Revis, Slater Agree That Pro Bowl Nods Take Backseat To Patriots' Goals
BOSTON (CBS) -- For players on a number of teams around the league, a spot on the Pro Bowl roster and a corresponding trip to Arizona might be all they have to look forward to as the season winds down.
Yet for teams with Super Bowl aspirations and a trip to the playoffs on the horizon, playing in the Pro Bowl would only represent a great disappointment.
That's because the NFL's all-star game will be played the weekend before the Super Bowl, meaning any players on the teams that win their respective conference championship games will not be participating in the exhibition.
The Patriots would certainly qualify as a team with Super Bowl hopes, and their five Pro Bowlers are certainly not focused on playing for Team Carter or Team Irvin.
"We have team goals that we want to accomplish and the Pro Bowl is definitely not one of them," said Darrelle Revis, who was named to his sixth Pro Bowl on Tuesday. "I think a bunch of guys – Tom [Brady] got in, Rob [Gronkowski], Slate [Matthew Slater], Steve [Gostkowski], as well. We all appreciate getting the honor, but at the same time collectively as a whole group, as a team ... we're focused more on the team."
Slater was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl as a special teamer, and it's something that has not gotten old for the seventh-year pro.
"I'm so thankful for the way the Lord has blessed me over the course of my career. It's just so humbling," Slater said. "To be recognized with that honor when you have so many good players out there – the Darrell Stuckeys, the Chris Maragos, the Ricardo Lockettes and the list goes on, the Justin Bethels – to be selected to that position it really means a lot to me. I really feel like it's a gift from the Lord. That's why I can just say in Jesus' name and I'm very thankful."
With that being established, does Slater want to play in the game?
"Not at all. I have no desire. What goes on in this locker room is more important to me," Slater said. "Like I said, I'm extremely humbled and it means a lot to me to have the honor, but what we have going with this group of guys is really special. I really enjoy playing with this group of guys. The guys that I play with really make me the player that I am. You look at the list of guys that we have, I really feel like we have the best special teams group in the NFL. From Brandon Bolden to Jonathan Casillas to Nate Ebner, Chris White, Tavon Wilson, you name it, those guys are great players. I just enjoy the time I spend with them."
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
