Brandon Spikes eyes "fresh start"

New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes has admitted that both he and the team could benefit from parting company during the off-season.

Spikes will become a free agent when the market opens on Tuesday, and it appears unlikely that he will return to the Patriots having reportedly fallen out with head coach Bill Belichick after missing a team meeting last season.

However, while the 26-year-old acknowledged that a "fresh start" could do him good, he also refused to rule out re-signing for the team that chose him in the second round of the 2010 Draft.

"I would never say never, you know, everybody [says] you never want to burn a bridge, but I just feel like both sides could benefit from a fresh start," Spikes told NFL AM.

"That being said, in free agency, I just feel like I'm out here, I'm available, I'm 100%. Any team that is willing to take a chance on me, they're going to get a playmaker, a guy that's very aggressive on the field, looking to be a difference-maker."

Spikes made 86 tackles for the Patriots last season.