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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." Cheap Giants Jerseys . And thats good news for Canada. Kelly, who plays No. 8 at the back of the scrum, is captain of the Canadian womens team. Wholesale Giants Jerseys . 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Bobby Abreu went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and Bartolo Colon pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning as the New York Mets turned to a pair of 40-somethings to beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Friday night. "Representing the 40s. When we go to the field, we throw everything that weve got," Abreu said. "Been playing this game for a long time, so pretty much we know what we have to do." Abreu scored twice in the rain-delayed opener of a three-game series between fourth-place teams struggling to score. Colon (6-5) set down 18 straight batters and improved to 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last five starts, sending the Mets to only their second victory in 10 games. "We needed to have him get deep in the game. It was important for us because we were so short in the pen," manager Terry Collins said. Rene Rivera hit a two-run homer but Andrew Cashner (2-6) failed to hold a rare lead for the Padres, who have dropped five straight and nine of 11. The hard-throwing Cashner, who entered with a 2.13 ERA, has lost five straight decisions. He gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings in his second start since spending more than three weeks on the disabled list with a sore right elbow. Fans were advised to take cover on the concourse during the rain delay because of dangerous weather. Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals between the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings was shown on the big video screen in centre field for most of a delay at the start that lasted 1 hour, 56 minutes. And even after the ballgame began, some in the sparse crowd announced at 28,085 seemed to be paying much more attention to hockey. With the Rangers trying to stave off elimination again, an audible groan went up in the seventh inning -- just as New York defenceman Ryan McDonagh hit the post with a shot in overtime. After the final out, some fans lingered near TVs inside the ballpark to keep watching. In the end, the Rangers lost in double overtime. The 41-year-old Colon had uncharacteristic trouble with his command at the start. He walked his first batter and gave up Yonder Alonsos leadoff single in the second before Rivera connected for his fourth home run. "I got a little mad. I was meaning to throw that pitch outside and I just went in a little too much so that really got me fired up," Colon said through a translator. "I think it was just a matter of getting through the first two innings. After that I got really comfortable, fouund my zone and kept going from there.dddddddddddd" The home run gave Cashner an uncommon 2-0 lead -- the Padres had scored only once in his previous 33 innings. Colon, however, quickly regrouped and retired his next 18 batters until Alexi Amarista opened the eighth with a double. "Ive known Bart for a long time and at times, youll see him get stronger as the game goes on. I think you saw that tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He held his velocity throughout the game, even into the eighth inning." After throwing a called third strike past pinch-hitter Tommy Medica with his 118th pitch, Colon was lifted. He walked off the mound to a warm hand and softly clapped his hands. Vic Black retired cleanup man Carlos Quentin with the bases loaded to end the inning. Batting fourth in place of Curtis Granderson (calf), the 40-year-old Abreu hit a leadoff double in the second and scored on Taylor Teagardens two-out single. "Anytime they need me there, Im always going to be ready to play the game," Abreu said. He singled in the fourth and Lucas Duda tied it 2-all on a two-out double just beyond the reach of diving centre fielder Will Venable. Matt den Dekker blooped a ground-rule double that put New York ahead. "Couldnt stop the two-out hits," Cashner said. Abreu added RBI singles in the fifth and seventh. Slumping star David Wright had a long sacrifice fly in the seventh. It was the first four-hit game for Abreu, who did not play in the majors last season, since May 30, 2011, with the Angels at Kansas City. "I made two good pitches to him," Cashner said. "Hes a good hitter, a professional hitter. Couldnt get him out." NOTES: Padres RHP Jesse Hahn will be recalled from Double-A San Antonio to make his second major league start Saturday. Hahn was a high school teammate of injured Mets ace Matt Harvey in Groton, Connecticut, about a 2-hour drive from Citi Field, and expects to have family and friends in the stands. ... Granderson was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive night and might sit out again Saturday, Collins said. ... Mets LF Eric Young Jr. (strained right hamstring) had his rehab assignment moved to Double-A Binghamton, and the team hopes hell be ready to return at the end of the weekend. ... Mets closer Jenrry Mejia (stiff back) had an MRI and was given medication. "They said itll probably be a day or so before hes going to be available," Collins said. ' ' '