Buffalo Bills: 7 Best Free Agent Signings in Team History

LB Takeo Spikes – 2003

Takeo Spikes would join the Buffalo Bills in 2003 as a free agent after spending his first five years with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he only missed one game over that five-year span.

Spikes would also finish each of those seasons (with the Bengals) over 100 tackles, a combined 14.5 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries and 5 interceptions.

He would sign a 6-year, $32 million contract with Buffalo, but would only play with the team for four of those years. He left the Bengals because he reportedly wanted to play for a playoff team, a decision that would bring some irony due to the fact that the Bills wouldn’t make the playoffs with him in town.

Takeo Spikes would earn his first Pro Bowl selection with the Bills in 2003. Fletcher finished that season with 126 tackles (2 less than his career high), 2 sacks, one forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 8 passes defended and 3 stuffs.

He would follow that up with another productive season for Buffalo, finishing the 2004 season with 96 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 5 interceptions, 16 passes defended and 9 stuffs. It would mark the first time in his career that he didn’t have over 100 tackles — a feat he wouldn’t achieve again until 2010 and 2011.

In 2005, Spikes would have his season end short when he tore his right Achilles’ tendon in Week 3. He would have more injury troubles early in 2006, but would appear in the final 12 games.

The Buffalo Bills would trade him ahead of the 2007 season, along with Kelly Holcomb, to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bills received Darwin Walker and a 2008 draft pick. Spikes would retire after the 2012 season.

He played for five different teams and totaled 29 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries, 19 interceptions and 46 stuffs in his career.