Spikes signed a one-year deal with the Patriots on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Spikes spent the first four seasons of his career with the Patriots, and had his best year in 2012, tallying 92 combined tackles and five forced fumbles. After collecting 54 combined tackles in 2014 with the Bills, Spikes will return to his original home, where he should be a favorite to take over a starting inside linebacker role. At the very least, he'll provide an insurance policy in the case that Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower suffer any setbacks in the recovery from their respective knee and shoulder injuries.