After Loss to Patriots, Brandon Spikes Backs Off Trash Talk

By Erik Frenz

October 13, 2014

2 minutes to read

Spikes said the Bills would sweep the Patriots, but after failing to win the first meeting, he feels he has let the city of Buffalo down. Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Buffalo Bills/former New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes guaranteed that his new team would sweep his old team in his first season in Buffalo.

Now, Spikes is just hoping to get off the schneid against New England when the two teams meet again in 11 weeks at Gillette Stadium — but he will have to wait at least 52 weeks to back up his sweeping proclamation.

“I talked a lot of trash in the offseason, and I didn’t back it up,” Spikes said, according to the team’s official Twitter account. “We did everything in our power to lose that game.”

Spikes shouldn’t lay too much of the blame at his own feet — although he was one of a few linebackers who were repeatedly burned by Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. As a unit, the defense held it together in the first half, holding the Patriots to only 13 points despite three turnovers by Buffalo’s offense.

The Patriots gained only 50 rushing yards on 27 carries (1.9 yards per carry).

But despite a solid performance from his defense, Spikes was less than proud after the Patriots put up 37 points on them in their home building.

“I pride myself on being a man of my word,” he said, “and I let the city down.”

Spikes’ time in New England ended in controversy. The Patriots placed Spikes on season-ending injured reserve (knee) on January 6. Spikes’ injury did not require surgery, according to The Boston Herald, and the linebacker believes that being placed on IR was “absolutely” meant to serve as a suspension for missing a team meeting three days earlier.

Spikes hit the open market a couple months later, and promptly signed a one-year, $3 million contract. The Patriots may be feeling the sting of their decision not to re-sign him, now that it appears linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee) could be lost for a significant amount of time.

The trash-talking linebacker may not have backed up his word this year, but the Bills have two opportunities coming up to get back on track, with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings (2-4) and a trip to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Jets (1-5) in the next two weeks.

As for his old team, the bitter feelings seem to have dissipated a bit. Spikes was seen shaking hands with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the field following the game.

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