Brandon Spikes Released Following Hit-and-Run Incident

The New England Patriots announced today that they have released linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Spikes, 27, is a veteran of five NFL seasons with New England (2010-13) and Buffalo (2014). The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a second-round draft pick (62nd overall) by New England out of Florida in 2010. He signed with Buffalo as an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2014 and re-signed with the Patriots on May 18, 2015.

Spikes has played in 66 career games with 50 starts and has registered 384 total tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, seven forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 15 passes defensed. 

The roster move comes just days after a car registered to Spikes was found damaged and abandoned early Sunday morning on the median of I-495 in Foxboro.  Massachusetts State Troopers responded were alerted to the presence of a 2011 Mercedes Maybach with significant damage, abandoned in the highway's median. A representative from OnStar reported that the driver had reported hitting a deer. The incident is currently under investigation.