Report: Brandon Spikes Visiting Patriots
BOSTON (CBS) - The New England Patriots may soon be reunited with an old friend.
Brandon Spikes, the Patriots' former second round draft pick (2010, 62nd overall) spent the 2014 season in Buffalo after playing the first four years of his NFL career in New England. But the free agent is currently without a home, and according to a report he's in Foxboro visiting with the Patriots.
Expounding on that initial report, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network indicates the linebacker could be there awhile just based on the amount of luggage.
Spikes, 27, is nothing more than a run-stuffing linebacker and is considered a liability in pass coverage. But with Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower both on the mend and recovering from surgery, Spikes could prove to be a valuable Band-Aid if signed.
But Spikes' exit from New England was far from amicable.
After being drafted in the second round in 2010, Spikes made a name for himself as a mean, nasty run-stuffing linebacker with a knack for making big hits and big plays.
But Spikes labored through the entire 2013 regular season on a bummed knee before being placed on injured reserve just days before the team's playoff opener at Gillette Stadium. It was later reported that shutting down Spikes was mainly for disciplinary reasons after he missed a Friday bye week practice.
After that the writing on the wall was clear, and his comments to the NFL Network on the eve of free agency proved that even further, saying, "Both sides could benefit from a fresh start."
As soon as the clock struck 4pm and free agency commenced, Spikes tweeted a farewell/good riddance message to the fans, the region and the team. A month later he trash-talked the team on Twitter. His loyalty to former college teammate Aaron Hernandez remains puzzling as well.
But if he's in town for a visit then the fences appear to be mended. If signed, New England may have a cheap alternative at linebacker -- who's familiar with the scheme and coaching staff -- while Mayo and Hightower recover from injury.
