Ex-Lion Jason Cabinda Reveals How Matt Patricia’s “Embarrassing Tactic” Against Darius Slay Fractured the Locker Room

The tenure of Matt Patricia as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018 to 2020 is largely remembered as a period of significant regression and discord, a stark contrast to the hope that accompanied his arrival from the New England Patriots. While the on-field struggles were evident, the underlying reasons for the team’s unraveling have been the subject of much speculation and anecdotal evidence from former players. Recently, former Lions fullback Jason Cabinda shed new light on a pivotal moment that, he claims, significantly contributed to the fracturing of the locker room and the eventual departure of Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay. This incident, involving a public shaming of Slay in front of his teammates, exemplifies Patricia’s abrasive coaching style and offers a deeper understanding of why his “Patriot Way” ultimately failed in Detroit.

The incident, as detailed by Cabinda on his show “Fairway Huddle” with former teammate Amani Oruwariye, occurred during a joint practice session with the New York Giants in 2018, Patricia’s first year at the helm. During these competitive practices, players often engage in friendly banter or even brief conversations with opposing players, a common occurrence in the NFL that typically fosters mutual respect among professionals. However, for Patricia, this was anathema to the “culture” he was desperately trying to instill – a culture steeped in the hard-nosed, “us against the world” mentality he had experienced under Bill Belichick.

Following one such practice, Darius Slay, one of the Lions’ undisputed stars and a respected veteran, was observed interacting with Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. This seemingly innocuous exchange, which included Slay “chopping it up” and taking pictures with Beckham, did not sit well with the new head coach. Patricia, according to Cabinda, viewed such fraternization as a sign of weakness, a compromise of the competitive spirit he demanded from his players. He wanted a team that treated every opponent as the “enemy,” even in practice settings.

What happened next, as recounted by Cabinda, was a dramatic and highly unusual demonstration of Patricia’s attempt to assert his authority and enforce his rigid cultural vision. Instead of addressing Slay privately or using the interaction as a teaching moment about competitive focus, Patricia chose a public and, by many accounts, humiliating approach. He meticulously compiled a video montage of plays from the joint practice where Odell Beckham Jr. had managed to beat Slay. This “compilation of the routes that Odell beat Slay on” was then presented to the entire team in a meeting room, complete with a laser pointer highlighting Slay’s perceived deficiencies.

The visual critique was followed by a pointed and provocative verbal challenge from Patricia. “After he gets done showing the plays with the laser pointer,” Cabinda explained, “he’s like, ‘This is your best friend? This is your guy?’ Basically challenging him on like, ‘Why are you shaking hands with this guy after? That’s the enemy,’ type of vibe.” This public dressing-down, designed to shame Slay and, by extension, send a message to the rest of the team about Patricia’s no-tolerance policy for perceived fraternization, backfired spectacularly.

For a player of Darius Slay’s caliber and standing, coming off an All-Pro season in 2017 and widely regarded as one of the league’s premier cornerbacks, such a public and embarrassing tactic was not only unwarranted but deeply disrespectful. Slay, a player known for his strong personality and pride in his performance, was understandably incensed. Cabinda’s assessment was unequivocal: “Slay was not having that s*** at all. That was for sure the worst way Matty P could’ve handled that and it fractured their relationship.”

This incident was not an isolated event but rather indicative of a broader pattern of behavior from Patricia that alienated many veteran players. Reports from other former Lions, including Quandre Diggs and Glover Quin, have consistently painted a picture of a coach who struggled with interpersonal relationships, often employing demeaning tactics and failing to earn the trust and respect of his locker room. Patricia’s perceived arrogance, his tendency to treat seasoned professionals like college freshmen, and his relentless pursuit of a “culture” that many players felt was already healthy under previous coach Jim Caldwell, created a toxic environment.

The joint practice incident with Slay and Beckham Jr. served as a flashpoint. It wasn’t just a disagreement over coaching philosophy; it was a direct assault on a star player’s professionalism and character in front of his peers. The ripple effects were immediate and far-reaching. As Cabinda and Oruwariye noted, it created a rift between the coach and Slay that proved irreparable. Slay’s subsequent trade to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020, a move that sent shockwaves through the league, can be directly traced back to this breakdown in trust and respect.

Beyond Slay, the incident also reportedly impacted the broader locker room. Quandre Diggs, a safety who was also traded by Patricia, commented on Cabinda’s Instagram post, stating that Patricia “lost the team” after that film session. This sentiment underscores the idea that Patricia’s methods, rather than unifying the team, actively divided it. When a head coach publicly demeans a respected veteran, it sends a chilling message to every other player: no one is safe from such treatment, regardless of their performance or standing. This erodes faith in leadership and creates an environment where players are less likely to buy into the coach’s vision.

The contrast with the current Lions regime under Dan Campbell could not be starker. Campbell, a former player himself, emphasizes respect, collaboration, and building a strong, cohesive locker room culture through authentic relationships, not through fear or intimidation. His success in transforming the Lions’ identity highlights just how detrimental Patricia’s approach was.

While Patricia has since had a brief and seemingly more cordial reunion with Slay in Philadelphia, where Patricia served as a senior defensive assistant, the damage done in Detroit remains a significant part of his coaching legacy. Jason Cabinda’s recent detailing of the Odell Beckham Jr. incident provides critical insight into the initial fracture that began the unraveling of the Lions under Matt Patricia, a fracture that ultimately led to the departure of one of their most talented players and set the franchise back years in its quest for sustained success. It stands as a stark reminder that in professional sports, managing personalities and earning respect are just as crucial, if not more so, than schematic brilliance.