Patriots’ Bill Belichick names five players to personal ‘All-Time team’

FOXBORO — It seems that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has put some thought into which players would make his own personal “all-time team.”

Belichick was asked about Rodney Harrison, who was recently announced as one of the 15 modern-era finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and casually mentioned that the retired safety would be on his all-time team.

Belichick wouldn’t list off the whole roster — he did say we would be getting that someday — but he did note that quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Lawrence Taylor and special-teamer Matthew Slater would make the cut.

Related Articles

New England Patriots |


Patriots get good news at Friday practice before Bills game

New England Patriots |


Patriots mailbag: How to acquire QB of the future while falling down draft board

New England Patriots |


Position switch has paid off for Patriots impending free agent

New England Patriots |


Marco Wilson excited about Patriots’ history developing cornerbacks

New England Patriots |


Patriots Christian Barmore reluctantly acknowledges he just had his best game

“Best safety I’ve coached,” Belichick said of Harrison. “And there’s a couple other ones that I’ve coached that are in the hall of fame.”

Belichick ran down everything that Harrison meant to the team in coverage, run defense, as a blitzer, tackler, on special teams and as a practice player.

“Certainly hope he gets recognized,” Belichick said. “I think he definitely deserves it. The guy’s a great football player, a great teammate.”

Belichick also discussed Slater’s candidacy. There currently isn’t a special teams coverage player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Well I think Slater is eventually going to be a hall-of-fame candidate,” Belichick said. “He’s in a very unique category, one that I don’t think is represented in the hall of fame, but based on what he did here in his career, the length of time he did and the level he’s done it at, and again since there’s no criteria for the hall of fame, there’s no criteria. But I would say this guy’s been as productive as anybody has ever been at his position throughout his entire career, which is very lengthy. I think he’s the best that’s ever done what he’s done. Whether that’s hall of fame worthy or not, that’s a different subject that I’m not — I don’t have a say in. But I can’t imagine putting anybody in there ahead of him at that position.”

It was mentioned to Belichick that some Hall of Fame selectors would say that retired Bills special teamer Steve Tasker would have to go in before Slater.

“Yeah, I think Slater’s done more than Tasker,” Belichick said. I respect Tasker, but I just honestly think he’s done more. I’m sure some people would disagree with that, but those two would be at that position, yeah.”

Slater, “just about the perfect player,” according to Belichick, has played 16 seasons, won three Super Bowls, appeared in two more and has been named an eight-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection. He’s also won the Bart Starr Award and Art Rooney Award.

Tasker played 13 seasons and was a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He played in four Super Bowl losses.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous post The NFL’s oldest rivalry continued at Soldier Field. A look back at the teams that started it all in 1920.
Next post The NFL’s oldest rivalry: Chicago Bears vs. Chicago Cardinals. A look at the rivalry that started in 1920.