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There's been plenty of talk regarding Brandon Spikes and his surprising placement on injured reserve last week as he continued fighting through a knee injury, but now we know for sure that he didn't go out on his own terms.
According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Spikes' representatives are insisting that the IR designation was a choice made by the organization and not by their client. The veteran linebacker's camp issued a statement insisting the move "was not a mutual decision", and that "Brandon had every intention to keep playing throughout the playoffs, despite the pain he was experiencing throughout the season."
Regarding the report over the weekend that said the move to IR came as a result of his tardiness to team meetings on Friday, his representatives also shot that down.
"We never had a single conversation with the Patriots in which they threatened to release him if he didn't accept the Injured Reserve designation," explained the statement.
So it appears New England may have instead potentially made the move for the linebacker's own good, as well as to possibly bring in a healthier player to take his place. Either way, it debunks the theory of the move being done for disciplinary reasons.
During Saturday night's win over Indianapolis Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins both had solid performances, and certainly did a good job in Spikes' absence. The former second round pick is scheduled to become a free agent in March and it remains to be seen whether or not he'll be a Patriot next season.
Fortunately the good news for now is that at least his knee won't get any worse and he's got a head start in getting himself ready for 2014.
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