FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — As he walks through the middle of the Patriots’ locker room, the slender man in the hooded sweatshirt and glasses looks more like an assistant coach than a six-time Pro Bowler.
But as he locks eyes with cornerback Logan Ryan, Ryan points in his direction and grins widely.
“Matthew Slater. Hmm … what can I say about him?” Ryan says.
“Oh man. I’m gonna cover my ears,” Slater replies, playfully lifting his hood.
That’s about as close as it gets to a negative comment about a player who may be the most respected player on a New England team chasing its fifth Super Bowl title.