One Last Slay Ride?

NEW ORLEANS – Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker has leaned on various motivational tactics to serve as subtle messages to his secondary.

Parker, the 33-year-old maestro of the Eagles’ pass defense, will leave earplugs in the lockers of those in the secondary, exemplifying the notion of drowning out the noise.

Earlier in the year, he planted microscopes in the lockers of his safeties, symbolizing the difference between seeing a little versus seeing a lot, making sure their vision is correct.

But his most prominent example, a red gas can, sits in the locker stall of veteran cornerback Darius Slay, with a post-it note attached on one side that reads: “How much gas do you have left in the big play tank? CP.”

Written in permanent marker on the other side, to avoid any confusion, is, “No. 2.”

The ploy, of course, is self-explanatory.

Slay, 34, has defied logic at an unforgiving position, erasing top receivers while on an island, consistently providing quality returns at one of the NFL’s most premium positions.

Parker notes that, at times, older players will sometimes tail off at the end of the year.

Although his top corner hasn’t exhibited any glaring signs of shifting into neutral – or reverse –  Parker proactively stoked the flame, providing added fuel for the Eagles’ captain while ensuring that Slay avoided complacency and remained inspired.

“Really just challenging him in a non-verbal way,” Parker said. “I say it all the time to him, he responds to that – he works tirelessly, anyway – so it’s kind of just to poke at him a little bit. And just to give him a visual reminder of, ‘How much do we have?'”

GETTY IMAGES: Super Bowl LIX could be the final game for CB Darius Slay in an Eagles jersey.

The reality is that while Slay has proven to have plenty of gas left, he isn’t one for staying too late at the party, saying on multiple occasions late this season that he intended to play only one more year, bringing his total to 13.

Often times, cornerbacks experience a sudden and drastic drop-off, given the speed, change of direction and body types they’re tasked with defending.

Slay, however, has been a pillar of stability, a rare case. Still, the Brunswick, Ga., native shared that the sun is soon to set on a potential Hall of Fame career.

“Next year will most likely be my last,” Slay revealed at the podium during his Super Bowl media availability. “I would love for it to be with the Philadelphia Eagles.”

One of Slay’s adversaries – a receiver he knows all-too well and should see plenty Sunday when the Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, is DeAndre Hopkins.

Hopkins, appearing in his first Super Bowl, trains with Slay during the offseason, at Khango in Houston.

In addition to a world title at stake, there’s also bragging rights that would carry them through offseason training.

Hopkins, who has sparred with Slay plenty over the years, also noted that Slay is far from running on empty.

“I think the season Slay’s had, he’s definitely quieted the doubters,” Hopkins said. “A lot of people felt like he’s getting older, he’s not the same Darius Slay. But Slay is Slay, man.

“And I think he’s still got a lot to play, some more years that he can go out and still be himself. I love going against him. Obviously, I’m gonna give him some crap out here Sunday, but we’ll laugh about it when we train.”

Perhaps one of the more misunderstood Philadelphia athletes in recent memory, Slay strays from the norm and can’t be placed in any particular box.

Despite the reputation that’s typically attributed to cornerbacks, he’s not much of a talker on the field. He’s never been characterized as a vocal leader, often viewed in the public eye as someone known for playful wisecracks among teammates and well-liked across the league.

He’s one-of-one.

The biggest misconception – one that’s difficult to comprehend – is that he marches to the beat of his own drum and lacks the necessary leadership required from a team captain.

The reality, again, is a misinterpretation of his actions, demeanor and mentality.

For instance, Slay has never shied from expressing his eagerness to pave the way for future NFL stars, guiding them as they find their footing and offering every trick of the trade from his bag.

Beneath his light-hearted candor is a selfless leader, one who younger players, such as rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, look up to.

And that Slay is among the more popular of his teammates also doesn’t occur by happenstance.

There’s more than meets to eye with the Slay, who on Sunday could be playing in his final game as an Eagle.

“He leads in his own way,” Parker said. “I think the way he was led as a young player really has motivated him to do the same for his younger teammates. You see some leaders that are more hardnosed, and he does it in own way.

GETTY IMAGES: Darius Slay has made six Pro Bowls but seeks his first Super Bowl title in perhaps his last game.

And he’s always on those guys about things, whether it’s individually or in a group. He protects them in certain aspects, too, when maybe I’m getting on them a little hard. And they protect him when I get on him the same way.”

As cornerbacks coach Roy Anderson will tell you, Slay leads by example. Even in the twilight of his career, Slay will come into the NovaCare Complex early and stay late.

Slay, as Anderson said, “is still preparing like it’s his first or second year. And it’s been awesome.”

It’s the work from Slay being put in behind the scenes, the tutelage and example of how to be a pro beyond the public eye, that’s helped Mitchell and DeJean hit the ground running as rapidly as they have.

Slay won’t promote it – that’s not his style – but in many ways, he’s quietly leaving the game better than he found it.

“I always tell people, ‘Hey, if your best player is also one of your best guys, then you have something,’” Anderson said. “And Slay is an awesome guy.

“He’s a pro’s pro. And I think that helped Q and Coop as well, because he was another guy who comes in early, stays late. And once the young guys saw that, they really really bought into it.”

It’s of no secret that Slay has long been a favorite of head coach Nick Sirianni, who relishes who Slay is as a teammate and has praised his veteran corner’s physical and mental toughness.

Slay’s resilience – he’s exited several games this season after being dinged – and fighting through the adversity to return for his teammates has also stuck out to Sirianni, who has said, “There’s a reason Slay has the C on his chest.”

Slay has struck up an especially close-knit bond with Mitchell, the Eagles’ first-round pick, often referring to the 23-year-old as “little bro.”

As locker mates, Slay will often playfully chide Mitchell for mostly anything, the most common critique pertaining to the rookie’s propensity of eluding interceptions.

So when Mitchell recorded his first career interception – a game-sealing pick, no less – in the team’s wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers, Slay showcased his inherent leadership chops.

There was arguably no one prouder than “big bro.”

“I was so happy, I cried almost, but I couldn’t shed a tear on the field because I don’t want people taking pictures,” Slay said after the game. “It was great to see that.

“My boy, he’d been trying to. He finally got one in the breadbasket, so I know it don’t count on his record, but this is way bigger, to get a playoff pick in a big-time moment to end the game … I’m happy to be his big brother, to mentor him. But he showed his ability to play at a high level.”

A locker-room favorite, team captain and resident big-play specialist, the charismatic, fast-talking Slay could on Sunday emerge from the tunnel in Eagles green for the final time.

For five seasons, he’s poured everything he has into his team and the city, providing stability and playmaking ability to what had been a revolving door at the cornerback position.

It’s not often a player of his caliber has the self-awareness to acknowledge a potential swan song, but his comments after the Eagles’ gut-wrenching divisional round win at Lincoln Financial Field in the snow against the Rams suggests he’s content to ride it out until his tank reaches empty.

When asked, he had no plans of a refill.

“We don’t fill it back up, we just keep it where it’s at!” he shouted as he headed towards the locker room exit to a chorus of laughter.

In typical Slay fashion.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.