Don't expect to see Nate Ebner at OTAs or minicamp in a few months.
Ebner, the special teams standout who re-signed on a two-year deal over the weekend, will take a leave of absence from the New England Patriots to train for the U.S. rugby team and the summer Olympics, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Ebner grew up a rugby player and didn't begin his football career until he was a junior at Ohio State, where he walked on. Prior to that, he was competing internationally in rugby.
He excelled as a special teamer at Ohio State and was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2012.