Patriots Players Seem Pretty Pumped About Jamie Collins Coming Back

I mentioned yesterday when it was first reported the Patriots were bringing back Jamie Collins that he was popular among his teammates. For what it’s worth, I’ve been told he’s kept ties with everyone and that in fact his brother is friends with a lot of Patriots players and stayed in Foxboro while Collins was playing in the Cleveland all these years. And Collins is still friends with Devin McCourty, James White, Duron Harmon and the also reacquired Brandon Bolden.

Well it would appear I heard right. Judging by the online reaction, his former/new teammates are over the moon about it:

To repeat what I said yesterday, I truly believe that the Patriots coaching staff had issues with Collins, but they were all scheme-related and had nothing to do with character. They had just had enough of him freelancing:

And simply trusted a more limited athlete like Elandon Roberts (and later Kyle Van Noy) would the gears that fit better in the middle of the defense’s machinery. And since that team won the Super Bowl, they were very much correct. And for sure the fact that there was talk about Collins wanting Von Miller money sealed his fate. As Tessio told Michael Corleone, it was never personal; just business.

And so a roster that has lost its usual offseason assortment of key players to free agency and retirement adds one. A well liked veteran who’s still only 29 and who can no doubt still do this. If they ever need him to:

For a lot less than Von Miller money. I was good with this move yesterday afternoon. But now that I know Tom Brady, Dont’a Hightower and the McCourty twins are stoked, we should all be stoked. I know I am. The #SmashBros are back!