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Spikes On Patriots: 'Both Sides Could Benefit From Fresh Start'

BOSTON (CBS) -- Linebacker Brandon Spikes is about to become a free agent, and chances are he won't be returning to the New England Patriots.

Spikes admitted that a return to the Patriots is unlikely, but he isn't one to use the word "never."

"I would never say never," Spikes said of a return to New England Friday morning on NFL Network's NFL AM. "You know, everybody [says] you never want to burn a bridge, but I just feel like both sides could benefit from a fresh start."

"That being said, in free agency, I just feel like I'm out here, I'm available, I'm 100 percent," said Spikes. "Any team that is willing to take a chance on me, they're going to get a playmaker, a guy that's very aggressive on the field, looking to be a difference-maker."

Spikes played in all 16 regular season games for the Patriots for the first time in his career in 2013, recording 86 tackles, an interception and his first career fumble recovery. He played part of the season with a bad knee and further aggravated the injury in the team's regular season finale against the Buffalo Bills. He was placed on IR a few days later, but it came out shortly after that the team made the move in part because Spikes had missed a team meeting. One report said the team was even considering releasing the linebacker after the absence.

Spikes spoke of being placed on injured reserve at the end of the season, but made no mention of the missed meeting.

"I think that was a coach's decision," he said. "And I'm just an employee, you know, what Adam Sandler said, 'just go with it.' I had no choice, but I think, you know, they put me on IR because of my injury. I was definitely devastated to not be able to compete, you know, you fight all season to get to the playoffs and it really hurt me not to be out there with my teammates."

He did, however, admit that he wished he handled a few things differently during his four-year run in New England.

"I think, you know, overall, if I could do some things differently I would," he said, "but it is what it is in the past and I think it's just time to move on."

Spikes was a second-round pick by New England in the 2010 NFL draft, and became known for delivering bone-crushing hits on opposing offenses. While he often battled injuries, he played a major part in New England's stout run defense when healthy.

NFL free agency opens Tuesday afternoon at 4 pm.

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