During Super Bowl media day in Phoenix in February, Darius Slay said of Matt Patricia, “As a man, me and him just don’t get along.” He’s a knowledgeable coach who understands his Xs and Os, but I’m not with the disrespect.
Patricia said, “Man, I just gave him a big hug before I came in here,” in reference to Slay on Thursday.
Things are subject to change. People are malleable. Patricia and Slay provide very strong proof of that.
Patricia, the Eagles’ recently promoted de facto defensive coordinator, had his first meeting with the Philadelphia media on Thursday. During the meeting, Patricia discussed in detail how he and Slay had not only worked things out after Patricia was hired by the team in April, but had also become closer over the previous eight months.
“Being back around Slay and having such an amazing relationship has been amazing for me,” Patricia remarked. He’s a really kind man. He is really sweet, hilarious, and driven. He embodies all that he is. And it goes without saying that I’m grateful for him, our talk from the spring, and his assistance in general. Sincerely, you know, he’s been a huge assistance to me. Just sort of assisting me in acclimating.”
In 2018 and 2019, Patricia led the Lions as head coach. Slay had two Pro Bowl seasons in his final two years in Detroit.
Slay said that Patricia’s comments in 2018 that he shouldn’t be working out with Richard Sherman and Aqib Talib because they were top corners and he wasn’t was the start of their animosity.
After being acquired by the Eagles in March 2020, Slay said ESPN, “He said I wasn’t an elite corner and that I’m not in their category.” “I had just finished an eight-pick, all-pro season. That in itself informed me that he had no regard for me.
Slay went on to play for the Eagles and make two Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022, but there were a lot of questions when Nick Sirianni hired Patricia in April as a defensive consultant.
Slay said that the two had a constructive conversation in the spring and had moved past their disagreements, and Patricia on Thursday spoke highly of the five-time Pro Bowl corner.
“To be honest, when you go somewhere new or into a new building, you try to get to know people and end up gravitating toward the people you know,” he said. “He’s one of the guys I knew coming into the building.” “And he was out there trying to make me feel comfortable and kind of fit in, and I really am very grateful to him for that,” the speaker said.
It’s simple to carry a grudge for eternity.
However, Slay and Patricia were both capable of more, and they have collaborated well this year. Since Patricia has taken over as the de facto defensive coordinator in place of Sean Desai, the two of them will spend more time together.
“You know, as life goes on, you learn and develop and hopefully become a better version of yourself,” Patricia remarked. “I’m just trying to be a better person every day and I’m really thankful to him for that,” the individual said, reflecting on their situation at the time.
Before hiring Patricia, Sirianni contacted Slay during training camp and inquired about his approval, according to Slay.
“I wanted to do what’s best for the organization, so it’s cool with me,” he remarked.”We had a man-to-man conversation. We have a really good understanding. We’re in excellent hands right now because we both want to win and he’s here to help me improve as a coach.”
Slay called Patricia aside before the Eagles’ season opener against the Patriots in Foxboro, where Patricia was the head coach under Bill Belichick from 2004 to 2017 and once again in 2021 and 2022, simply to see how he was doing before such a sentimental game.
Patricia remarked, “It was going to be difficult for me, of course, and it was great that he was there and kind of made sure I was OK.”
“Look, everyone aspires to develop personally, take a seat, unite, and go ahead. And that’s what’s made it so incredibly amazing and cool.
And I adore that. I don’t believe any of us are truly our best selves for the entirety of our lives. That hasn’t likely ever occurred. Therefore, it’s beneficial for me to be able to return and develop some of those connections the way you truly like them to.”
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