Detailed Released For Matthew Slater’s Two-Year Deal With The Patriots
The full details of special teams ace Matthew Slater’s two-year extension with the New England Patriots have been revealed.
Matthew Slater (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Details of Matthew Slater's new two-year deal with the Patriots have been released, thanks to Mike Reiss of ESPN.
Slater will be due base salaries of $1.2 million in 2018 and $1.6 million in 2019, plus $400,000 in per-game roster bonuses in each season. He also got a $1 million signing bonus and a chance to earn another $100,000 in incentives.
Although Slater's extension is for two years, Reiss describes it as essentially a one-year deal with a team option for a second. He compares it to Alan Branch, who signed a two-year deal with the Pats in 2017 only to be cut after year one. Branch will cost the Pats $1 million in dead cap money in 2018; Slater would cost only $500,000 if released in 2019, according to Spotrac.
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Matthew Slater (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
It's highly unlikely that Bill Belichick would simply cut Slater loose after 2018, though. Barring a major injury, perhaps. But he's long been one of the consummate Patriots, not to mention an elite special teams player. At the end of the day, it's a low-cost extension for one of the team's most valuable locker room leaders.
-- By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
