Report: New England Patriots In Talks With Former Linebacker

The New England Patriots are planning a few reunions with their former players, and the may sign a former linebacker.

About a week after the reining Super Bowl champions signed tight end Ben Watson and add him to the roster that he spent the first six years of his career with beginning in 2004, the Patriots are now in the talks of bringing another familiar player.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network confirmed that the Patriots are talking with free agent linebacker Jamie Collins and are thinking of bringing him back for the upcoming season.

“While the #Jets are subtracting, the #Patriots are adding: New England is in talks with free agent LB Jamie Collins that would bring the former 2nd round pick back to the team that made him a star. They traded him in 2016, likely bring him back in 2019.”

Collins was drafted by New England in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Southern Miss. The linebacker spent three and a half years with the Patriots and was an important player inside the linebacker unit. Collins was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX in the game against the Seattle Seahawks.

During his time with the Patriots, Collins totaled 326 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and five interceptions. In the postseason, he had 50 tackles to go along with three sacks, eight quarterback hits and two interceptions. 

Collins’ tenure with New England was brought to an end in the middle of the 2016 season after the linebacker was traded to the Cleveland Browns. He was part of the Browns until this offseason. The 2018 season was his best season as he had 104 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, interception and four passes defended.

The Browns  cut the ties with the linebacker to get more cap space as he was due to get $11.75 million next season and $13.75 in the final year of his four year deal worth $50 million. He signed the deal in 2017.

Will Collins finish his career where it all started?