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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Nick Selbe

Patriots Special Teams Star Rips NFL for New Kickoff Rule

Players and coaches from around the NFL have been near-unanimous in vocalizing their displeasure with the league’s new rule allowing fair catches on kickoffs to place the ball at the 25-yard line. On Wednesday, another key player with more invested in preserving the play than perhaps any other added his name to chorus of those decrying the rule change: Patriots special teams star Matthew Slater.

Slater, a 15-year NFL veteran who’s made 10 Pro Bowls and earned five All-Pro selections as a special teamer, spoke to the media to offer his thoughts on the rule, questioning the league’s stance that the change is being motivated by player safety.

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