Browns reward linebacker Collins
Other than the incessant losing, Jamie Collins enjoyed his half season with the Cleveland Browns.
He’s sticking around for four more.
Collins agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract on Monday with the Browns, who made signing the 27year-old one of their off-season priorities and locked him up before he could hit the free-agent market. The deal includes $26 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid linebacker in the National Football League.
A Pro Bowl player for New England, Collins made a major impression during the eight games he started after arriving on Oct. 31 in a trade with the Patriots. Collins recorded 69 tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble while playing every defensive snap.
The Browns went 115 this past season, but they see Collins as a major piece to a defense that will be led by new coordinator Gregg Williams.
Collins was originally selected in the second round by the Patriots in 2013. He led New England in tackles and played every snap during the team’s win in the 2015 Super Bowl.
Falcons get back to work: Dan Quinn certainly knows who the Atlanta Falcons are playing in the Super Bowl.
It seems as if Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are there every year.
One day after reaching the big game for only the second time in franchise history, Quinn and his players were back at their training complex in Atlanta’s northern suburbs, rehashing the blowout of Green Bay before turning their attention to the team they’ll play next.
“Going to the Super Bowl is not a reward,” Quinn said. “Playing really well and winning, that’s the reward. It’s going to be a hell of a battle.”
Immediately after the Patriots routed Pittsburgh for the AFC title, Belichick said he didn’t even know the Falcons had won.
No such ignorance from his coaching counterpart in Atlanta.
“Yes, I know,” Quinn said with a smile.
A possible distraction for the Falcons is the impending departure of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who is expected to be named coach of the San Francisco 49ers as soon as the season is over.
The Falcons will have a normal week of practice through Friday, so Shanahan will likely have a second meeting with 49ers officials on Saturday to hammer out any lingering details about his first head coaching job.
Redskins promote assistants: The Washington Redskins turned to internal candidates to fill two critical vacancies, promoting Matt Cavanaugh to offensive coordinator and Greg Manusky to defensive coordinator.
Cavanaugh was the team’s quarterbacks coach and Manusky its outside linebackers coach last season.