FOXBORO – Sam Aiken is as soft-spoken as he is hard-working.

On Tuesday, the 28-year-old special teams captain of the New England Patriots was rewarded for the latter half of that equation as he was signed to a two-year contract extension through 2011.

“Sam was in last year of his contract and he’s done a great job for us,” Belchick said about the seven-year NFL veteran.

As a result of the extension, which is worth $2.68 million over three years, Aiken will make a pro-rated $1.16 million this season, $760,000 next year and $775,000 in 2011.

Aiken was viewed as so valuable because of what he did on the field as a special teamer and what he didn’t say off of it. His hard-working, quiet attitude was right out of the Patriots playbook.

So the extension didn’t catch him off-guard.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised because I apply myself everyday, as far as doing hard work, whether it’s watching film or on the practice field,” Aiken said. “If they see it and put me out there, I just take advantage of the opportunity.”

Aiken was drafted out of North Carolina in 2003. And, after impressing the Patriots coaching staff for five seasons on Buffalo’s highly regarded special teams unit, Aiken was signed by the Patriots prior to the 2008 season.

“We brought him in here from Buffalo,” Belichick added. “He’s been a big producer for us in the kicking game. The players elected him in an overwhelming fashion, as almost unanimous really, as their special teams’ captain and he’s done a great job for us at receiver, at different points during his career at different positions, whether it be inside or outside.”

“A lot of people know I don’t talk much but when they gave me the captain’s position, I became more vocal,” added Aiken, who credited the captaincy with his increased role in New England.

Aiken has five catches for 56 yards this season. He has yet to record a touchdown in his seven-year career.

“This is a player we have a lot of respect for,” Belichick said. “He’s done a good job for us and we want to continue with and I’m glad we were able to do that.”