Patriots' Slater retires

For more than a decade, Matthew Slater was universally celebrated as being the emotional centerpiece of the New England Patriots locker room, building a resume as one of the league's most-decorated special teams players.

After 16 NFL seasons, he says it's time to call it a career.

Slater announced his retirement in a letter, saying he had “given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game.”

A fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA by New England in 2008 and son of Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, he was the embodiment of Bill Belichick's “Patriot Way,” team-first culture.

Along the way Slater was voted as the special teams captain 13 times while winning three Super Bowl rings, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors.

WOMEN

AP TOP 25 SCORES

No. 23 Oklahoma 95,Cincinnati 87

TODAY'S AP TOP 25 SCHEDULE

No. 5 Texas vs. Texas Tech, 5 p.m.

No. 10 Kansas St. vs. No. 22 W. Virginia, 4:30 p.m.

No. 24 Baylor vs. Kansas, 5 p.m.

BASEBALL

American League

ANGELS:

Agreed to terms with LHP Drew Pomeranz on a minor league contract.

Agreed to terms with RHP Liam Hendriks on a two-year contract. Announced INF/OF Diego Castillo cleared waivers and they assigned him outright to Norfolk (IL).

Agreed to terms with OF Kevin Pillar on a minor league contract.

BOSTON RED SOX:

CHICAGO WHITE SOX:

TAMPA BAY RAYS:

Agreed to terms with INF Yu Chang on a minor league contract.

National League

PITTSBURGH PIRATES:

Canaan Smith-Njigba.

BASKETBALL

NBA

CHARLOTTE HORNETS:

WNBA

DALLAS WINGS:

FOOTBALL

NFL

RAMS:

Activated CF

Signed C Marques Bolden to a 10-day contract.

Signed Gs Jaelyn Brown and Katrina Pardee to rookie scale contracts.