Matthew Slater is one of the most respected players not just in the New England Patriots’ locker room but the entire NFL. The special teams ace has been voted a team captain 11 years in a row, a reflection of his status as one of the team’s leaders on and off the field.
It is therefore no surprise that the nine-time Pro Bowler, who received the prestigious Bart Starr Award in 2017, is listed as the Patriots’ nominee for yet another award — one that was first introduced in 2014: the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, named after the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner.