BELICHICK LAUDS PRO BOWL SELECTIONS
Calls Slater ‘the very best I’ve ever been around’
BIll Belichick has coached quite a few outstanding special teams players during his 45 years in the NFL.
Asked Tuesday about Matthew Slater‘s place in the history of football with regard to special-teams play, Belichick didn’t hesitate.
“Got to be at the top,” Belichick said with regard to Slater, who extended his NFL record for special teams Pro Bowl selections to nine after his selection Monday night. “I can’t think of anybody that’s done more than he has and he’s done it over a very consistent period of time at an extremely high level in addition to all the other qualities he brings off the field, leadership, just doing the right thing, the person and the human being that he is … he’s a great teammate. Just outstanding in all areas.
“It would be hard for me imagining anyone going ahead of him,” Belichick went on. “We’ve had some great players here, and I’ve had some great players throughout my career with Cleveland, going back to the Giants, but he’s certainly the very best I’ve ever been around … his consistency is outstanding, but he factors in on a lot of plays.”
The Patriots had three players selected overall to the Pro Bowl as cornerback Stephon Gilmore and punter Jake Bailey joined Slater on the team.
For Gilmore, it was his third straight Pro Bowl nod, and fourth overall, while secondyear punter Bailey made it for the first time.
He currently ranks second in the NFL in net punt average at 46.1 yards. He’s also been effective with his situational punting, dropping punts inside the 20-yard line.
Belichick lauded Bailey not only for his punting ability, but everything else he does, whether kicking off or holding for field goals.
“He’s had an outstanding season. He does such a great job of, really, everything,” said Belichick. “Kickoffs, holding, he’s been a part of Nick’s (Folk) consistency as well. Of course his punting, he’s got the big leg and the ability to change field position but also situational punting … he does a lot of little things that are really important to the success of our special teams units. He’s had an outstanding year. The punting is obvious, but there’s a lot of little things, too, that he does a great job on.”
While Center David Andrews wAs the leAding vote-getter At his position in the AFC, he didn’t mAke the finAl cut. Pro Bowl selections Are AnnuAlly determined By A comBinAtion of fAn, plAyer And coAch votes.
Andrews hAs still hAd A greAt yeAr, coming BAck from missing the entire 2019 seAson with Blood clots on his lungs.
“DAvid is one of our most dedicAted And unselfish plAyers. He Adds A lot to our teAm Both on And off the field,” sAid Belichick. “His lAst yeAr, one of the most impressive things ABout lAst yeAr wAs how he reAlly never missed Anything. He wAs in every meeting, every prActice, At the gAmes … wAs reAlly A pArt of everything we did And Added A lot. I think thAt speAks to his unselfishness And commitment to the teAm.”
Fisch interviews for college job
PAtriots quArterBAcks coAch Jedd Fisch interviewed MondAy night for the heAd coAching joB At the University of ArizonA, per A report in WildcAtAuthority.com.
Fisch hAs Been with the PAtriots for just this seAson working with the quArterBAcks And the offense. If he goes BAck to the college rAnks, thAt would leAve the PAts in A Bind should offensive coordinAtor Josh McDaniels also land a head coaching job. Fisch would likely be elevated in New England, if McDaniels leaves.
Fisch, who has served as the offensive coordinator at both the University of Minnesota and UCLA, reportedly has a connection with University of Arizona president Robert Robbins. The school fired head coach Kevin Sumlin following a 70-7 loss to rival Arizona State.
Prior to signing on with the Patriots, Fisch had spent the previous two seasons as an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams, serving as a senior offensive assistant and assistant offensive coordinator.