Quick-hit thoughts on NFL, Patriots – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

The absence of Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes from voluntary offseason workouts might prove to be a forgotten storyline in 2013, especially if Spikes brings his trademark physical style of play and improves his work in pass coverage. But when it comes to considering a contract extension for Spikes for 2014 and beyond, I don’t think Bill Belichick will forget that he was the only player not to show up, before Spikes explained his absence this way: “I do things a little different from everybody else. Honestly, if everybody in this world was a [conformist], it would be one boring place.” Safe to say that’s not the message Belichick wants his younger players – especially 2013 top pick Jamie Collins (working at linebacker) – to hear. It’s hard for me to imagine Belichick rewarding that mindset and approach with a contract extension, in part because of the message it would send to others.