New England Patriots Release Brandon Spikes

Less than a day after his car was found abandoned on Route 495 in Foxborough, the New England Patriots announced Monday morning they have released linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Spikes, 27, was chosen in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Patriots, where he spent his first four seasons in the league before signing with Buffalo for the 2014 season. He returned to New England on May 18.

Prior to his pro career, Spikes attended the University of Florida where he was a two-time BCS National Champion, two-time All-American, and three-time All-SEC player.

Early Sunday morning, a 2011 Mercedes Maybach with front-end damage registered to Spikes in the median of the highway was reported to police. OnStar informed the Massachusetts State Police that the vehicle hit a deer, according to state police. No deer was located.

At the same time, police received a call for a vehicle that was rear-ended by another car that the operator did not see. The crash was near the location of Spike’s car and sent three people, a 51-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman, and a 12-year-old boy, all of Billerica, to an area hospital with minor injuries.

It is not known if Spikes was driving his Mercedes or who was in the car.

State police say they are investigating whether or not the two incidents are connected.