La'el Collins has a brand new soccer workforce, and a brand new tattoo in addition.
The previous Cowboys offensive sort out inked a three-year, $21 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in the course of the offseason, and shortly after signing the deal, flashed a special type of recent ink: a tattoo of the workforce's emblem stitched onto the again of his left calf.
For Collins, the design represents the most recent chapter in an in depth soccer story, one which's seen all through his physique.
"I used to be simply form of sitting round. I had all the time needed [a tattoo], however I didn’t know what I needed to get," Collins informed Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson.
He acquired his first tattoo in 2021, drawing inspiration from his roots after a chaotic 2020 that included his personal hip surgical procedure, and a quadruple bypass operation for his mom.
"It form of made sense since soccer meant a lot to me, I simply needed to get form of a collage of the place I began. The underside of the leg is the yr I used to be born. On this facet is my little league workforce, the Rams. And that is my highschool workforce. That is our highschool emblem … we had been the Wolves, so I put a wolf proper right here. Going to Dallas, there’s (the Cowboys’ stadium) and the star."
"I used to be all the time form of questioning what I used to be going to place there," he stated about his beforehand untouched left leg. "I signed right here. Good."
Collins was extensively thought to be one of many sport's greatest proper tackles throughout his seven seasons with Dallas, however was launched after quite a few points with the NFL's substance abuse coverage, which included being reprimanded with a five-game suspension in 2021.
Cincinnati gave him a brand new lease on his profession in 2022, and Collins is hoping that the brand new deal, plus his new legwork, and a replenished mindset will end in one other new deal with for he and his Bengals troupe: a Tremendous Bowl ring.
