Though Darius Slay and Matt Patricia did not seem to get along in Detroit when Slay was working under Patricia as the Lions coach, it seems the cornerback felt like he came away having learned something about himself.
Slay tweeted on Saturday: “If u want to kno how good of a CB u are in man go play for a New England coach!! When u play man 50 out of 60 reps in a game!! (Expletive) gets real.”
In Patricia’s defensive scheme, which is a twin to what Bill Belichick started with the New England Patriots, Slay felt like he was tested so much that he found out whether he was truly an elite cornerback. Current and former Patriots cornerbacks, from Stephon Gilmore to Jon Jones to Jason McCourty, seemed to agree with Slay’s assessment.
Facts lol https://t.co/o702NPh7CE
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) January 15, 2022
Coach come in on a Wednesday and write the number of the Wr you covering on Sunday. That’s the game plan 😂 https://t.co/gFGsQVk5wo
— J Jones (@Jonathan_Jones2) January 15, 2022
People don’t kno that tho!! I thought I was elite man CB until I got into that defense an than I got right with practice 😂 https://t.co/EjEdMJ536B
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) January 15, 2022
😂😂😂 (Jmac) https://t.co/7ChbqqZJfg
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) January 15, 2022
It’s not a shocker that Slay has shown plenty of love for the Patriots’ top cornerback, J.C. Jackson. He has an expiring contract, and Slay is already demanding that Jackson end up with $20 million per year.
If Slay’s suggestion is true — and New England truly tests the mettle of a cornerback — then Jackson has absolutely passed the test.
