NFL Notes: Jamie Collins, Broncos, Patriots & Vikings

Jamie Collins

According to Jason La Canfora, the Patriots’ decision to trade LB Jamie Collins to the Browns last week came as a surprise to many in the NFL.

La Canfora says that the Patriots’ decision to move on from Collins was because they weren’t willing to pay Collins a market-value contract. The Patriots have more projected 2017 cap room than virtually every other team in the NFL, according to La Canfora, so they clearly could have afforded to keep Collins long-term.

“If they wanted to pay Jamie Collins — even if they wanted to overpay Jamie Collins — they absolutely could have,” said an executive from another team who spoke to La Canfora. “One hundred percent. They are either trying to really save money, or they are saving up with those two trades [Jones and Collins] for something big in free agency. You have to wonder if they are going to do something big in March.”

Of course, the Patriots have several players to address after this year, so it was likely that they were going to have to let someone go in the end.

• Ian Rapoport reports that the Patriots were making Collins a part-time player and were leery of the locker-room issues it would cause.
• According to Rapoport, the Patriots shopped him for offers the week before the trade deadline and eventually found a suitor. With this in mind, Rapoport says that trading Collins was an easy call for New England since he wasn’t part of their future.

Broncos

• Adam Schefter reported on NFL Insiders Sunday morning that the Broncos received trade offers for CB Lorenzo Doss during the offseason, but elected to hold onto him and maintain their depth at the position.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss mentions that Patriots rookie QB Jacoby Brissett (injured reserve, thumb) is the most likely candidate to come off of injured reserve in December.
• According to Reiss, Brissett actually traveled with the team to Buffalo for last Sunday’s game against the Bills, which is notable considering that players on I.R. don’t typically travel to games.

Vikings

Jason La Canfora reports that “differing philosophies” over how to fix the Vikings’ offense ultimately led to Norv Turner’s decision to resign as offensive coordinator last week.

La Canfora says that the decision caught “virtually the entire organization off-guard.”

However, La Canfora spoke to sources who said that Turner and HC Mike Zimmer were not on the same page following their recent loss to the Bears as to how they should fix their offense.

“If anything, this shook Zim,” a team source told La Canfora. “I don’t think he had any idea this was coming.“