Belichek wasn't happy and sent him to the football equivalent of Siberia.

 

Like MTGL, I'm confused why the Browns would give up a 3rd round pick for him, but it'll make their team better for the next 24 games.

Sorry, pet peeve of mine, but his name is Belichick.

Hoodie

The Browns really don't lose a thing by making this trade.

 

What picks do the Browns have in the 2

Okay, I got what I wanted to hear in this thread... Collins can play.

 

Now, to offer a couple of guesses as to why the Browns would do this...

 

1. The Browns' defense is horrendous. Going into the season they were aware that the defense was really bad. Injuries have been harsh and made the defense even worse. The LB play has not been good, and I am being kind. Collins will immediately upgrade their LB-ing core by a ton. No coach can stomach going 0-8. The defense has to show up and help out the offense to get a victory. They will really like having Collins around for the next couple of years, maybe longer.

 

2. They give up a middle round pick to get a top notch LB. This may cost them a third round pick, or at least a fourth round guy. This is not much from their perspective. As @EZ Living pointed out, they have a bunch of picks. Think of it this way, the Browns sent Mingo to NE for a fifth round pick (earlier). Mingo never could get going in Cleveland. Too skinny, too weak, and didn't have the horses around him that could minimize his weaknesses. Browns get a Pro Bowl player for a 4th rounder or a third rounder. The difference in the deals between Mingo and Collins is maybe one round. I think the Browns did pretty good with that trade.

 

3. The Browns have PLENTY of cap room. The biggest downside for the Browns is how much Collins will cost them in terms of future contract. They'll negotiate with Collins agent and see what happens. They can slap a franchise tag on him and keep him another year and then try again. It gives them time to pick up another LB or two and then they won't need him so badly. "Thank you and good bye." Their cap situation allows them to take a shot at this.

 

As for the question of why Collins would choose to hang around the Browns any longer than he has to (you know, going from SB contender to an 0-8 team), I guess that is negotiating leverage for his agent come contract time. We'll see what happens. I personally am much more interested in how the Browns will solve the QB question.

How bad would it suck to go from a team probably favored to win the Superbowl to a winless team in Cleveland in the middle of the season.

 

Had to be awful news to receive.

This is exactly why the Patriots are consisently on top, they know the Hoodie is in charge of the team, unlike our Bengs!!

Had to be awful news to receive.

 

On the bright side, vacation starts about a month early now.

ESPN.com pointed out that if Collins leaves after 8 games the Browns will probably get a compensatory pick equal to the one they gave up to acquire him. So it will be a wash. The move sounds better for the Browns the more I hear about it.

This won't hurt the Patriots at all.