The Sports Xchange

The New England Patriots are bringing back free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes, signing him to a one-year deal Monday.

Spikes played for the Patriots from 2010 to 2013 before signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills in 2014.

The news of Spikes’ deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by NFL.com.

After signing with the Bills in 2014, Spikes tweeted some shots at the Patriots, including “4 years a slave” to refer to his first four seasons in the NFL with New England.

The 27-year-old Spikes visited with the Patriots earlier this month. He made 92 and 86 tackles in 2012 and 2013, respectively, but only managed a career-low 54 tackles last year in Buffalo.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Spikes has played 67 career regular-season games, making 340 tackles along with two sacks and two interceptions.

The Patriots also released cornerback Chimdi Chekwa, according to reports. He was signed on March 11 as a free agent.

The latest move at cornerback has been part of an offseason purge. The team already had released Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard after losing Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in free agency.

Chekwa spent four years with the Oakland Raiders before landing with New England.

Chekwa, a fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2011 who had not been tendered as a restricted free agent, made 51 tackles in 32 games.