Source
r/Patriots•
Fuqwon

Matthew Slater - Hall of Famer?

Discussion

So I know this has been discussed before around here, but I think Slater's selection to his 10th Pro Bowl is a rather interesting development.

Every player in NFL history to be selected to 10 or more Pro Bowls, with the exception Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Jason Witten, Larry Fitzgerald, and Joe Thomas, has made the HoF. Obviously these players are all pretty much guaranteed to make the HoF.

Were Slater not eventually selected, he'd be the only player with 10 or more Pro Bowls left out. There are a bunch of guys at 9 that never made it in, but none that made it to 10.

Posted Dec 23, 2021, 1:44 AM UTC

18990
Shadow5ive•

If this resume was for any other position, there would be NO debate.

10x Pro Bowl

5X First Team All Pro

2x Second Team All Pro

Bart Starr Award

He is a Patriots and Pro Football Hall of Famer.

128
JudgeArthurVandelay•

And three motherfuckin rings

70
dagreek_legacy•

Man, could've sworn he's been with the team longer but yeah... just the 3 rings

23
n8loller•

Well that 4th ring was almost 20 years ago

30
RTGoodman•

I think you mean coming up in February.

25
Keyann•

just

lol.

9
JudgeArthurVandelay•

Brady has ruined our perspective. Hahaha

7
Therapistsfor200•

Three rings SO FAR

5
HyruleJedi•

Will be. He isnt in there yet

2
Lakecountyraised•

It would be awesome if Bill Belichick gave his opinion at a press conference. He would probably say yes. Special teams plays have a big impact on a game. Slater’s play in Super Bowls 51 and 53 was critical in both games.

112
GrantLee123•

He’s gotta make it. Multiple Super Bowls, pro bowls galore, super respected.

72
TheBigNate416•

2x first team all pro as well

Edit: 5x actually. Yeah if he doesn’t make it in the Hall then what’s the point of special teams

38
TheJackalsDoom•

I think Slater has eclipsed Tasker at this point. I honestly think that Slater now represents the bar for the position and it should be Slater who gets in before Tasker.

53
Apprehensive_End7983•

Slater is a baller and as good as they come on modern ST’s but he can’t reasonably get in if Tasker doesn’t. Unfortunately it is probably both or neither and Slaters only real edges are longevity and SB wins, hard to find good stats but I think Tasker still better in most of them and he was the first real special teams coverage weapon. Kind of like comparing Ray Guy to modern punters, he changed the relevance of the position and others followed suit. I’d like to see them both in someday as the Original/modern special teams guys they are a clear 1-2 all time

0
TheJackalsDoom•

Respectfully, I disagree. It's not to take away from Tasker, but Slater has upped Tasker now. Tasker has the pro bowls, but so does Slater. Tasker gas the All Pro Team makes, but so does Slater. Tasker has the years of play, but so does Slater. But Slater has 205 games to Tasker's 169. Slater has 3 Superbowl wins, 5 appearances to Tasker's 0 of 0. Slater also has a Bart Starr Award which is a player voted award for basically just being the best all around person/player and is a regular finalist for it. At this point, Slater has met Tasker's bar and raised it up to what will probably be an untouchable level. Tasker was great, Slater is greater. Slater now represents the standard for the position because he has the individual and the team stats and success. There's no reason to not make Slater a HoFer now as there's nothing he doesn't have that you'd look for.

3
[deleted]•

[removed]

1
BaronVonDucker•

If Steve Tasker makes it in this year, or sometime in the future, then it is very likely that Slater gets in eventually.

If not, then most likely not. I think Tasker will get in eventually, and I think that'll allow Slater to get in eventually too, and probably a lot quicker as well.

33
nayr1683•

Good point!

9
Bojangles1987•

If special teams was genuinely valued by the Hall of Fame, Slater would be a no brainer. He'd get in at some point.

They don't, though, so I don't expect him to ever make it.

32
porkbuttstuff•

This is the sad truth.

5
bigenergy469•

Special teams gets no respect to the HOF. How many Years has Steve Tasker waited?! Hell, Ray Guy got in a few years ago and he is considered one of the best punters in NFL history. The fact that these voters are supposed to be football people but don't realize how crucial special teams is to a game, SMH. If I had to vote,I would vote Slater in the Hall, just like I would vote Steve Tasker in the hall.

30
damienwhite12•

Ray Guy single handedly improved the defense by dominating field position in a way that no Punter ever has before. He changed the outcome of games by himself and is easily the best Punter ever. Not sure they're comparable.

Tasker is a better comp but he was a better returner and had 7x as many Forced Fumbles and 7 Blocked Punts despite a shorter career.

9
TheBigNate416•

Cool. They both deserve to be in the Hall just like Slater. 5x first team all-pro, 10 pro bowls and 3 rings. Also the heart and soul of the team

13
damienwhite12•

He has those Pro Bowls but no other team keeps a player for that position on their roster. 1 TD, 1 catch, 1 FF and 170 tackles over a 13 year career isn't HOF worthy because he gets voted AP/Pro-Bowl for a position most teams don't have a designated player for and generally just throw whatever backup DB/WR on the field for.

1
TheBigNate416•

Being the best player at your position for 5+ years isn’t hall of fame worthy? If he wasn’t an important player he wouldn’t have been on our team for a decade. His career isn’t defined by other teams designating a gunner or not lol. He’s universally considered one of the best special teams players of all time. I’m sure you can find articles that tell a better story than I can in a Reddit comment.

3
jnart24•

These are NFL professional football teams, not your Madden fantasy league. You do understand that teams do in fact draft and deploy specific people to gunner? Obvious Pats bias aside, they just aren’t as impactful as Slater. Certainly a hall of famer imo based off impact, success, and awards.

2
sellout217•

I'd rather have Slater than Tasker.

3
nayr1683•

3 Super Bowls. 5 first team all pros. 2 second team all pros.

Unfortunately I don’t think he will tho. Him only being Special teams hurts him. Even tho he has the hardware…

13
PomeloHorror•

Being the best and most prolific special teams player that isn’t a return man has to mean something to the HOF!

21
nayr1683•

I would think so but correct me if I’m wrong but I believe there are no kickers (strictly kickers) in the hall. I kinda feel it falls under that category.

I love the guy and think he is a beast. I want him in. But hall of fame voting love stats. I don’t know what he has for career tackles or anything but only one career TD for sure. Unless the voter watches pats every game for last 14 seasons. I think it’s an uphill battle for Mr Slater

1
Meister1412•

Jan Stenerud (1991) and Morten Andersen (2017) were inducted being pure kickers.

9
nayr1683•

I stand corrected. Thank you for checking. Someone mentioned the Steve Tasker situation. That will be the measuring stick for Slater.

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Rbfam8191The P-Men•

Slater will have to settle for the Patriot's Hall and being in the HOF as a champion.

Each Super Bowl winning roster makes the hall as a team. So in a way, he's already in the HOF already.

11
ThermoNuclearPizza🔥McCorkle🔥•

Fuck that.

3 Rings

10x Pro Bowl

5x 1st team AP

2x 2nd team AP

That is a player who deserves the hall. He has been selected to the pro bowl every year since 2011 excluding 2019. That is a decade of football this man has been at or near the top of his position.

He’s been dominating at his position for 10% of the time that the NFL has existed. Measure my man for his fuckin jacket.

12
nickmhc•

If all three phases of the game matter, then Vinatieri, Devin Hester (obv not a Patriot), and Matthew Slater should get into Canton

6
DashStar--•

And Tasker IMO. But all four should go.

3
yellowstuff•

Belichick was asked recently if Slater belonged in the hall, and basically politely said no. https://mobile.twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/1424888148237164547

5
meowVL•

Idk if he’s saying no there. He just stated a fact that there’s no ST players in there right now and that he can’t control who gets in.

I think once either Bill or Slate is out of football, you’ll hear Bill sing his praises like he did with Rodney Harrison this year.

15
jonnyredshorts•

What a great job he has. Plays a huge role, in an unsung part of the overall game, only has to take a dozen or so snaps and gets well paid.

I would love to be the guy that makes a great career out of Special Teams play.

5
Calfzilla2000•

The Probowl statistic is pretty convincing.

It's a special case with Slater since he's special teams but he's a special player, obviously. 10 Probowls is crazy. I don't care what position. If it does not matter, remove that position from the Probowl voting.

I have no idea if he'll be inducted. But he'll likely be considered and he deserves it.

We will see.

4
Patsx5sb•

No.

3
TheBigNate416•

Why?

2
Rmccarton•

Does Slater deserve all the pro bowls or is it one of those once you're the incumbent it can become almost automatic?

Serious question.

3
Shadow5ive•

This slices both ways;

People get awarded and recognized based on pro bowls BUT it is a popularity contest. Name 3 other gunners in the AFC?

Hell, I struggle to remember Cody Davis and Bethel are on our team specifically for ST’s.

Slater is a stalwart on special teams and an even better captain. But, the pro bowl is a popularity contest too so it’s tough. The obscurity of the position makes it even harder to answer.

1
Rmccarton•

Not really related to your good question about what other gunners does on know of, but

The only other guy I remember was Kerry(?) Washington from the 18-1 team.

He was a somewhat notable off-season receiver signing who was relegated to special teams, but he went at it with gusto and would do WR celebrations on good special teams plays. I always liked him for that.

2
Swagsuke_Nakamura•

It would legit be a disgrace if he doesn't make it. He's more than earned it, and is quite possibly the best special teams player in history

3
forgetful_storytellr•

Yes. The best of all time at any position should be in

3
J-Team07•

No he won’t get in. I’ll be honest I care more about the pats hall than the pro football hall of fame.

2
7fourtyseven•

First ballot. Easily.

2
lusobr•

No. Some positions just never have a chance of making it and I agree they shouldn't. Long snapper, punter, gunner, personal protector, etc shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame even if you are the best to ever do it. Now if he were a great WR and a great gunner sure I'll consider it.

2
jnart24•

That’s legitimately saying the same thing as “offensive linemen aren’t important”. You’re taking a major part of the game and essentially throwing it out. Like offensive linemen protect quarterbacks and help running backs, special teamers help overall field position and narrative of the game. If you don’t think ST’s are that important, you certainly haven’t been a fan of Patriots football and the NFL for long. Either that or you just don’t really understand.

0