Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Patriots – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

When linebacker Brandon Spikes plays like he did last Sunday by charging downhill against the run and bringing a physical edge, he’s one of the most enjoyable defenders to watch in recent Patriots memory. The issues with Spikes, which have cropped up at times over the past three years, are more in coverage. This reflects how the coaching staff has mostly utilized Spikes in 2013, playing him primarily in the base defense and taking him off the field in the majority of sub packages. So with Spikes entering the final year of his contract, the possibility of him staying in New England past this season probably hinges on whether another team views him as more than a two-down type player, and is willing to pay him accordingly.