It was one thing for Jamie Collins to leave the New England Patriots. It’s another thing entirely for Tom Brady to leave.
Collins’ departure felt like a likely or, perhaps, inevitable outcome after New England gave him a one-year deal in 2019 when he had a comeback season. The one-year deal spring boarded him into a lucrative deal with the Detroit Lions, who inked a three-year, $30 million deal with the linebacker this offseason.
But Brady? Even as the breakup grew more and more likely, there was always an element of disbelief that Brady would actually leave New England. Yet Brady will be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
“Oh, man. I still don’t believe it,” Collins said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters, as transcribed by USA Today. “It don’t feel real, man. I just can’t wait to see it. I need to see it on Sunday.”
Collins should know better than most how quick the Patriots can be to part ways with their stars. Bill Belichick traded Collins at midseason during 2016 when he was one of the team’s top linebackers. There were rumblings of Collins’ growing discontent amid contract negotiations. Clearly, the Patriots were more interested in paying Dont’a Hightower. At that time, Brady actually reflected up on how he could be next.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Brady said in 2016 when asked if he ever thinks about a shocking trade happening to him. “You can’t be around this long and not realize that the world will keep spinning and the sun will come up tomorrow without you. That’s just the way it goes. I think you enjoy the experiences that you have and also understand it just keeps going on. It could happen to anybody.”
Brady was right. The Patriots didn’t even provide a contract offer for the quarterback, who decided he would not be returning to New England before deciding where he would land. In his introductory press conference, Brady took the high road and emphasized how much work was ahead in Tampa while dodging questions of tension with the Patriots.
“I hope he gets (everything) he needs and deserves cause he definitely deserves it,” Collins said. Collins added “it’s kind of weird” but he’s “excited” to see Bray on Sunday in a Bucs uniform.
