Is Brandon Spikes time with the Patriots limited?

[Brady_to_Moss]

You guys see him around next year? Great at stopping the run but in coverage...is really bad. Wonder if Collins has a solid year if they decide to let him go. Collins has the ability to do it all. But they need LBs who can cover and i wonder if that pick on Collins means anything in regards to spikes

 

[Nunchucks]

I think it is insurance in case they decide he is asking for too much money. Spikes is an excellent player, he brings a lot of attitude. However, he may ask for more than the Patriots want to spend on him. Hightower could easily move inside to his more natural position and we would have Collins and Spikes playing on the outside.
Not too shabby at all.

Or if they keep Spikes, we could see all 4 of the LBs on the field at once, which would be pretty nifty. Mayo, Spikes, Hightower and Collins would be quite the LB group.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think it is insurance in case they decide he is asking for too much money. Spikes is an excellent player, he brings a lot of attitude. However, he may ask for more than the Patriots want to spend on him. Hightower could easily move inside to his more natural position and we would have Collins and Spikes playing on the outside.
Not too shabby at all.

Or if they keep Spikes, we could see all 4 of the LBs on the field at once, which would be pretty nifty. Mayo, Spikes, Hightower and Collins would be quite the LB group.

Don't LBs though not make that much $$ compare to other positions? What are top LBs paid? Say a Suggs or Willis type.

I don't see how he could get a lot even if he asked for it. I know he is a beast against the run...but is a huge liability as we all know in passing downs

 

[VrabelJr]

The Collins pick has nothing to do with Spikes. Spikes' future hear was sealed a year ago when we drafted Hightower. Spikes is a decent MLB who plays with a lot of fire and he's really fun to watch. He'll be good on another team where he doesn't need to be a top 5 player on the defense. I don't even expect him to start at MLB next year. I'll always follow him no matter where he goes though... well except the Jets.

 

[signbabybrady]

I see no reason why we wouldn't try to keep him. And he shouldn't break the bank next year the cap is still stagnant.

 

[Joey007]

I think Bill understands having much depth in the linebacking core is important especially learning from how successful our linebackers were back in the Super Bowls where we had an abundance linebackers. So I think Spikes will be a priority.

Besides, he's our tone-setter. He tells the other side "If you wanna run the football, you'll have to go through me."

Other than Wilfork, he may be the main reason our Run D has been more successful the past couple years.

 

[Joey007]

You guys see him around next year? Great at stopping the run but in coverage...is really bad. Wonder if Collins has a solid year if they decide to let him go. Collins has the ability to do it all. But they need LBs who can cover and i wonder if that pick on Collins means anything in regards to spikes

Really Collins will only help his chances of staying. By helping out on the passing downs it'll allow Spikes to do his own thing on 1st and 2nd even better.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Besides, he's our tone-setter. He tells the other side "If you wanna run the football, you'll have to go through me."

He also tells the QB -- "If you're going to throw the ball, you don't have to worry about me sacking you or breaking up the pass"

I'm okay with having Spikes back if the cost is reasonable. But if we're going to stay with a 4-3 I'd really like to have a stud can-do-everything lb along with Mayo and Hightower. If we switch to a 3-4, I think Mayo & Spikes in middle with another good (better than Nink) outside LB would be idea.

 

[ausbacker]

You guys see him around next year? Great at stopping the run but in coverage...is really bad. Wonder if Collins has a solid year if they decide to let him go. Collins has the ability to do it all. But they need LBs who can cover and i wonder if that pick on Collins means anything in regards to spikes

A smart Quarterback and Coordinator realises that you don't run at Brandon Spikes but exploit him in the passing game. If the Patriots believe they have an adequate replacement, I imagine that would make it easier to replace him moving forward. I'd like to keep him around as he's a thumper and they don't grow on trees, but at a reasonable contract given he's really a situational linebacker.

 

[Joey007]

He also tells the QB -- "If you're going to throw the ball, you don't have to worry about me sacking you or breaking up the pass"

But I'm not even talking about him against the pass. I'm talking about him against the run, and what his value is against it.

I'm okay with having Spikes back if the cost is reasonable. But if we're going to stay with a 4-3 I'd really like to have a stud can-do-everything lb along with Mayo and Hightower. If we switch to a 3-4, I think Mayo & Spikes in middle with another good (better than Nink) outside LB would be idea.

I agree that if he gets crazy money (which many inside guys like him usually don't unless they're at Willis, Bowman, or Mayo status) we let him go. But I think Bill won't be afraid to give him a decent pay due to the valuable intensity he gives us in the middle of the defense.

 

[Fencer]

The guys we develop who become decent starters -- with a mix of strengths and flaws -- usually leave for more money elsewhere, and I put Spikes in that group.

We're more likely to re-sign the guys who're either better or worse than that.

Of course, there are exceptions on both sides.

 

[Avenger]

I think with our front 7 we will be able to mix up the look with all the players we have: 3-4, 4-3, 2-5, 5-2, 1-6, 0-7 really give different looks. I remember we used to pull out the 0-7 on occasion back in the day and I think we will have the LB corps to pull it off

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

If the Patriots believe they have an adequate replacement, I imagine that would make it easier to replace him moving forward..

That's what i am thinking. Collins seems to be or based on his past has shown he has more tricks than Spikes does. But we won't know that until a few games in

We have good depth in the front 7 now which is never a bad thing

 

[PatriotReign]

He's the only enforcer we have on defense. I'll admit he is terrible in coverage but I love the physicality he brings to our D.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

He's the only enforcer we have on defense. I'll admit he is terrible in coverage but I love the physicality he brings to our D.

I hope Wilson can still be an enforcer on running downs for the DBs

 

[PATS68]

The Collins pick has nothing to do with Spikes. Spikes' future hear was sealed a year ago when we drafted Hightower. Spikes is a decent MLB who plays with a lot of fire and he's really fun to watch. He'll be good on another team where he doesn't need to be a top 5 player on the defense. I don't even expect him to start at MLB next year. I'll always follow him no matter where he goes though... well except the Jets.

I am going to have to disagree with you on your post. Collins is here to push Niko for that starting DE opposite Chandler Jones. BB is not stupid he knows what he has in Spikes. I think BB values him a lot more than people on this board think.

I look at the Cardinals game he was the player who came up big and gave his team a chance to win. He leaves it all out there and he brings toughness that no player on that D can match. It is a trait that can not be coached.

BB is going to keep his core LB's together as long as he can.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Is Spikes time with the pats limited?
Limited to what? To the end of his contract? Same question can be asked of every player.
Spikes has been a playmaker, solid against the run, and when let loose good at putting pressure on the QB. I think he will be offered a contract extension. It may be enough to keep him for a few more years. Unless he and his agent think that there are bigger $ waiting for him as a FA.

Nothing that happened in the draft changed that.

 

[PATS16N0]

Spikes hits hard. He's caused a few clutch fumbles from jarring the other guys head lose when he knew we needed it.

Coverage might not be great but I think the guy is a beast

 

[mgteich]

The draft gives no signals on Spikes. We need a pass-rusher; we signed one. We saw a 7th round Practice Squad player who might be developed into an NFL level ILB; we signed him.

The patriots will make an offer to Spikes. They will negotiate with him. And he may be here in 2014, or not. As with all good players, the patriots will want to re-sign him. The question will be whether Spikes will sign at that the price that patriots offer.

 

[PATS68]

Is Spikes time with the pats limited?
Limited to what? To the end of his contract? Same question can be asked of every player.
Spikes has been a playmaker, solid against the run, and when let loose good at putting pressure on the QB. I think he will be offered a contract extension. It may be enough to keep him for a few more years. Unless he and his agent think that there are bigger $ waiting for him as a FA.

Nothing that happened in the draft changed that.

100% agree with you on this. Nothing in this draft has changed anything for Spikes. I have heard nothing but glowing reviews from the coaching staff every time when they have spoken about Spikes.

I think BB is looking to put more pressure on the QB and Collins brings that as a DE.