Getty ImagesThe Browns are close to finalizing a multi-year contract with linebacker Jamie Collins, CBS Sports reported Thursday.
The report said “significant progress” has been made between the sides and that the deal will be done by the weekend.
Absent a new deal, Collins would have had hit the open market in March and would have been one of the most coveted free agents at any position. The Browns hope locking him up will be the first step in an important and busy offseason; they come out of last season with the most salary cap room of any team and hold the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Browns acquired Collins in a trade before the trade deadline last November. They gave up a fourth-round pick that reportedly will actually become a compensatory pick at the end of the third round. The Browns would have received a compensatory pick had Collins left via free agency.
The Patriots traded him figuring they wouldn’t be able to meet his salary demands, and Collins started all eight games he played with the Browns. He had two sacks and a forced fumble in those eight games.
Collins has 12.5 sacks and five interceptions over his four-year career. He said at the end of the season he was open to returning to the Browns but would only do so if the money was right.
A second-round pick in 2013, Collins had been a starter since his second year with the Patriots before the trade.
Just once before I die I’d like to see the Browns field a competitive team.
Maybe the Brown will start signing good free agents and start using their draft picks instead of trading back everytime.
Now New England is in the final 4…again and Collins plays for the dumpster fire that is the Cleveland Browns. You can say all the right things but at the end of the day, losing sucks. You don’t get to the NFL level by not being extremely competitive.
I’m sure the money is great either way but if it was me, I’d rather take 10% less to play for New England, Pittsburgh, Green Bay vs one of the bottom feeders. I could make 10M last the rest of my life and live well…how much does one man need?……
The kid can play, it’s not up for debate.
But the reality is that you are going to have to pay him top dollar. He will be a liability to the cap.
The Browns have a boatload of money to spend, and they’ll have to overspend to get players there. This is a good move to lock up younger, already proven talent.
Looks like the Pats will get the Browns 3rd round compensatory pick. Collins was a solid performer for the Patriots. He played well in their 2014 Championship season.
Smart man, won’t see the Patriots until 2019.
Perfect fit for Collins where he can roam free and do his thing.
It’s a no pressure – no win – no problem atmosphere.
They’re going to overpay him, but this is the right move.
Almost every season since 1999 will tell me otherwise, but it’s easier to get good on offense quicker than it is defense. When you get a player like Collins you need to keep him.
Good for Collins. Players have short careers. Make some money and be set for life. He already has a ring, no make a ton of money so his family is taken care of.
The season played out showing once again, Belichick knew what he was doing.
And good for Collins. He has a Superbowl ring already so that eases a lot of the pain of playing for a losing team for the foreseeable future. Cause if you can’t be on a winning team the next best thing is to get paid.
Playing for Cleveland means sacrifice.
Ya know those people who beat themselves with chains as a sacrifice?
They have nothing on our season ticket holders.
Actually, the Browns could meet New England in 2018 if both teams finish in the same spot in their respective divisions. Very unlikely, but possible.
Of course, if the NFL did the right thing and realigned into 4 divisions with 8 teams each, then the best 12 teams oud make the playoffs every year. No more 8-8 or 7-9 teams would ever get in the playoffs again, and good riddance.
But I digress.
There was more to Collins being unceremoniously shipped out mid-season than just an inability to re-sign him. Look what the Patriots got in return? At best a supplemental 3rd. Collins will likely get a monster contract, $12M+ a season I’d guess but I think they would’ve kept him for this years SB run. Something was going on on-the-field and in the locker room. either way, Belichick wanted him gone and gone quick. And since Collins has been gone their D has come together and is playing their best ball of the year.
Best QB they’ve had since Couch
Wait till you have the contract signed b4 leaking it. Geez, act like you’ve signed a FA before.
Good for Collins. BB traded him to a team who will really need him , same with Chandler Jones.
sign a big contract and he will disappear!
So, that averages out to about 3 sacks and 1 interception per year.
A couple times every year with the Patriots he’d have a game where you’d think he was the best linebacker in the NFL. And the other 14 games and couple playoff games he could’ve been in the witness protection program for all anybody knew.
He’s apparently a good guy but maybe he just doesn’t want to be a great player quite as much as a team would wish. Those sorts of guys seldom get more gung ho after getting paid.
There was absolutely more than just the trade value. Pats would have received a third rounder compensatory if they lost him to FA. But you don’t frequently see Bill B airing dirty laundry.
I’m not entirely convinced the trading is finished between the Pats and Browns. Possibly, they had other discussions as well, that will take effect before draft day.
what if tony romo went to the browns. i think this team is better than there record. just a thought
I’m guessing the Browns owner in the 90s caught Belicheat and Ernie Adam’s cheating. Then he told them win without cheating and we’ll stay in Cleveland and you stay as hc. But yet he couldn’t produce and the Browns had to relocate.
That whimper you hear is Collins on the porch asking to be let back in, Bill.
Good for Collins. Get paid.
Losing would make me hate football. Playing for Cleveland can’t be fun when winning a single game isn’t guaranteed. Offset is his vacation starts at end of week 17 every year. Getting January-July off is priceless.
He will never play in a playoff game again.
He’s about to get Olivier Vernon money.
I ain’t mad at him.
Browns secret formula for a winning record in 2017:
1. Trade the first pick of the second round for Jimmy Garapolo
2. Draft Myles Garrett number one
3. Sign that swing tackle from the cowboys Leary to play right tackle
4. Draft a new center
5. Draft Dalvin Cook at 12
6. Sign CB AJ Bouye from Houston
7. Sign Larry Warford G from Detroit
8. Sign Dontari Poe from KC
Oline would be above average, with a run first offense with 3 useful running backs including a home run threat in Cook, an accurate QB who doesn’t turn the ball over who can play in cold weather, Coleman, Pryor, and Barnidge are good and will be better with an accurate QB who will have more time to throw.
Defense will be improved with 2 solid CB’s, Shelton and Poe would be tough to run on, Garrett to rush the passer, Collins to match up with TE or RB. Still need to upgrade nickel and safety. Maybe Orchard and Nassib show some growth.
Something about being really athletic in the NFL makes the media and bad teams overrate players dramatically. Collins never developed into the player he should have been; maybe his talent was an obstacle in that regard. Belichick values consistency, and Collins was never reliable, and likely never will be. That’s why he was dumped.
Good player with incredible potential but there always seemed to be something that just wasn’t quite right when he was with the Pats (lack of availability due to injury or illness or whatever) plus giving up 2 td’s to the opposing tight end in last years AFC championship game. Also the fact that the Pats obviously wanted him gone for reasons we will never know for sure. I hope it works out for the Browns but just seems very risky to make a major commitment to this player.
jchipwood says:
Jan 19, 2017 11:17 PM
I’m guessing the Browns owner in the 90s caught Belicheat and Ernie Adam’s cheating. Then he told them win without cheating and we’ll stay in Cleveland and you stay as hc. But yet he couldn’t produce and the Browns had to relocate.
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Wow!!! Can you say, “trying too hard”
Championship~!
Of course, if the NFL did the right thing and realigned into 4 divisions with 8 teams each, then the best 12 teams would make the playoffs every year. No more 8-8 or 7-9 teams would ever get in the playoffs again, and good riddance.
I like your idea but how about no divisions? Play every team in your conference once and the team from the other conference that finished in the same spot the previous year. Guaranteed Super Bowl rematch.
Williams will change the culture of your Browns D.
Bountys and all.
Another Haynesworth?
Not a smart move by the Browns, but hey, what else is new?
This dude needs a better agent .
Southern Miss in the house!
Jchipwood, being a dolphins fan has made you sad and bitter. Your lashing out is delusional but comical. You need to either give it up, get a girlfriend,or seek professional help
Amazing how garbage teams spend the same as quality teams. $5 billion in payroll needs to be spent every year….results be damned.
Not a smart move by the Browns, but hey, what else is new?
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Bitter much? Go Browns!!!
He’ll do ANYTHING to get out of Cleveland!
Just watch. Either they pay him 3x what others will or he’s gone.,
Im pretty sure the same day the Raiders filed paperwork to move to Vegas, the Browns filed paperwork to move to college football.
As soon as they all got the ring, I knew the Patriots would have trouble holding them. Once you have the hardware, the dollars have to be the biggest thing on your list.
jchipwood says:
Jan 19, 2017 11:17 PM
I’m guessing the Browns owner in the 90s caught Belicheat and Ernie Adam’s cheating. Then he told them win without cheating and we’ll stay in Cleveland and you stay as hc. But yet he couldn’t produce and the Browns had to relocate.
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I gotta say chippy, you never fail to amuse me. Keep em coming bud!
Look for a front loaded contract that will be in line with the market. Cleveland won’t overpay over the life of the contract, but they can pay him more up front than any contender can afford. To players, that’s as good as guaranteed money. The back ends of contracts tend to get renegotiated or voided if they are player friendly and the player isn’t playing up to their contract.
The consistency of this writer provokes only the sickroom feeling one often acquires with the terminally accosted …
jchipwood says:
Jan 19, 2017 11:17 PM
I’m guessing the Browns owner in the 90s caught Belicheat and Ernie Adam’s cheating. Then he told them win without cheating and we’ll stay in Cleveland and you stay as hc. But yet he couldn’t produce and the Browns had to relocate.
5 92
One only hopes that the help he gets comes before the damage he wreaks occurs before the breakage is more than the gusty odor provoked amongst civilized folks for savages .