Patriots Release Veteran ILB Brandon Spikes

Update:

#Patriots have released LB Brandon Spikes.

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 8, 2015

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that the Patriots have released veteran ILB Brandon Spikes following the news that he was involved in a recent accident and left the scene.

New England just signed Spike to a one-year contract worth $1.1 million a few weeks ago, so his return was obviously short lived.

Police are still investigating the incident, as well as the possibility that Spikes rear-ended a car with three occupants that were later taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of the vehicle reported that they had hit a deer, but no deer was ever located in the incident.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Spikes will free up $1,275,000 in available cap space for the Patriots while creating $25,000 in dead money.

Spikes, 27, was forced to sign a one-year, $3 million contract with the Bills last year after finding very limited interest on the open market.

In 2014, he appeared in all 16 games and recorded 54 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and three pass defines. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the N0. 13 inside linebacker out of 60 qualifying players due in large part to a very solid rating as a run-defender.