For Jackie Slater, this year’s Super Bowl is a win-win situation.
No matter what happens, the Hall of Famer is going to go home happy. Slater made his bones as a legendary offensive tackle with the Rams, playing from 1976 to 1995; a Los Angeles win would represent a victory for his old team. Of course, he’s also the father of Patriots’ special teams captain Matthew Slater, and would love to see his son win another title.
“We had a good conversation (Sunday) night,” Matthew said Monday when asked whether or not he can count on Jackie's support in a couple of weeks. “He’s going to support his son, so we cleared the air on that last night and we’re all squared away.”
For his part, Jackie said in this case, the possibility of dual rooting interests do not represent an awkward situation.
“You have the best team in the AFC and the best team in the NFC playing against each other,” he told BostonSportsJournal.com. “This is what the Super Bowl is supposed to be.
“These are two real good teams and two really good coaches. I’m sure Sean McVay will use every trick he has in his book against the Patriots, and by the same ticket, New England has a wily old sage of a coach in Bill Belichick who does a great job of coaching situational football, maybe better than anyone.”
Slater has been impressed by the work of the Patriots over the years, and acknowledges his son was fortunate to land there. While Matthew eventually became a Pro Bowler with the Patriots, he likely wouldn't have found a roster spot on most teams.
Per the coin toss at the start of OT, Matthew Slater told me in November he always calls heads. (BB tells him what to choose if they win.) Slater said his father always called heads with the Rams as a player. “If it’s good enough for Jackie Slater, it’s good enough for me."
— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) January 21, 2019
