Tuesday's New England Patriots Links 1/7 - Spikes A Fighter Until The End

Here are this morning's top stories:

BOSTON GLOBE:

Season is all over for Patriots' Brandon Spikes - Shalise Manza Young - Manza Young writes about the end of Spikes's season after the team placed him on injured reserve Monday.

Colts won't be a challenge for the Patriots - Dan Shaughnessy - In an effort to likely stir things up in Indianapolis, Shaughnessy dismisses the Colts as an easy win for the Patriots in this column.

Playoff experience new for 20 Patriots - Michael Whitmer - Whitmer looks at the lack of playoff experience on the Patriots roster.

BOSTON HERALD:

Spikes a Fighter Until The End - Ron Borges - Borges writes that Brandon Spikes battled through his knee injury until yesterday, and wonders if Spikes' career in Foxboro is over.

Mini-Brady impresses - Karecn Guregian - Guregian sees a lot of similarities in Tom Brady in Colts' quarterback Andrew Luck.

Peyton place isn't first - Gerry Callahan - Callhan predicts the inevitable demise of Peyton Manning, who he feels won't get a Super Bowl ring this year - or ever.

Colts reach out for ex-Pat Deion Branch - Karen Guregian - Guregian writes that Branch has a home 30-mins from a the Colts stadium in Carmel Ind. but has quotes from Troy Brown who feels he can't provide the Colts much in terms of intel.

Vinatieri angle never gets old - Jeff Howe - Howe writes that Adam Vinatieri may be showing his age, but his leg remains as steady as ever.

Spikes takes late detour to IR - Jeff Howe/Karen Guregian - these two combine for their notebook this morning, which leads off on Spikes heading to IR yesterday and a conflicting report regarding whether or not he needs surgery.

ESPN BOSTON:

Can't blame Deion Branch for joining Colts - Mike Reiss - Reiss has an entry pointing out that the Patriots didn't want Branch and the Colts did, which should be taken into consideration for the people upset that Branch joined a potential enemy this weekend.

Analysis on Spikes landing on IR - Mike Reiss - Reiss gives his thoughts on Brandon Spikes being placed on injured reserve and how it affects New England's defense.

Do business as business is done - Tedy Bruschi - Bruschi does his weekly Q&A and addresses a variety of topics, including how the time off may affect some of the newer players along with many others.

Colts WR Hilton comes into focus for Pats - Field Yates - Yates has some thoughts on the danger T.Y. Hilton poses for New England's defense.

WEEI:

Analysis: Closer Look at Colts' addition of Deion Branch and Patriots' Decision to Place Brandon Spikes on IR - Christopher Price - Price Breaks down the Branch signing by the Colts and what Spikes' loss means for the Patriots.

Bulldozer by committee: Patriots trying to plow unusual path to Super Bowl - Christopher Price - Price writes that Bill Belichick said Monday that when you're talking about situational football, it's easy to see why New England has had so many running opportunities lately.

MASSLIVE:

Scorned in New England, former Patriots CB Darius Butler avoided becoming an NFL 'leper' after finding a home with Indianapolis Colts - Nick O'Malley - O'Malley has a good read on Butler, who couldn't quite carve out a role for himself in New England.

PATRIOTS.COM:

Game Preview: Patriots host Colts in divisional playoff game - The team provides some good information about Sunday's match-up in this entry.

Game Release - You can download the full release by CLICKING HERE

Matt Patricia Conference Call Transcript

Bill Belichick Conference Call Transcript

Josh McDaniels Conference Call Transcript

WORCESTER TELEGRAM:

Brandon Spikes added to Patriots' injured reserve list - Rich Garven - Garven has his notebook, which leads off with Spikes being placed on injured reserve on Monday.

Patriots' runs could be difference vs. Colts - Rich Garven - Garven looks at New England's running game, and feels that the focus on Brady might allow New England to see another big rushing performance.