New Delhi, June 10 -- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The play happened near the front pylon, late in a red-zone period, with the offense moving at the kind of tempo that usually finds a linebacker caught in coverage. Drake Maye released the ball toward Hunter Henry on a corner route, and Robert Spillane - 30 years old, ten seasons into a career nobody predicted - had no real chance. Henry caught it for six. The offense sprinted over to celebrate.

Spillane jogged back to the defensive huddle without breaking stride.

That is, more or less, what this spring has looked like for the New England Patriots' starting middle linebacker. He has been beaten a few times in minicamp practice, same as any defender working against a first-team offense with the ba...