New England Patriots: Jamie Collins is simply made for Bill Belichick

While most former New England Patriots players seldom get a second shot to succeed under Bill Belichick, veteran linebacker Jamie Collins is returning to the team for what will be his third stint with the team that drafted him back in 2013.

Ironically, the team he has had his most success with is not the team that has paid him his money.  That’s where Belichick and the Patriots continue to get a bargain when it comes to Collins.

Jamie Collins keeps finding his way back to the New England Patriots

After a brief return in 2019, Collins signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions.  A season later, that marriage didn’t work out and the 31-year-old linebacker once again found himself on the free agent market.  Instantly, fans pulled for another reunion between Collins and the Patriots and as predicted, that reunion was made official this past week when Collins signed with the team once again.

With the Patriots defensive front seven in need of more speed and athleticism, a rejuvenated Collins could be exactly what the doctor ordered, especially since he is happy to be back in a situation where he has had much of his success.

"“I couldn’t stop smiling. Even just meeting everybody, and the new guys were looking like, ‘Who is this? Who is this? Who him? Who him?’ It was just super cool, man,” Collins said, via the Boston Herald. “Like I said, just coming back in here and just knowing I can go out with these guys again for the third time.”"

In joining Matt Judon and Josh Uche, along with old friends Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Chase Winovich, the return of Jamie Collins could once again inspire that Boogeyman magic of 2019.  While some fans may be rolling their eyes, it at least gives them some depth and adds a player who knows the system well and gives Belichick another versatile player to craft defensive fronts with, a player who seemingly only thrives in Belichick’s system.

The only question is when will Collins see his first action in a New England Patriots’ uniform the third time around?

Well, he would say he is ready to go this Sunday against the Houston Texans, but it will be up to Belichick of course.

"“I hope so. We’ll see, though,” Collins said. “Like I said, I just got here. I come here to do my job, and I’m just here to do my job. Like I said, it’s a privilege and it’s an honor, and I’m grateful to be here. Whatever [Belichick] wants, [Belichick] gets.”"

The Texans don’t present the challenge offensively that Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did a week ago, so the Patriots head coach may not be anxious to get Collins back out there just a few days after signing him, but at the same time it is exactly the kind of game to get him back acclimated with the defensive scheme.

The Collins’ signing or re-signing also comes the same week in which Belichick pulled a stunner and traded Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round pick. So, getting the veteran back out there could give the New England Patriots defense a spark of new energy.