Sign the Beast IV: Brandon Spikes?

Brandon Spikes?


Sorry, another obligatory this guy is a free agent sign this guy now thread...

I always liked this guy in a limited role, he is likely the best run stuffing ILB in the league. Lets hope he doesn't have to cover anyone. With injuries to Mayo and Hightower I would give him a shot (if the money was right).

From ESPN Boston
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4778403/following-up-on-brandon-spikes

Don't see how we could afford him.

I thought signed a 2 year deal with the Bills.

He said it was like jail/slavery here. He ain't comin back imo

He has no place on this team. There's no LB that I want him taking snaps away from.

Given the way things reportedly ended in N.E., I doubt his returning is any kind of option.

I suspect BB was secretly glad to see him leave. Played well on the field, but his leadership intangibles weren't the best. And, frankly, our LB unit flourished after Spikes left. I don't think he's missed in Foxboro.

These last two years, Belichick has been effusive about his team, the way they prepare, the way they study, the way they take coaching. I always felt that Spikes was on the wrong side of that conversation, with regard to playing the Patriots' Way. He was productive on the field, but he always chafed against the culture. Plugging Hightower into the "Ted Johnson" run stuffer role and watching Spikes walk away solved a lot of problems for the D, in my opinion.

The matter of "culture fit" is also an important consideration for fans who are hoping to see Mayo cut or traded. I just don't see that as likely, given that Mayo is an important vehicle for teaching the Patriots' Way. Hell, Mayo was still leading the D at the SB in street clothes. BB will pay a lot of money to have that guy in his locker room.

I'm expecting to see him on the Jets next season. There has been enough rumored interest in David Harris around the league that it'd be no surprise if he left the Jets, and Spikes would again be following Pepper Johnson around on his AFC East tour.

It won't happen. He wants to be a 3 down player and he archly a role played. On top of that he doesn't want to play for Belichick.

Love me some Brandon Spikes, but he is done here. He was born in the wrong era, if he was born 30 years ago we'd be talking about HOF Brandon Spikes. He's the best box run defender in the NFL, unfortunately the rest of his game is a mess.

If he didn't have his beef with Belichick, I'd happily take him back in a limited role.

cstjohn17 said:

Sorry, another obligatory this guy is a free agent sign this guy now thread...

I always liked this guy in a limited role, he is likely the best run stuffing ILB in the league. Lets hope he doesn't have to cover anyone. With injuries to Mayo and Hightower I would give him a shot (if the money was right).

From ESPN Boston
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4778403/following-up-on-brandon-spikes

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I really don't think he's the best run stuffing LB in the league, or even top 5. He probably hits the hardest. But it's more to being a run stuffer than that. You have to react quickly, find the right hole, and take the right angle. Those are things that I don't really think that he is that good at, a large part of that is probably his severe lack of anything resembling speed.

Plus we mainly play with 2 linebackers. Those linebackers have to be able to cover both run and pass on all downs. Spikes is too slow for that. I just don't see how Spikes could fit in this system. We have three linebackers that I'd rather have on the field before Spikes.

With the 4-2-5 and occasional 3-2-6 the Pats have been fielding, run D in this passing league has become less of an issue. Pats have DBs who tackle. You can't not have any run D (see COLTS) but aside from the SeaHags with Lynch it's a passing league. Who would you have taken OFF the field in the SB to put Spikes in instead? That answers the question.

Probably go to the Raiders.

I don't think he would want to return, and for what he would cost I would rather just keep Mayo anyway. Or do pretty much anything else, really. I like him, but he came into the league 15 years too late. He's too limited to be worth much these days.

Not sour grapes, either. I pretty vocally felt the same way when he was on the team. This defense got better when he left (with Collins and Hightower subsequently stepping up) is a not-insignificant part of the reason why. Not the main reason--that would be Revis--but a pretty big one.

PatsWickedPissah said:

With the 4-2-5 and occasional 3-2-6 the Pats have been fielding, run D in this passing league has become less of an issue. Pats have DBs who tackle. You can't not have any run D (see COLTS) but aside from the SeaHags with Lynch it's a passing league. Who would you have taken OFF the field in the SB to put Spikes in instead? That answers the question.

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Brandon Spikes was our best defensive player against Seattle in 2012, I'm sure if we still had him he would have played a healthy amount vs. them in the SB since he still would be the best run defending LB on the team. He'd also be useful against a few of the other run heavy teams we face, but not enough with the cast of LB's we have to justify his full time existence.

If anyone should pay a premium for him, it's probably the Colts. I can't think of anyone who needs him more.

I can see him having a Patrick Chung-style comeback. But I'm a sentimental old coot.

I still want to know how this knucklehead dated one of Doc Rivers' daughters.

Oh, she gets around a bit. Nothing that she should be ashamed of, but she's not some cotton-wrapped princess either. http://fabwags.com/callie-rivers-nba-player-paul-georges-girlfriend

Mike the Brit said:

I can see him having a Patrick Chung-style comeback. But I'm a sentimental old coot.

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Yeah, but Chung didn't burn bridges on his way out of town...Spikes did...he's dead to Bill Belichick, I presume...

Armen Da Pats Fan said:

Yeah, but Chung didn't burn bridges on his way out of town...Spikes did...he's dead to Bill Belichick, I presume...

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Well, yes. No one called Brandon Spikes the most calm and unemotional of guys. But he did take back some of the more emotional stuff and give credit to BB and the team for his time in New England. If Ty Law is back in the fold, I don't see why it can't happen with Brandon Spikes. But I'm a sentimental fool, and this Superbowl stuff has got me even sappier.

http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...ts-but-no-hard-feelings.ece?template=printart