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Jalen Collins

Jalen Collins Facing Another 10-Game Ban

April 9th, 2018 at 3:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Collins has not played in a regular-season game since the 2016 season, and he’s now without a team. He was reported to be facing another suspension, and now some clarity has emerged on that front.

The NFL suspended the free agent cornerback 10 games, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). This will mark the second straight season that’s involved a 10-game Collins ban.

Following the conclusion of Collins’ most recent 10-game suspension, the Falcons did not activate him and ended up waiving him. He went unclaimed in November, and this figures to decrease his chances of landing with a team in the near future. A 2015 second-round pick, Collins started eight games for the Falcons and played in 24. He started all three of Atlanta’s games in the 2016 playoffs, including Super Bowl LI.

Collins incurred a four-game suspension in 2016. Both of his previous two bans were for performance-enhancing drug use. It hasn’t been specified what caused this latest suspension, but were it for PEDs, the penalty would be longer than 10 games.

NFL Suspends Free Agent CB Jalen Collins

December 7th, 2017 at 3:37pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Jalen Collins has gone unsigned since hitting the free agent market in November. Now, we know why. The former Falcon has been suspended for additional games by the NFL, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jalen Collins

This marks the second ban of the year for Collins, who served a ten-game suspension to start the season. It’s not immediately clear what Collins’ latest suspension is for, but it may be a substance abuse violation. If this were a third ban for performance-enhancing drugs, it would be longer than four games.

Collins appeared in eight games (six starts) for the Falcons last year. The 2015 second-round pick is viewed as a highly-talented player, but his off-the-field issues have hampered him thus far in the NFL. If not for his red flags, he likely would have been a first-round choice in 2015. He also might be a starting cornerback in Atlanta today.

Once Collins is clear to play, he may draw interest from contenders looking to beef up the secondary. Then again, teams might be wary of bringing him into the locker room given his checkered past.

Falcons Waive CB Jalen Collins

November 21st, 2017 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have waived cornerback Jalen Collins, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Collins will be subject to waivers, meaning that the league’s other 31 teams will have an opportunity to add him to the roster on Wednesday afternoon. Jalen Collins

Collins was set to return from a 10-game suspension this week. The former second-round pick is undeniably talented, but the Falcons are fed up after the 24-year-old’s second ban for performance enhancing drugs as a pro.

Collins’ off-the-field issues date back to his days at LSU. In 2015, he was on course to be a first-round selection, but teams moved him down the board because of his red flags. After the draft, he admitted to failing at least three drug tests at LSU.

Thanks to the aforementioned suspensions and injury, Collins has appeared in just 24 games since entering the league in 2015. Last year, Collins started in six of his eight games and hauled in two interceptions and 31 total tackles.

His latest slip-up was unfortunate, but the Falcons were already planning to start a healthy Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford at cornerback. Over the summer, Collins found himself working with Atlanta’s third string CBs.

Falcons Reduce Roster To 53

September 2nd, 2017 at 4:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have moved their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:

Placed on commissioner exempt list:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

Waived: 

Waived/injured:

Released with injury settlement:

Placed on IR:

South Notes: Falcons, Saints, Colts, Titans

August 7th, 2017 at 9:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons don’t intend to waive recently suspended cornerback Jalen Collins in the very near future, but it appears the club is still assessing its options, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. “The disappointment for having a second, repeat offense is stronger,” head coach Dan Quinn said Monday. “This just came through yesterday. Some trust has been broken. We’ll take all the time that we need to make the best decision for the team.” Atlanta now has the secondary depth to withstand a Collins release, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, who identifies C.J. Goodwin and Deji Olatoye as valuable reserve pieces. Collins is suspended through late November, so the Falcons don’t have to make a decision on his status for some time.

Let’s check in on the latest from the NFL’s two South divisions:

  • Chase Daniel will almost assuredly serve as the Saints‘ backup quarterback during the upcoming season, meaning the battle for New Orleans’ third signal-caller job will come down to Garrett Grayson and Ryan Nassib, as Nick Underhill of the Advocate details. Grayson, a third-round pick just two years ago, currently has the upper hand, per Underhill, as Nassib — a free agent addition who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants — is considered a “long shot” to earn a roster spot. Of course, the Saints could opt to keep only two quarterbacks, at which the team would likely attempt to sneak Grayson onto their practice squad.
  • Colts wide receiver Chester Rogers has changed representation, hiring Rosenhaus Sports to replace Warren and Simpson, tweets Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal. As a former undrafted free agent, Rogers is eligible to renegotiate his contract after only two seasons (in his case, following the 2017 season). Thus far, Rogers hasn’t done enough to earn an extension, as he managed only 19 receptions for 273 yards during his rookie campaign. However, the 23-year-old Rogers has been working as the Colts’ No. 3 receiver during training camp, ahead of Kamar Aiken and Phillip Dorsett, reports Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
  • If the stress fracture in his right foot continues to act up, Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe could begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, which would force him to miss the first six games of the year, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com writes. Sharpe, a fifth-round selection in 2016, reportedly has a tenuous grasp on a roster spot, but placing him on PUP could give Tennessee more time to make a decision on his fate. Currently being sued after an alleged assault, Sharpe is countersuing his accuser.

Falcons’ Jalen Collins Suspended 10 Games

August 6th, 2017 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second straight year, Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins will be suspended without pay for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

The Falcons announced the suspension. It’s a 10-game ban because Collins was suspended four games in 2016 for a PED violation.

“We are extremely disappointed that for the second straight season we are dealing with a suspension for Jalen,” Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said. “Such are the consequences when certain choices are made. Our decisions going forward will be based on what Dan and I feel is best for the team.”

A second-round pick in 2015, Collins returned from suspension and started six games for Atlanta after opening with the Falcons’ first unit in two games as a rookie. Collins started all three Falcons playoff games. He intercepted two passes and made 31 tackles during the regular season. The Falcons now have Desmond Trufant back healthy, along with well-compensated No. 2 corner Robert Alford.

Although he’s eligible to stay with the team throughout the preseason, Collins won’t be eligible to return to the Falcons until November 21. The 24-year-old defender has been working with Atlanta’s third team thus far during camp. The Falcons did not make any high-profile outside additions at corner this offseason.

Coaching Notes: Quinn, Belichick, Bradley

October 29th, 2016 at 9:55am CST by Ben Levine

Every team in the league could zero in on a specific position that needs an upgrade. However, most coaches, including Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, would prefer to roll with their own guys. With the Falcons sitting at 4-3, fans could surely find areas of the team to nitpick. Nonetheless, Quinn is content on moving forward with his current squad.

“I feel like we have a very competitive group,” Quinn told ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. “So, for us, we love the guys we have. Fortunately for us, the thing that I’m excited [about] — you guys know this, but I don’t get a chance to talk about it enough — is our practice squad. I feel like this is a group in waiting that we’ve got some guys that are anxious to go. We’ve moved some of them up already… There’s a number of guys, if called upon, would be ready. That’s why maybe I feel like I love the depth that we have with some of the guys. We’re already developing some guys right through it. That’s the preferred way.”

Let’s take a look at some more coaching notes from around the NFL…

  • McClure wonders if the Falcons may be inclined to change their opinion if Dwight Freeney‘s injury proves to be more serious than originally thought. Meanwhile, the writer suggests the team could look to deal some of their players, including cornerback Jalen Collins, for future draft picks.
  • Patriots coach Bill Belichick is typically active on the trade front, and the team even managed to pull off a pair of deals earlier this week. However, the head coach acknowledged that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to pull off these swaps. “I mean, you know, there are a lot of teams that don’t … they seem kind of reluctant to trade — this time of year, especially,” Belichick told Phil Perry of CSNNE.com.
  • Jaguars coach Gus Bradley provided an emphatic “no” when asked if his team’s 2-5 start could lead to changes on the coaching staff. However, Ryan O’Halloran of Jacksonville.com notes that the head coach didn’t necessarily endorse any of his fellow coaches, including offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
  • Some Jaguars players recognize that their coaches may be on the hot seat following a slow start to the season. “Gus will always take the blame as the coach,” wideout Allen Hurns told O’Halloran. “We’ve got to win. I’m worried [about him]. Everybody feels strongly about Gus. You try not to listen to it or let it get to you, but it is kind of impossible now. Hopefully, they’ll stick it out with him but we’ve got to find something to get this going.”

14 Players Returning From Suspension

October 3rd, 2016 at 7:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Fourteen players will return from four-game suspensions this week, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The most high-profile returnee, of course, is quarterback Tom Brady, who will re-join the 3-1 Patriots on Sunday against the Browns.

The following players have completed their suspensions:

The club that employs each player will receive a short roster exemption that ends the day following the team’s Week 5 game. that means the 49ers’ exemption for Lynch ends Friday, the Panthers’ exemption for Scott ends next Tuesday, and the rest end next Monday.

Sterup, meanwhile, was on the Chiefs’ practice squad when he was banned, but he hasn’t completed the PED reinstatement requirements, according to Balzer. So although he can sign with a new club, Sterup can’t practice or play until he’s approved by the league.

South Notes: Woodard, Collins, Colts, Brees

May 23rd, 2016 at 7:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The injury bug continues to bite the Jaguars, as 2016 seventh-round defensive end Jonathan Woodard will now miss the entirety of the season after tearing his Achilles, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Woodard probably wasn’t going to play a significant role in a Jacksonville edge rotation that includes Malik Jackson and Dante Fowler Jr., but the injury will obviously set him back in his development. The Jaguars, of course, are waiting for a status update on fifth overall pick Jalen Ramsey‘s knee, while last year, the club missed out on Fowler’s rookie season after he tore his ACL in camp.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two South divisions…

  • Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins told reporters that he “made a mistake” which led to his four-game suspension for PEDs (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). However, he did not indicate whether he will file an appeal. Atlanta had hoped the Collins would be able to become a starter on the outside, allowing fellow corner Robert Alford to move into the slot full-time. That transition can still happen, of course, but now the club will have to make do without Collins for a quarter of the season — a realization which may have precipitated today’s workout of nickel corner Brandon Boykin.
  • Given that the Colts are on the lookout for veteran depth at wide receiver, the recently-released Brian Hartline could hold some intrigue for the club, as Mike Chappell of CBS4 tweets. Indianapolis currently projects to start T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief at wideout, with the second-year Phillip Dorsett behind them. The Colts’ depth chart behind that trio is perilously thin, however, so Hartline could make some sense for the team.
  • Drew Brees is capable of becoming the league’s highest-paid player even at age 37, writes Jason Fitzgerald of the Sporting News. Entering the final year of his deal, and playing under a $30MM cap hit in 2016, Brees holds all the leverage in talks with the Saints. Fitzgerald details exactly how Brees can use New Orleans’ poor salary management against them as he seeks one more mega-deal.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Falcons CB Jalen Collins Suspended Four Games

April 8th, 2016 at 2:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2016 season, the team announced today in a press release. The NFL handed down the four-game ban due to a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.Jalen Collins

“We are disappointed to hear the news regarding Jalen today,” Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said in a statement. “I have already spoken to Jalen about this, and I have no doubt this will be something that he will learn from.”

Collins, a second-round pick out of LSU last year, played in all 16 games during his rookie season in Atlanta, but made just two starts and didn’t see extensive playing time on defense. Collins was viewed as a candidate to be selected much higher than 42nd overall, where the Falcons nabbed him, but other teams steered clear due to some off-field red flags.

According to reports, multiple clubs flagged Collins due to his marijuana use, and the 23-year-old admitted after the draft that he failed at least three drug tests at LSU. While that off-field history didn’t have an impact on Collins’ rookie season, it seems the Falcons have been burned in his sophomore year, though it’s not clear what substance caused Collins to fail his test.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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