New Bills OL La'el Collins once caught a shark, had pancake cleats: 5 things to know
As far as the Buffalo Bills are concerned, quarterback Josh Allen can never have too much protection.
That's why on Tuesday the team announced it had signed 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive lineman La'el Collins to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $6.25 million. Collins, an LSU product, will be 31 when next season begins.
Collins has started 86 of the 89 NFL games he's played. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. He did not play last season.
Here are five things to know about La'el Collins:
Why didn’t La’el Collins play last season?
Collins spent the year on the physically unable to perform list after he tore his ACL and MCL in December 2022, during the first year of his five-year, $50 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, who released him. before last season. Collins also did not play in the 2020 Covid season because of hip surgery.
La’el Collins once caught a shark almost as big as him
According to legend, Collins caught the “at least" 6 1/2 foot long, 250-pound fish during an outing with teammates in the Florida Keys in 2018. He said it took him 30 minutes to reel the fish in. He said he released it.
Why did La’el Collins wear shoes with pancakes on them?
Collins has a history of playing in custom cleats, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America cleats he wore in 2018.
During his second season, in 2016, he had a pair of pancake-themed shoes made to celebrate his prowess as a pancake blocker. He wore them during pregame warmups.
What does his name mean?
Collins was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 26, 1993, his mother's 29th birthday. His grandmother, however named him La'el, which means "belonging to God."
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What kind of role might he fill with the Buffalo Bills?
If he's healthy, Collins adds some veteran depth up front behind Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, and some added protection for Allen.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: La'el Collins signs with Buffalo Bills: OL once caught a shark
