Cleveland Browns release linebacker Jamie Collins
What started out as a seemingly home-run trade for Cleveland has ended with a whimper. Just two short years after trading for him, the Cleveland Browns have released linebacker Jamie Collins.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a genius. In 2016, he cut a deal with former Cleveland Browns general manager Sashi Brown and traded linebacker Jamie Collins for just a compensatory third-round pick.
At the outset, it looked like the Browns had gotten a steal, and acquired one of the best young linebackers in the league.That just wasn’t to be, as the Browns released Collins on Wednesday afternoon.
Rumors began swirling around Collins and his contract during the NFL Scouting Combine, with general manager John Dorsey speaking to Collins’s agent over Combine weekend. However, this news coming this quickly is still a bit of a surprise. But for as surprising as it is, it’s easy to see just why the Browns cut Collins when they did.
Browns officially have released LB Jamie Collins. Team had been trying to trade him, no takers, so now released.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2019
Collins’s effort and work ethic were, frankly, terrible for his skill level during his time with the Browns. After Cleveland extended his contract, the linebacker’s play slumped, and he was simply dead weight on the roster due to 2018’s improved defense. Now, young talents like Genard Avery and Joe Schobert will have more time to shine, and hopefully Cleveland’s defense will be better for it.
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If the Browns weren’t able to find a single trade partner for Collins, this was definitely the right move. Odds are they wouldn’t be getting much in return anyways, so it’s right for the Browns to cut their losses here and try again. Sometimes, a great trade sours later on down the road; Jamie Collins to Cleveland is a perfect example.