The Patriots are welcoming back an old friend.
The Pats have agreed on a contract with free-agent linebacker Brandon Spikes. Spikes' agents tweeted the news earlier today.
Spikes, 27, returns to Foxboro after playing last season in Buffalo. Spikes was a second-round choice of the Patriots in 2010 and played his first four seasons for New England, appearing in 51 games while starting 39.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Spikes played in 16 games last season for the Bills and had 54 tackles while essentially playing on running downs only. He didn’t appear to be a good fit with incoming coach Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense.