Earlier this week, Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes was asked about his aggressive nature on the field.
“Absolutely. A lot of guys, they know the new rules. I don’t think I’ve done anything illegal,” Spikes said, via the Patriots website. “I’ve tried to keep it legal, but I just want to kind of try to make a point -- when I hit a guy, I want him [to say], ‘Oh, that was Spikes that hit me. I know that already.’”
The NFL doesn’t agree that Spikes kept it legal during last Sunday’s 52-28 victory over the Bills. The NFL confirmed Friday that Spikes has been fined $21,000 for an illegal blindside block delivered to Bills tight end Scott Chandler in the fourth quarter of that game.
The block came when Spikes left his feet to deliver a block on Chandler during an interception return by Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty. Spikes hit Chandler in the head, causing a concussion for the tight end that doesn’t appear likely to keep him out of this week’s game since he has been listed as probable on the Friday injury report. There was no flag thrown on the play by the officials.