Former Patriots coaching assistant Michael Lombardi made media appearances Monday to try and explain why the team traded Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns. The trade seemed odd considering Collins could help the Patriots this season, and doesn't do much good in Cleveland with an expiring contract on a winless team.
But, according to Lombardi, there was more at play than just contract numbers and talent.
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“I used to tell Jamie in the meetings: ‘We are as good as you want us to be.’ But there’s times where Jamie just didn’t really want to be," Lombardi told Colin Cowherd on The Herd. “He played on an 0-11 team in Southern Miss., and sometimes he plays like he’s still on that team. And I think, at this point, (the Patriots) just said, ‘You know what? We’re not going to sign him in free agency; it’s time to move him on.’
“To me, this was all about sending a message to all the other guys in the locker room."
"I used to tell Jamie (Collins) in the meetings: 'We are as good as you want us to be'"- @mlombardifoxtv on the message BB is sending. pic.twitter.com/9kAFOFaShQ
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 31, 2016
Later in the afternoon, Lombardi appeared on Bill Simmons' podcast and continued to criticize the linebacker's efforts.
"He’s not going to play any harder for the Browns. He’s not going to do anything,” Lombardi said. “He just did not play well. I watched the (Patriots-Bills) game tape this morning, and their defense just sticks on blocks. It’s not very good. They’re not playing with any physicality or emotion, and when they play against a good team, they are going to have trouble."
