Patriots' Matthew Slater rips kickoff rule, questions NFL's motives - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots captain Matthew Slater, whose 10 Pro Bowl berths are an NFL record for a special teams player, sharply criticized the league for last week's rule change that allows fair catches on kickoffs for the 2023 season.

The NFL has cited player safety as a primary reason for the change, which Slater questioned after the Patriots' practice Wednesday.

«I just don't believe this is truly in the name of player health and safety. What I do believe is, 'We [the NFL] want to portray ourselves a certain way to the public that says we care about the players,'» said Slater, the 37-year-old son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Slater.

«But I can give you a long list of examples where the league and powers-that-be do not act in the best interest of the players.»

Slater referenced Thursday Night Football, choosing synthetic turf over natural grass fields, retirees fighting for health care beyond five years after retirement, and players «having to jump through hoops» for disability benefits, among his examples.

«I understand we want to reduce head injuries and things of that nature, but we don't always act as if player health and safety is paramount,» Slater said. «If we're really concerned with player safety and health, let's talk about some of the real issues. Let's not talk about a play, when [a high percentage of the time] the ball is kicked off, it's injury-free.»

Slater also acknowledged his personal stake, saying he knows «that people will look at this and say, 'What's the big deal?'»

«For a player like myself, I wouldn't have had a career most likely [without] this play,» he said. «I [also] understand the players that came before me — the [Steve] Taskers, the [Bill] Bates'… who were able to