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Former Patriots assistant has sharp criticism of Jamie Collins

Michael Lombardi (far left) talks with coach Bill Belichick at a practice in 2015.AP

Former Patriots executive Michael Lombardi had some interesting comments about the team’s decision to trade linebacker Jamie Collins on Monday.

Lombardi, listed as an assistant to the coaching staff in the team’s 2015 media guide, was with the Patriots from 2013-16. He is now an analyst on Fox Sports.

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After news of the Collins trade emerged Monday, he weighed in with several opinions in a series of tweets.

Lombardi also discussed the trade in an interview with Colin Cowherd.

“I used to tell Jamie in the meetings: ‘We are as good as you want us to be.’ But there’s times where Jamie just didn’t really want to be,” Lombardi said. “He played on an 0-11 team in Southern Miss., and sometimes he plays like he’s still on that team. And I think, at this point, they just said, ‘You know what? We’re not going to sign him in free agency, it’s time to move him on.’

“To me, this was all about sending a message to all the other guys in the locker room.”

Watch: Michael Lombardi on Jamie Collins

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Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter @mattpep15.