New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots made several big signings in free agency this offseason, with one of them being former Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane. And after the team’s first training camp practice on Wednesday, it sounds like he is thrilled to be with his new squad.
After a pair of standout campaigns with the Raiders that saw him rack up a combined 306 tackles, Spillane earned a three-year, $33 million contract from the Patriots in free agency, with the hope being he can have a similar impact at the center of their defense.
Spillane embodies precisely what new head coach Mike Vrabel wants his defense to look like. He plays fast and aggressive, often breaking through the line of scrimmage and disrupting the opposing offense.
With several other stars highlighting New England’s new-look defense, it’s clear they are going to wreak havoc in 2025. Spillane is pumped to be with the Pats, and his message after the team’s first practice of the new season will get fans just as pumped as him.
“I’ve never been more excited going into a year with a group of guys,” Spillane said when speaking to the media after practice, per Zack Cox of the Boston Herald.
Even though he’s in his first season with the team, Spillane should take on a leadership role with the Patriots right out of the gate. If he and the rest of the defense can get on the same page from the get-go, this unit could enjoy quite the bounce-back campaign.
Beyond the signing of Spillane, guys like Milton Williams, Harold Landry III, and Carlton Davis III were brought in this offseason to bolster this unit. Considering how poorly the Pats played on this side of the ball last year, it’s clear these changes were needed.
It’s only the first day of training camp, but it’s clear there’s a new energy in Foxboro ahead of the 2025 season. New England will be back in action on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. ET for their second training camp practice.
