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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- After a falling out with the New England Patriots, linebacker Brandon Spikes is embracing his fresh start with the Buffalo Bills. Spikes joined the Bills late Friday night on a one-year contract. The Bills have been active in free agency thus far, signing six free agents. The middle linebacker is easily Buffalos most intriguing addition. The 26-year-old Spikes is an aggressive, hard-hitting defender. A second-round pick of the Patriots in 2010, Spikes started 39 of 53 games in New England, with 286 tackles and five forced fumbles. He was third on the Patriots in tackles in 2013 with 86. "I was excited the whole time to get going with a new start in a new beginning in a new place," Spikes said on a conference call Monday. "I feel like its going to be fun and Im down for a challenge. I want to help change the culture there." Spikes is known for the physical nature of his play. "All the old-school, throwback backers, I just moulded my game after them and it just stuck with me this whole time," Spikes said. "I wouldnt call it intimidating, Im just playing and going hard and relentless and play every play like its your last." The addition of Spikes is one of many moves the Bills hope will fix their porous run defence. With Spikes taking over middle linebacker duties, the Bills plan on moving young standout Kiko Alonso to the weak side after spending his rookie season in the middle. The Bills also signed former New York Giants linebacker Keith Rivers to a two-year contract on March 12. The Bills finished 28th against the run in 2013, allowing an average of 128.9 yards per game. "I actually think it was like seven games where they gave up 150 yards on the ground. I just want to come and help them out," Spikes said. "Thats one of my strengths, stopping the run, and I feel like I can help. Whatever they need me to do, Im willing to do and do it at a high level." Spikes joins a defence that has its fourth co-ordinator in four seasons. Former Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz is installing a base 4-3 following the departure of Mike Pettine, who left Buffalo after one year to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Spikes is set to reunite with his former linebackers coach, Pepper Johnson, now Buffalos defensive line coach. Johnson made the move from New England in January and Spikes said his presence was one of the reasons he decided to come to Buffalo. "A great coach, a great inspiration to the game," Spikes said. "He loves the game and hes definitely what I want to be down the road; hes a legendary ball player and coach." After playing with a knee injury for several weeks in New England, Spikes was placed on injured reserve on Jan. 6. An ESPN report later said Spikes was placed on IR after being late to a team meeting during a Boston snow storm. On Saturday, after the contract was official, Spikes tweeted: "Free at last, free at last. I thank God Im free at last. Free at last, Free at last !!!!!! #LetsGetIt #PoWwWwW." "I just want to kind of close that chapter," Spikes said. "I just want to put that all behind me. Its great just to have a new beginning. Im excited. The past is the past. Im happy now and Im ready to get to work and Im just ready to help." Spikes is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his cousin, Takeo Spikes. Takeo Spikes was a standout linebacker with the Bills from 2003-06. After wearing number 55 in New England, Spikes is returning to the number 51, which he wore earlier in his career, in honour of his cousin. "He inspired me to be great," Spikes said. "He inspired me to have a dream and chase it. ... Watching him in Buffalo growing up inspired me to wear the number 51 ... hes just somebody I look to be like." .C. -- Only two Syracuse teams have won their first 20 games, and C. . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework. http://www.authenticraidersfansclub.com ... ersey/.com) - Mikko Korhonen carded a 5-under 67 on Thursday to claim medalist honors at the European Tours Final Qualifying Stage tournament. . Last year, Islanders forward Colin Mcdonald released a "Do It For Colin" campaign to promote his teammate and friend John Tavares for the EA sports honour:The most popular sports voting video ever has to go to Chris Bosh who showcased his comedic abilities in his effort to get fans to vote him into the 2008 All Star Game:You can vote for TJ and other star players for the NHL 15 cover vote here. . Especially after he got ejected. "How many innings was that?" he wondered.SAN FRANCISCO -- Now that he has a stock tied to his football career, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis is thinking more like a CEO looking out for his shareholders interests, as well as for himself. Thats among the reasons why Davis wants the 49ers to pay him more money even though he still has two years still left on his current contract. The deal, originally signed in 2010, calls for him to make about $10 million through the National Football Leagues 2015 season. "I feel like its the right time to get an extension," Davis said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. His remarks came shortly before the 49ers announced they had given their star quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, a six-year contract extension through the 2020 season for a reported $110 million. If Davis secures a longer contract too, it will be a boon for investors who bought a stake in his football career through an unusual tracking stock from Fantex Inc. The San Francisco company paid Davis $4 million in return for 10 per cent of his future earnings from football, commercial endorsements and other jobs that he may get during the remainder of his life because of his success in sports. Investors who own any of the 421,000 shares of Fantex tracking stock tied to Davis will also benefit from his success through dividends and potential appreciation in the stocks price. Davis tracking stock climbed $1.20 Wednesday to $11.20, slightly above its initial public offering price of $10. The shares have traded as high as $12.50 since their debut on Fantexs online exchange in late April. The IPO minted Davis, an eight-year veteran of the 49ers, as the first professional athlete to be traded like a stock.dddddddddddd "Everyone loves me right now," Davis said. "They just want to talk to me. They want to hug me. ...You get a lot of people who say, Ive got stock in you." Although Fantex completed the IPO of the tracking stock five weeks ago, U.S. securities regulations prohibited Davis from publicly discussing the investment until Wednesday. Not long after he was able to talk about the stock, Davis said he fielded calls from 49er teammates Justin Smith, Vance McDonald and C.J. Spillman inquiring about his arrangement with Fantex. For now, business comes before football for Davis, who is considered to be among the best tight ends in the game. He caught a career-best 13 touchdowns last season. But Davis, 30, already has played nearly three times longer than the average NFL career of three seasons. He said he wants to play "until my toes fall off" and hopes to spend his entire career with the 49ers. The big question now is whether the 49ers will acquiesce to his demands for a longer contract. As part of his negotiating tactics, Davis skipped the 49ers voluntary team workouts this week. His absence cost him a $200,000 bonus. Davis will be aiming to make that money back in his contract extension, although he declined to say how much he is seeking. In an appraisal made leading up to the IPO, Fantex predicted Davis would land at least one more football contract worth $33 million. While Davis negotiates with the 49ers, Fantex is trying to sell tracking stocks tied to the careers of two other NFL players: Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. ' ' '