Robert Spillane is already standing out among the other Patriots free agents.
The Patriots defense was led by the seasoned linebacker on Saturday, who made Drake Maye’s job tough. Spillane defended tight end Hunter Henry and wide DeMario Douglas by intercepting the quarterback’s first two passes during the opening 11-on-11 period. He’s actually having an effect off the field as well.
Spillane, a former Las Vegas Raiders captain, has immediately assumed a leadership position both on the practice field and within Gillette Stadium. Christian Elliss, a fellow linebacker, dubbed Spillane odd this week and gave the greatest explanation of what he meant.
Each and every time we discuss pre-practice matters. He’s like a golden retriever out here. “He just has a lot of energy,” Elliss stated. He’s entertaining. He is simply someone you care about. You would give it your all for him. He is the one who will unite this defense.
Under Mike Vrabel, Spillane played his first NFL season in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. The next season, Spillane was cut by the Tennessee Titans and signed with Pittsburgh, where he established himself as a reliable backup linebacker. He made a name for himself as one of the NFL’s top middle linebackers in Las Vegas.
He concluded the previous season with a career-high 158 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions. Spillane agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with the Patriots this summer. The veteran has quickly made a name for himself among his teammates.
“He’s very intelligent,” Elliss stated. People are aware of it, but I still want to highlight his skill at the game—he knows all the schematics and techniques. Spills is an amazing leader for this defense, and even when I’m out there covering someone one-on-one, he’s giving me a tip on something I can learn from.
Since the first open session, Spillane has been a pillar of Vrabel’s defense, starting alongside Elliss. The Patriots coach expressed his admiration for the veteran.
Vrabel described him as a proud and fiercely competitive leader. He has a lot of energy when playing. He plays with fervor. Excellent communicator. plays the run game with a certain amount of roughness. He also seems to have some degree of adaptability, in my opinion.
