BY NICK ST. DENIS
The New England Patriots signed and released Austin Collie two different times earlier this year, all the while keeping him on the waiting list.
So when they called back this week, Collie was ready.
The veteran wideout was a Patriot throughout October but got released at the beginning of November. He was brought back for most of December but released again with New England's in-house young receivers getting healthy.
Collie, however, was signed by the Patriots for a third time after the team was forced to place Josh Boyce on injured reserve for an ailment he sustained in the season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
None of those variables are under Collie's control, though he does have a grasp of two gears that are just as, if not more, important.
"What I can control is just show up when they call and making plays," Collie said this week, via CSNNE.com.
In seven games of spot duty, Collie hauled in six catches for 63 yards during the regular season, and next week, he'll play in his first playoff game since 2009, when he was a key weapon of Peyton Manning's.
"The postseason's always got a different feeling," Collie told CSNNE, "and I'm looking forward to it."
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