The news seemed crazy at first, but people should have seen it coming.
The New England Patriots traded Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a compensatory third-round draft pick Monday afternoon, USA Today reported.
Collins, 27, has amassed 43 tackles, two interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble this season. He is popularly known as one of the best young versatile defenders in all of the NFL.
The big question now is: Why trade him? Especially in this time when 7-1 Patriots are eager to make it for the seventh Super Bowl appearance in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era.
Called as the "Patriot Way", the decision was said to be a result of economics and value.
Collins, who is in the final season of his rookie contract, has been making $485,928 this year - a bargain for the athlete and production that Collins is capable of providing.
However, Collins will be on a free agency by March and will command massive money. New England had the choice of potentially using the franchise tag, but the team clearly felt that the future cost was too much to bear.
According to ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Collins, at one point, was asking for "Von Miller Money".
Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million contract this offseason which is considered as the most lucrative agreement in league history for a defender. Apparently, the Patriots can't afford to give out that much.
Probably, this is all a cold way of doing business. The Patriots won't care even though they are ware that many in league circles will question and wonder what they are up to.
Their move also speaks a lot regarding what the Patriots feel about linebacker Don't'a Hightower and corner Malcolm Butler, two integral pieces who are also about to become free agents.
Indeed, it has been concluded that Monday's deal is a trademark move that describes how Belichick and the Patriots run their organization. They have done it also to Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour in 2009 and defensive end/linebacker Chandler Jones this offseason.
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