Joe Burrow’s Bodyguard
“Your new bodyguard is in town, no one’s touching you.” A bold statement from Cincinnati Bengals right tackle La’el Collins to quarterback Joe Burrow. La’el Collins is setting the tone for the Bengals season! In March of this year, though unclear, the Dallas Cowboys released Collins from the team. The Cincinnati Bengals aggressively sought out Collins and signed him for a three year 30-million-dollar contract. The Bengals who had one of the weaker offensive lines in the NFL is betting on Collins to solidify the offensive line to protect their star quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Cowboy Rocky Seasons
To start his career the 6’4″, 315lb. Collins unexpectedly went undrafted in 2015 and was later signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He played seven rocky seasons for the Cowboy but was productive at times. He played 671 offensive snaps and only allowed two sacks on the quarterback. With the ebbs and flows Collins has something to prove in order to rise from the ashes of what could have been in Dallas.
Rams Joint Practice
In August the Bengals host the Los Angeles Rams for several days of joint practice and La’el Collins set the tone for the Bengals! Practice started chippy and Collins was in the midst of the mayhem. The first scuffle was with Defense Tackle A’shawn Robinson. This flared tempers and ignited an eventful day. Defense End Leonard Floyd was grabbing Collins after the whistle and Collins threw some punches as emotions boiled over. The third and final act was out of control with both teams angry, pushing and pulling helmets off of players. Aaron Donald used Bengal helmets as weapons, pounding players with a helmet in each hand. After all the dust settled, Collins left, and they ended practice since things had gone off the rails.
La’el Collins has to prove that this year’s offensive line is not to be taken lightly like last season. The Bengals were ranked twentieth by Sam Monson’s, Pro Football Focus Final 2021 Offensive Line Rankings. Collins will be bringing the attitude, drive and grit that this line needs to set the tone for an improved physical offensive line. Joe Burrow’s health depends on it.