Brandon Spikes Brandon Spikes ( born September 3 , 1987 ) is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft . He played college football for the University of Florida , was recognized as an All - American twice , and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams . Early years . Spikes was born in Shelby , North Carolina . He attended Crest High School in Shelby , and was a standout high school football player for the Crest Chargers . Coming out of high school he was considered one of the best linebacker prospects in the nation , and was rated the number one prospect in the state of North Carolina by " Rivals . com " and 33rd overall best player in the country according to " Scout . com " . He was also selected to play in the U . S . Army All - American Bowl . College career . Spikes accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida over offers from several other colleges including the University of Alabama , North Carolina State University and Virginia Tech . At Florida , he was a four - year letterman , and played for coach Urban Meyer ' s Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2009 . Spikes appeared in 47 games for Florida with 39 starts at linebacker . He registered 307 tackles ( 178 solo ) in his career , with 31 . 5 for loss , including 6 . 5 sacks . He forced two fumbles , recovered four fumbles and had six interceptions which he returned for 139 yards and four touchdowns , more than any other player in the nation and a Florida school record . Spikes saw limited action in 2006 , playing in nine games and recording 15 tackles as the backup to Brandon Siler . He was a member of the Gators ' BCS National Championship team which defeated Ohio State . In 2007 Spikes became a starter after Siler was selected in the 2007 NFL Draft . He started all 13 games at middle linebacker recording 131 tackles ( 81 solo ) , which was second in the Southeastern Conference . He tied for third in the SEC with 3 fumble recoveries . He also earned first - team All - SEC along with teammate Tim Tebow . As a junior team captain in 2008 , Spikes was a first - team All - SEC selection and a unanimous first - team All - American . He was selected as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award . He was a starter at middle linebacker and led the team with 93 tackles on the season , including 8 . 0 for a loss . He returned two interceptions for a touchdown tying the school record . He made six tackles in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game win over Oklahoma and had seven tackles , two quarterback hurries and broke up one pass in the 2008 SEC Championship Game against the University of Alabama . After the season ( his junior year ) he decided to forgo entry into the 2009 NFL Draft and returned to Florida for another season . In 2009 , Spikes ' production fell to 68 tackles ( 36 solo ) . In an October 31 , 2009 game , Spikes was involved in an incident where he attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia ’ s Washaun Ealey . As a result of this , Florida coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes for the first half of their next game against Vanderbilt . Spikes later announced that he would sit out for the entire game . As a senior team captain , he was one of three finalists for the 2009 Chuck Bednarik Award , a finalist for the 2009 Butkus Award , a first - team All - SEC selection , and a consensus All - American , receiving first - team honors from " The Sporting News " and the Walter Camp Football Foundation and second - team honors from the Associated Press . Professional career . New England Patriots . 2010 season . Spikes was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round ( 62nd overall ) of the 2010 NFL Draft . He signed a four - year contract on July 26 , 2010 . Spikes quickly became a starter at inside linebacker in the Patriots 3 – 4 defense , alongside Jerod Mayo . Against Baltimore in Week 6 of his rookie season , Spikes recorded 16 tackles in an overtime Patriots win . Spikes recorded his first career interception in a Week 13 win over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football . On December 10 , 2010 , prior to the Patriots ' Week 14 game against the Chicago Bears , Spikes was suspended four games ( the remainder of the 2010 regular season ) for a violation of the NFL ' s banned substances policy , reportedly for an ingredient in Spikes ' ADHD medication . The same day , Spikes released the following statement : He finished his rookie season with 61 tackles , one interception , and three passes defensed . With his season shortened by the suspension , he played in 12 games , starting eight . 2012 season . On November 16 , Spikes was fined $ 25 , 000 for a late hit against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 . 2013 season . Spikes dealt with a knee injury during the season , but played in all 16 games . After being late to practice in January 2014 , Spikes was placed on injured reserve . Spikes was not resigned by the team in the offseason . Buffalo Bills . On March 14 , 2014 , Spikes agreed to a one - year , $ 3 . 25 million contract with the Buffalo Bills . Personal . As a child , Spikes was raised by his brother , Breyron Middlebrooks , while their mother , Sherry Allen , worked 12 - hour days at a fiberglass plant . In 2003 , Middlebrooks was found guilty of first - degree murder and sentenced to life in prison , the result of a drug deal in 2001 . He writes to Spikes regularly and watches what games he can from his cell at Scotland Correctional Institute in Laurinburg , North Carolina . He is the younger cousin of free agent ' Takeo Spikes .