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NY Post
New York Post
13 Jun 2023


NextImg:Darius Slay details ‘cordial’ Matt Patricia relationship after feud

Darius Slay and Matt Patricia are co-existing just fine in Philadelphia.

Just ask the Eagles All-Pro cornerback, who recently spoke about his “cordial” relationship with Philadelphia’s new senior defensive assistant coach following their highly publicized falling out.

“It’s another day at the office,” Slay, 32, recently told the Detroit Free Press. “We both got the same goal, just going out there to compete and win a championship, so that’s the main focus.”

The Eagles hired Patricia, 48, in April to supplement their defense, which was already an elite unit in 2022.

The former Patriots defensive coordinator — who spent last season as the team’s offensive play-caller in a much-maligned move — first crossed paths with Slay in 2018 after he was hired as head coach of the Lions.

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay speaks ahead of Super Bowl 2023 in February 2023.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Matt Patricia, here in October 2022, was a play-caller for the Patriots offense last season.

Matt Patricia, here in October 2022, was a play-caller for the Patriots’ offense last season.
MediaNews Group via Getty Images

According to Slay, a pair of meetings irrevocably changed his relationship with Patricia during their time in Detroit.

On one occasion, Patricia allegedly told Slay he didn’t think he was an “elite” cornerback — after a first-team All-Pro season in 2017, when the former second-round pick had eight interceptions.

Slay also recalled a separate incident to the Detroit Free Press that stemmed from his first training camp with Patricia in 2018.

Then-Lions coach Matt Patricia on the sidelines in September 2019.

Then-Lions coach Matt Patricia on the sidelines in September 2019.
Getty Images

“He told me in front of the whole team, in the team meeting room, showed clips of me in practice getting a ball caught on me in practice,” Slay told the publication. “I posted a picture [of a wide receiver on social media], and (Patricia) told me, ‘Stop sucking this man’s private.’”

The Lions eventually traded Slay to the Eagles in March 2020 and fired Patricia about eight months later.

Leading up to Super Bowl 2023 in February, Slay hadn’t let go of the grudge, telling reporters, “It was just weird how he came in like he was bigger and better than all of us.”

Darius Slay (2) takes part in Eagles OTAs on June 1, 2023.

Darius Slay (2) takes part in Eagles OTAs on June 1, 2023.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As buzz began to build over Patricia’s next move, Slay and his friend, Seattle safety Quandre Diggs, had a Twitter exchange with Charles Woodson that seemed to imply Slay would not be happy if the three-time Super Bowl winner joined the team.

When Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni announced Patricia’s hiring earlier this offseason, he said he had spoken to both Slay and Patricia about their relationship and was confident the addition would be productive.

Whether that early optimism holds up remains to be seen.