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.
Part of Matthew Slater’s impassioned answer when asked about his view of the new kickoff rule. @wpri12 #Patriots pic.twitter.com/2ol04BPgEt
— Morey Hershgordon (@MHershgordon) May 31, 2023