New England brought its former second-round pick back last week.

"WhitePatriots News Opinion and Analysis Contribute! FanPostsFanShotsAbout the Site List of Patriots Twitter AccountsWrite For Pats Pulpit!New User Welcome and Commenting GuideCommunity GuidelinesMastheadTopics Patriots Off-Season CoveragePatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots NewsPatriots Draft CoverageSportfolio ManagementNFL Free AgencyPatriots Free Agency CoveragePatriots Off-Season CoverageJamie Collins was ‘surprised’ that the Patriots brought him backNew Womens Julian Edelman Jersey ,30commentsRelated: Jamie Collins still has the tools to be successful for the PatriotsEDTShareTweetShareShareJamie Collins was ‘surprised’ that the Patriots brought him backKevin Jairaj-USA TODAY SportsLast week, the New England Patriots add to their defensive depth by re-signing a former second-round draft pick of theirs: after a two and a half year stint with the Cleveland Browns, linebacker Jamie Collins Sr. returned to the team with which he started his career. Despite Collins’ experience in the system and his upside, the reunion can still be classified as a minor surprise considering how his departure via trade went down in 2016.Count the linebacker himself among those at least somewhat surprised by the Patriots bringing him back into the fold. “I was surprised,” Collins told reporters after Thursday’s OTA practice (via NESN’s Zack Cox). “But then again, I wasn’t, because I’m just a free agent, so obviously a lot of teams are going to contact you or whatever. That’s just the business of the game. I’m always surprised no matter what. I’m surprised right now just being in the position.”Collins, of course, developed into one of the NFL’s most intriguing linebackers quickly after the Patriots drafted him 52nd overall in 2013. But while his playmaking ability and elite athletic skill set made him a star player, New England was unwilling to commit to the Southern Mississippi product for a longer term. As a result of this and a string of inconsistent performances during the 2016 season http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-sony-michel-jersey , the club traded Collins to the Browns.More Jamie Collins storiesBob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsPatriots re-sign linebacker Jamie CollinsRe-signing linebacker Jamie Collins is a gamble worth taking for the PatriotsDetails released on Jamie Collins’s new contract with the PatriotsFilm room: Jamie Collins still has the tools to be successful for the PatriotsThe Patriots received ‘only’ a conditional third-round selection in the 2017 draft for Collins, who went on to sign a four-year, $50 million contract with his new team the following offseason. The 29-year-old, however, is looking forward instead. It was just a change of destination,” Collins said. “I’m a professional and just have to be professional about the business. Business is business. You can’t get upset or do this or do that.”“I just tried to pick up where I left and move on. Take it to the next space no matter where it’s at. I don’t live in the past. I keep pushing to do my thing and keep going,” he continued. Now back in New England, Collins’ approach should help him in what will be a competition for practice time and roster spots at the linebacker position. After all, the veteran is not guaranteed a spot on the team given the structure of his contract.But despite that, returning to New England and its familiar defensive system appears to have been an easy choice for Collins. “I started here. I had the opportunity to come out and start my career here. Obviously, yes Joe Thuney Jersey , that played a big factor,” he pointed out after his third practice since returning to the team. “Like I said, whatever the opportunity is — presents itself — it’s not just me. I’ve got other people to think about. It’s a team thing.”How Collins will be used on his new/old team remains to be seen, but it would not be surprising if the Patriots’ staff already had a concrete plan in mind for the former Pro Bowler. But no matter how it will ultimately look like — Collins was used primarily as an outside linebacker during yesterday’s practice — and how everything unfolds, the player himself has just one thing on his mind at the moment.“Just come out here and do what I get paid to do, and that’s play football, and just do it to the best of my ability,” he said. If he does that, and is able to improve on the shortcomings that led to his trade to Cleveland and his release by the club earlier this offseason, Collins might again turn himself into a key cog in New England’s defensive machinery. A clip is making the rounds in the aftermath of last night’s ESPYs that, even without context Womens Cyrus Jones Jersey , will do nothing to kill the growing belief that retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is destined to emerge from retirement this year.Talking with Saints quarterback Drew Brees on the red carpet, Gronk at one point says, “Yeah, I’m coming back.” He laughs (more like squeals) after saying it, and so beyond not being able to tell what he’s referring to, it’s also impossible to tell whether he’s simply being sarcastic.Amid plenty of hints and clues regarding the possibility that Gronkowski could return, the strongest came (in my view) when Gronk said this to Rich Eisen last week: “I mean I can’t really say how I’m going to feel about it when the games start rolling around and everything.”It reminded me of Brett Favre’s April 2008 visit to David Letterman, when the then-retired-for-the-first-time Favre blurted out the clearest indication of the annual unretirements to come: “I think when training camp gets close, I will — something’s bound to happen.”It feels even more inevitable that something’s bound to happen with Gronk. One key question that remains unanswered in all of this is whether, if/when something does happen, Patriots coach Bill Belichick will welcome Gronkowski back with open arms.Eleven years ago http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-tom-brady-jersey , the Packers didn’t want Favre back. In March, Belichick declined to comment on “hypotheticals” related to Gronkowski. There’s a chance Belichick, as a matter of principle, won’t slay the fatted calf for a prodigal son who simply wanted to avoid the offseason program, training camp, and/or the first half of the regular season.That hurdle won’t become relevant, however, until Gronkowski decides how he’s going to feel when the games start rolling around and everything. But if Gronk wants to play and Belichick isn’t willing to disrupt the existing team vibe and/or to set a potentially bad precedent by accommodating him, maybe Gronk will end up catching passes from someone else.Maybe even the guy he was talking to on the red carpet last night.