NFL News: Brandon Spikes Returns To New England Patriots On One-Year Deal

Baltimore Ravens fullback Vonta Leach (left) is tackled by New England Patriots outside linebacker Brandon Spikes in the second quarter during the AFC championship game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Jan. 22, 2012. Reuters/Mike Segar

The New England Patriots re-signed free-agent linebacker Brandon Spikes to a one-year deal Monday. Spikes will return to the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Multiple NFL insiders confirmed the news on Twitter.

Patriots have signed free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes to a one-year deal, per @FieldYates and me. #markman50
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 18, 2015

From @AdamSchefter & me: the Patriots have signed free agent LB Brandon Spikes to a 1-year deal. Spikes spent the 2014 season Buffalo.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 18, 2015

Brandon Spikes will sign with #Patriots today, source said (as ESPN 1st reported). He visited last week. Can now begin unblocking Pats fans.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 18, 2015

The Patriots reportedly hosted Spikes last week and his return to the team was expected despite some issues between the two sides at the end of his first stint in New England. Spikes tweeted a cryptic message in April 2014 just after his time with the Patriots.

4 years a slave
— BrandonSpikes51 (@BrandonSpikes51) April 9, 2014

Spikes played with the Patriots from 2010 to 2013 before signing a one-year $3.25 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. With a change of system in Buffalo after the hiring of head coach Rex Ryan, the Bills decided not to bring him back and he became a free agent. In 67 games in a five-year NFL career, Spikes has accumulated 340 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 15 passes defended and 6 forced fumbles.

In other Patriots news, the team released three players: cornerback Chimdi Chekwa, linebacker Cameron Gorden and quarterback Devin Gardner.