Tom Brady Sad To See Jamie Collins Leave Patriots Via Trade To Browns

The New England Patriots surprised many people around the NFL on Monday by trading star linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a conditional third-round draft pick.

Patriots safety Devin McCourty said the news was “a bit shocking to everybody on the team,” and quarterback Tom Brady also reacted to the trade when asked about it during his weekly appearance with Jim Gray on Westwood One radio.

“It’s always tough to hear news like that with a teammate that I’ve played with and been in so many battles with,” Brady said, as as transcribed by WEEI.com. “Jamie (was) a great player for our team and I’m sure he will be a great player for the Cleveland Browns. I am always sad when we lose a player that I like and someone that I respect like Jamie.”

Collins, who the Patriots selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, spent three-plus seasons as Brady’s teammate in New England. The pair played a key role in helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl during the 2014 campaign and reach the AFC Championship Game in the other two full seasons.

Luckily for the Patriots, they have two weeks to figure out how to replace Collins because Week 9 is their bye. It might not matter much, though, if Brady and the Pats offense continue to score points and protect the football at their current pace.