Brandon Spikes: Patriots Linebacker Released From Team After His Damaged Car Found Abandoned

Brandon Spikes, linebacker for the New England Patriots, has been released from the team after his damaged car was found abandoned by the side of the road, USA Today is reporting.

Patriots released LB Brandon Spikes, per source. Wasted no time….

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2015

At about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, a vehicle belonging to Spikes — a Mercedes Maybach (MSRP: $167,000) — was found abandoned in an interstate median strip not far from the Patriots’ training facility in Foxborough, Massachusetts. A representative from the vehicle’s navigation system said that the driver had reported hitting a deer (no deer was found near the scene). The vehicle had sustained front-end damage.

A short time later, according to ESPN, the driver of another vehicle — a Nissan Murano — in the same area as Spikes’ abandoned Mercedes, reported having been rear-ended by a vehicle they didn’t see. The three occupants of the vehicle were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

As of this post, police have not conclusively determined if Brandon Spikes’ vehicle is connected to the accident involving the Murano.

Massachusetts State Trooper Matthew Guarino told Boston.com that charges of leaving the scene of an accident will likely be forthcoming.

“In 21 years as a road trooper, experience tells me that there will at least be a charge of leaving the scene of a property-damage accident.”

In a statement on the team’s website, the team confirmed that he had been released, but gave no explanation.

“The New England Patriots announced today that they have released linebacker Brandon Spikes.”

Brandon Spikes spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Patriots, before being released in 2014, and then signing with the Buffalo Bills. He would later describe his time in Boston as “four years a slave.” After a season in a Bills uniform, Spikes re-signed with the Patriots.

“We can clearly see that me and [Patriots coach Bill Belichick] kissed and made up. I’m here. That’s in the past. I’m moving on. So that’s dead… I think we’re both happy I’m here and were able to put things aside, let bygones be bygones.”

Spikes served a four-game suspension in 2010 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He’s also been fined several times for conduct on the field. He does not, however, appear to have had a history of trouble with the law since donning an NFL uniform.

As of this post, Brandon Spikes has not commented publicly about being released from the Patriots.

[Image courtesy of Getty Images]