite well for the last seven years and the Patriots have reportedly moved to make sure he’s filling them for a few more.
Field Yates of ESPN reports that Slater, a 2008 fifth-round pick and the son of NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, and the Patriots have agreed on a contract extension that runs through the 2016 season. Slater, who could have become a free agent after this season, will reportedly stand to earn $4 million over the course of the extension.
Slater has made 99 tackles over his seven years with the team and has been named a team captain for the last four seasons.
