Jarrett Bush Remains Step Below Patriots Special Teams Gold Standard Matthew Slater

Time may be running out for Bush to earn Pro Bowl recognition like Slater. After all, Bush's contract is up in March.

New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater—Brian Carriveau, CheeseheadTV.com.

New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater—Brian Carriveau, CheeseheadTV.com.

CHANDLER, Ariz.—Don't get Matthew Slater wrong. He would have loved to play in the Pro Bowl on Sunday night.

But Slater was happy to be right where he was, speaking to the media in the New England Patriots team hotel, one of six players chosen to represent the organization as they held their first press conferences since landing in Arizona mere hours earlier. Players that are competing in the Super Bowl understandably don't play in the NFL's all-star game.

"I'm excited that I didn't play in the Pro Bowl for the reason that I didn't play in it," said Slater. "Obviously the team success is more important to me than personal success. Those guys, it looks like they had a good time last night. Under the circumstances, I didn't miss being out there last night."

It may not come with the prestige of the NFL's glamor positions—it probably doesn't even come with the same esteem as an offensive lineman—but Slater is very probably the best in professional football at what he does. That is, being a special teams demon, how he earned his Pro Bowl nod.

Meanwhile, Slater's counterpart in Green Bay, Jarrett Bush, may be running out of time to receive Pro Bowl recognition as his team's special teams standout.

Bush has come a long way since his gaffe in the NFC Championship game in 2007, muffing a punt that the New York Giants recovered in a critical moment, a game that prevented the Packers from appearing in the Super Bowl.

Since that time, Bush has earned the respect of his teammates, selected as a Packers playoff captain—representing football's oft-forgotten unit—for five straight seasons.

Bush also had perhaps his brightest moment in a Packers uniform in Super Bowl XLV when he came up with an interception of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

If, however, Bush is going to receive the ultimate recognition for special teams play and be named to the Pro Bowl, the sands in the hourglass may be running out.

It's interesting, really. Bush looked to have a good chance at appearing in his first-ever all-star game this season based upon fan voting.

When the NFL released Pro Bowl voting results five weeks and three weeks ahead of the deadline, Slater and Bush were No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in fan balloting.

Then at the time of the league's next update one week out, Bush dropped out of the top two. Perhaps surprisingly Johnson Bademosi of the Cleveland Browns surged into the top spot while Slater took over second place.

At last, when the final results were tallied, Bush leap-frogged Slater in the standings, coming in second to Bademosi. Things seemed to be looking good for Bush, but the fan vote counts only one-third toward the cumulative total.

Once NFL players and coaches weighed in, each of their votes making up the final two-thirds, Bush didn't make the cut. Neither did Bademosi. Slater and Justin Bethel of the Arizona Cardinals got the nod.

It goes to show how highly respected Slater is by his peers and other coaches to earn the Pro Bowl berth, even if he didn't play in the game. Similarly, it goes to show how far Bush lags behind.

When the Patriots won the AFC Championship game and Slater was excused from Pro Bowl duties, it was Darrell Stuckey of the San Diego Chargers that took his place on the team.

Slater is 29 years old and in his seventh NFL season. Bush is 30 years old and in his ninth.

So does Bush still have it in him to attain that elusive distinction? And how much longer can special teams stars stay among the elite of the elite?

"Only the Good Lord knows the answer to that question," said Slater. "I think every time as an individual that you're named with that honor, it means a lot to you, regardless of the year. When I was younger in my career, it meant a lot to me, and now it my seventh year, it means the same.

"It's a tremendous honor when you think about the competitors in this league, the athletes in this league. But as I said, at the end of the day the team goal is always more important than the individual goal. I think that's why you start playing this game. It's the ultimate team sport, and you play to win. And fortunately our team's been doing a lot of that this year."

Bush finished fourth on the Packers in special-teams tackles in 2014, coming up with 11 stops. The year before, Bush finished tied for fourth with just seven special-teams tackles, partially because he played in just 12 games due to injury.

It would appear Father Time is catching up to Bush, and the elephant in the room might be his impending free agency.

Bush's contract expires in March at the same time as fellow cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House. As such, the Packers appear poised to enter a season of transition at the position.

Still, might the Packers and Bush be willing to agree to one last contract with minimal monetary commitment for one-last go-around? And could it end with Pro Bowl cachet?

Only the Good Lord knows, as Slater would say.

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (7)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
jmac34's picture

January 27, 2015 at 12:45 am

Bush was one of the best special teamers the Packers had. GB also had the worst ranked special teams in the league. I think it is ok for GB to move on from Bush and Slocum

0 points
0
0
Allan Murphy's picture

January 27, 2015 at 04:00 am

You mean Slocum goes and Bush stays .

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

January 27, 2015 at 09:45 am

Bush as player/coach.

0 points
0
0
stockholder's picture

January 27, 2015 at 10:30 am

I think this is exactly why the packers have not gotten to the dynasty we want. Bush never did challenge the starters! He became a chemistry player. He has screwed up to many times to keep him in the twilight part of his career. The money can be used better elsewhere. Pay the guys that start. Not the Bench!

0 points
0
0
murphy's picture

January 27, 2015 at 11:04 am

Yeah, who wants depth or a veteran presence behind the starters anyway?!

Besides, special teams is the least important part of the game, as was illustrated a few weekends ago.

0 points
0
0
Imma Fubared's picture

January 27, 2015 at 08:11 pm

I would not mind a changing of the guard! I don't agree with Mathews that the pieces are in place! Pass defense needs help! Did needs to step it up! All this can change if Dom leaves too!

0 points
0
0
egbertsouse's picture

January 28, 2015 at 07:50 am

Bush is an average ST player on any good team.

The real question is: Why is Shawn Slocum still employed? Does he have incriminating pics of MM or something?

0 points
0
0