The New England Patriots already will see three familiar faces back at Gillette Stadium this week in Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown. Why not a fourth?
Linebacker Jamie Collins, a veteran of two tours with the Patriots, officially was released Tuesday by the Detroit Lions, who tried and failed to trade him. Collins now is free to sign with any team, for any contract he and that team agree upon.
The most obvious landing spot for the 31-year-old? New England, where he began his career in 2013 and then revived it in 2019.