Report: Patriots sign Matthew Slater to a two-year extension

The Patriots are ensuring one of their captains, and core special teams players will remain in Foxboro for the foreseeable future. According to Field Yates of ESPN Boston, the Patriots have signed captain Matthew Slater to a two year contract extension:

Sources: The Patriots have signed special teams ace Matthew Slater to a 2-year, $4 million extension through 2016.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 26, 2014

This is awesome news for both Slater and the Patriots. Slater’s contract was set to expire after the 2014 season, and by locking him up now, the Patriots ensure that some other team doesn’t swoop in with a big offer. Slater of course, gets further job security as well as a reported $3 million in guaranteed money ($2 million up front in a signing bonus).

Slater, 29, has had arguably had his finest season in special teams coverage in 2014. The Patriots originally drafted Slater in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of UCLA. In 98 career regular season games, he has 99 tackles.