One stat that is being overlooked is that Collins was only on the field for 60% of the snaps. Part of that is injuries; he just missed time. But part of it is also that BB determined that Collins' play was such that they were better off with Roberts and other guys who started the year on the bench than him. There's some chicken and egg here as at some point BB may have chosen to begin the transition away from a player he knew he could not sign. But if we start with the premise that Belichick wants to win games, that he started to shift away from Collins earlier in the season tells us something as important as tackle totals.
I will also add that my eyes tell me that there was only one game where Collins' contributions were noticeable and Collins-like: the Texans game. He looked like a Great Patriot that night. Otherwise, he looked like, at best, just another guy. More often, he was close to invisible, and his contributions were non-impact. Sure he made plays here and there, but plays here and there is not what we were used to from Jamie Collins.
About three weeks ago my son and I discussed who the Pats should sign if they had to choose, Collins or Hightower. We agreed that it was High, and that it was a no-brainer. Collins had the capacity for the freakish "wow" play, and had made many of them over the years. The extra point/FG blocks. The picks. The athletic moves like closing in on a ball carrier in seemingly an instant. But Hightower always seems to be around the ball and whether he actually makes the play, is always in the picture. I assume that our view was shared by most knowledgeable Pats fans.
This is not happy talk to make myself feel better. Hell, I have a low level concern that there could be some fallout among the players. Not that I am unaware that BB has done this before without repercussions. But while they won in 2003, perhaps the Seymour trade hurt them in 2009 locker room wise. I don't know, and I tend to think it will be fine, but I have some concern. Collins was supposedly popular, there is no Rodney Harrison type proven veteran to replace him and there's that freakish talent that is no longer on the NE sidelines. All that said, BB's PT decisions before the trade and what my eyes told me suggest that Collins' play this season was, in fact, much below his past level. And this Roberts kid looks promising.