Last season, New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower was forced to take on play-calling duties in place of the injured Jerod Mayo.
With that, the third-year former first-rounder got some experience with the helmet speaker, which gets designated to one defensive player on the field at a time.
In speaking with CSNNE.com this week, Hightower briefly discussed what it's like to don the "green dot" hard hat.
"It's helpful and annoying at the same time," he said. "You know how you feel like you have a conscience in the back of your mind when you're doing something wrong that you shouldn't be doing? That's exactly what it's like."
Upon Mayo's return, Hightower should be able to loosen up a bit and just play without worrying about the responsibilities that come as the unit's organizer.
However, he has inevitably taken on more of a leadership this year by default with a fresh crop of newbies on the defensive front to supplement the departures of veterans Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher.
