Falcons coach Dan Quinn did an open-field Devonta Freeman-like spin move when asked last week if cornerback Jalen Collins was in hot water with the NFL.
He knew his player was being investigated and the appeal process was churning.
Collins also denied that he had any issues with the league office after being asked why he, a starter in the Super Bowl, was practicing with the third team.
The team announced on Sunday that Collins was suspended for 10-games for violating the league’s performance enhancement drug policy.
“I’m always going to protect the player,” said Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who was hoping that Collins would win his appeal and the matter would blow over. “I think for those of you who know me, that’s not going to change. At that time, I knew there was an issue with the league. I didn’t know if it was going to resolved to his side or away. I didn’t know if that would take place in July, August or September.”
With his status in limbo, C.J. Goodwin and Deji Olatoye started receiving the second team reps in practice. If Collins won his appeal, he would have been moved back up to the second team.
“(General manager) Thomas (Dimitroff) and myself made the decision that we would move him until we had...clarity,” Quinn said. “Then we could make the best decision. So, in that instance, we were protecting the team.”
Collins was also suspended for four games last season. Both Quinn and Collins addressed the team.
“We are very disappointed,” Quinn said.
All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones said the mood of the team was somber after they received the Collins’ news.
“I don’t know what Jalen did or whatever,” Jones said. “That’s his story to tell y’all what he did. Our thing is just to stay strong and help one another.”
Collins, who’s 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, was projected to help the Falcons matchup with some of the bigger receivers in the NFC South and play on special teams.
The former second-round pick from LSU started down the stretch of last season after Desmond Trufant suffered a torn pectoral injury.
“We all felt bad (for anyone) in that situation because this is a player-led team,” Jones said. “We are going to keep working day-in and day-out. He’s got his things he has to deal with and we just have to continue to try to get better every day.”
Collins wouldn’t reveal what performance enhancement drug that he used.
“We are not really going to get into specifics,” Collins said. “I made a mistake and I’m going to learn from it.”
Collins made similar statements after last season’s suspension.
“Everybody is really disappointing, including myself,” Collins said. “This is something that I’ve been struggling with. I’m working on it, to put behind me and I’m ready to move forward.”
Collins knows the team may not trust him moving forward and that this suspension will cost him $540,141 in base salary.
“Just take care of things on my end and when I’m in the building give everything to the team,” Collins said. “Trying to be the best teammate and the best brother that I can be.”
Quinn acknowledged that there was some red flags when drafting Collins and that they are still present with regards to his decision-making. He was also perturbed that Collins didn’t reach-out to his teammates about his “problem.”
“Off the field, it’s the trust issues,” Quinn said. “Can we get back to where it could be a trusting relationship both with the team, staff, personnel and basically with the organization.”
Collins admitted that he knew about the pending investigation last week.
“It was recently decided,” Collins said. “We didn’t really know what was going on. We know now and we are headed in that direction.
He wouldn’t say when he first new about an issue with the league.
“We knew, but we didn’t know what was going to happen,” Collins said. “I made a mistake. I let a lot of people down. I’m really just trying to move on. I know what I’ve got to do to get past this.”
Collins practice with the team on Monday and can do so throughout the exhibition season. His suspension will start at the beginning of the regular season.
The team is considering its options and noted that the release of Collins was not imminent “today or tomorrow.”
“The disappointment for having a second, repeat offense is stronger,” Quinn said. “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.”
