Spikes - maybe a little writing on the wall

[BelichickFan]

•One guy who has stayed off social media for an extended period is linebacker Brandon Spikes. He hasn’t tweeted since February 28, breaking a fairly long string of consistent Twitter inanity. I’ve also heard he’s been pretty scarce around Foxboro during offseason workouts which -- while well within his rights -- has stuck out like a sore thumb.

Curran's post-draft musings on Spikes, Geno, Miami and more | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

Maybe he's just taking a break, maybe he wanted an extension and didn't get one. Or maybe it just is what it is.

But with the drafting of two LB and no extension yet with only a year to go it seems interesting.

 

[Sicilian]

I think this might be Spikes' last year. I think BB drafted him knowing who he was, but hoping he'd develop a more well rounded skillset. Instead, he came into the league as a raw but brutal physical presence in the middle with little to no coverage skills, and hasn't done much to evolve beyond that.

If he stays that way this year, the Patriots move on. If he makes a leap into a good all around LB, he likely leaves for more money elsewhere.

 

[DaBruinz]

Curran is late to the party, per usual. It was mentioned by Bedard that Spikes was quitting twitter at the end of March..

 

[BradyFTW!]

I think this might be Spikes' last year. I think BB drafted him knowing who he was, but hoping he'd develop a more well rounded skillset. Instead, he came into the league as a raw but brutal physical presence in the middle with little to no coverage skills, and hasn't done much to evolve beyond that.

If he stays that way this year, the Patriots move on. If he makes a leap into a good all around LB, he likely leaves for more money elsewhere.

I dunno how you could expect that a guy with so little speed would be anything other than a permanent coverage liability. My guess would be that, like Cunningham, Spikes was drafted to play in a base defensive scheme that the Patriots no longer run. As a result, he still has some value, but he just isn't a particularly good fit. Hightower is probably the MLB next year, if I had to guess.

 

[Christian]

Wouldn't read too much into all of this.

I really do like Spikes on this defense, regardless if he's limited. He's an enforcer...something we have very few of. He plays VERY Hard...is a playmaker...and is VOCAL on the field. We have had too many choir boy types on this defense for a while now and count me as one who likes to have the Spikes type on the roster.

As far as an extension...that all depends.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think this might be Spikes' last year. I think BB drafted him knowing who he was, but hoping he'd develop a more well rounded skillset. Instead, he came into the league as a raw but brutal physical presence in the middle with little to no coverage skills, and hasn't done much to evolve beyond that.

If he stays that way this year, the Patriots move on. If he makes a leap into a good all around LB, he likely leaves for more money elsewhere.

I could actually see the Pats trading Spikes before the season starts to a team that needs a MLB depending on how Fletcher, Rivera, Tarpinian, and Collins do in camp. This would put Mayo and Hightower on the field as ILBs in the 3-4 with Jones, Ninkovich, Collins, Francis in rotation at OLB.

 

[DaBruinz]

I dunno how you could expect that a guy with so little speed would be anything other than a permanent coverage liability. My guess would be that, like Cunningham, Spikes was drafted to play in a base defensive scheme that the Patriots no longer run. As a result, he still has some value, but he just isn't a particularly good fit. Hightower is probably the MLB next year, if I had to guess.

Spikes actually has more speed than his 40 time would equate to. To say that he was drafted to fill a scheme that the Pats no longer run would be a fallacy on your part. The Pats still do run the 3-4 on occasion. They also run the 4-3 Under, which is similar.

 

[JackBauer]

I could actually see the Pats trading Spikes before the season starts to a team that needs a MLB depending on how Fletcher, Rivera, Tarpinian, and Collins do in camp. This would put Mayo and Hightower on the field as ILBs in the 3-4 with Jones, Ninkovich, Collins, Francis in rotation at OLB.

I thought Jones was a poor fit as a 3-4 OLB?

Anyway, the basis for this thread (speculation) is pretty weak. No worries, though. Nothing else to talk about.

 

[manxman2601]

I could actually see the Pats trading Spikes before the season starts to a team that needs a MLB depending on how Fletcher, Rivera, Tarpinian, and Collins do in camp. This would put Mayo and Hightower on the field as ILBs in the 3-4 with Jones, Ninkovich, Collins, Francis in rotation at OLB.

My worry would be the limited value. What would a team give up up for a limited LB in the final year of his contract? I can't believe it would be anything more than a 4th and probably a fair bit less. And if that's the case, I think he offers more on our defense even in his limited role as a run stopping enforcer.

 

[Rob0729]

Spikes is gone after this year if not sooner. He is a stud against the run, but he is likely to get too much money for being a two down LB. Someone is going to fall in love with his physicality and overpay him.

I agree with DaBruinz and he could be part of a potential trade prior to the season. The Pats can afford to lose him especially if they get something good in return. Collins makes him expendable on early downs.

 

[PP2]

All this based on what Curran "heard."

So he decides to quit twitter to improve his image and relationship with the organization but them blows off the offseason workouts? Right.

 

[Sicilian]

My worry would be the limited value. What would a team give up up for a limited LB in the final year of his contract? I can't believe it would be anything more than a 4th and probably a fair bit less. And if that's the case, I think he offers more on our defense even in his limited role as a run stopping enforcer.

Spikes and Mallett to the Browns for their 2014 1st

 

[Jackson 2]

Curran is late to the party, per usual. It was mentioned by Bedard that Spikes was quitting twitter at the end of March..

Anything about quitting work-outs?

 

[BelichickFan]

Anything about quitting work-outs?

That was the significant part to me. I'm assuming we'll eventually see Hightower in the middle with Collins replacing him. Mayo and Collins most likely the 2 LB in nickel although they could actually keep all three in and have either Collins or Hightower play DE in a nickel situation too.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Spikes is gone after this year if not sooner. He is a stud against the run, but he is likely to get too much money for being a two down LB. Someone is going to fall in love with his physicality and overpay him.

I agree with DaBruinz and he could be part of a potential trade prior to the season. The Pats can afford to lose him especially if they get something good in return. Collins makes him expendable on early downs.

Huh? We have no idea what collins will bring to the table....

 

[supafly]

Spikes is gone after this year if not sooner. He is a stud against the run, but he is likely to get too much money for being a two down LB. Someone is going to fall in love with his physicality and overpay him.

I agree with DaBruinz and he could be part of a potential trade prior to the season. The Pats can afford to lose him especially if they get something good in return. Collins makes him expendable on early downs.

I would have to think that the chances of Spikes being a member of the 2014 Patriots would be less than 50/50.

For one thing, I honestly don't know if the front office has seen enough consistency yet. We all know that he turned it on for the 2011 playoff stretch and that continued into this past season, but prior to that he was very iffy as far as being consistent.

On top of that I don't see "team leader" written on his face, and that isn't meaning to knock him. It's just that the 2nd contract is usually reserved for guys who have proven to have grown up, act like leaders, and have shown consistent play that warrants a larger paying/longer term deal.

I don't personally think he'll be traded this year myself, but I won't be surprised in the least if Belichick's financial assessment and Spikes' financial assessment are way off when the season ends.

 

[mgteich]

We will see after this year, but I don't think that we'll make much of an effort to re-sign Spikes. I expect we'll make an offer.

I would have to think that the chances of Spikes being a member of the 2014 Patriots would be less than 50/50.

For one thing, I honestly don't know if the front office has seen enough consistency yet. We all know that he turned it on for the 2011 playoff stretch and that continued into this past season, but prior to that he was very iffy as far as being consistent.

On top of that I don't see "team leader" written on his face, and that isn't meaning to knock him. It's just that the 2nd contract is usually reserved for guys who have proven to have grown up, act like leaders, and have shown consistent play that warrants a larger paying/longer term deal.

I don't personally think he'll be traded this year myself, but I won't be surprised in the least if Belichick's financial assessment and Spikes' financial assessment are way off when the season ends.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'm just going to enjoy his hard hitting play this season and mellow out on the likelihood that he finds a better 2nd contract elsewhere. Having that shiny new SB ring will help him with that.

 

[supafly]

We will see after this year, but I don't think that we'll make much of an effort to re-sign Spikes. I expect we'll make an offer.

That's exactly what I am expecting myself, unless he really steps it up this year in other areas that a lot of posters/fans tend to overlook outside of the fact that he is a hard hitter.

I like his ability to hit hard and play strongly vs the run. I also like the intensity he brings to the defense. I would rather that his contract not be up for another 2-3 yrs and that he continued to play on the team....but all of that is totally irrelevant when dealing with someone in a contract year as they head into free agency.

I just don't see enough of the traits that Belichick prefers to have from players he signs to 2nd term deals. Outside of that I don't see Spikes being the kind of player to want to stay here and leave one dollar on the table.

 

[supafly]

Huh? We have no idea what collins will bring to the table....

I think that we can safely admit that Belichick has had much more success in his first selections in the draft than not, and even the ones who haven't hung around for 2nd deals have still contributed nicely during their rookie deals.

Meriweather made the probowl 2x on his rookie pact...even Maroney was our lead back and took us to a SB, and he was probably the biggest failure from a first draft selection outside of Patrick Chung.

Collins is an athletic freak of nature. Why wouldn't you assume that he will contibute? Outside of injury (which is always the case with anyone) he will definitely be a contributor.