Kerry Collins

Kerry Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Penn State University and earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history.

Kerry Collins
Collins with the Tennessee Titans in 2008
No. 12, 13, 5
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1972-12-30) December 30, 1972
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school:Wilson
(West Lawn, Pennsylvania)
College:Penn State
NFL Draft:1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
TD–INT:208–196
Passing yards:40,922
Completion percentage:55.7%
Passer rating:73.8
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

He also played for the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts. He defeated every NFL team except the Miami Dolphins during his career, and threw for over 200 touchdowns. He led the New York Giants to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–7. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Early years

Collins was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He attended Lebanon High School, until 1987, when he transferred to Wilson High School in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, and played football, basketball, and baseball for the Wilson Bulldogs.[1]

College career

Collins attended Pennsylvania State University, where he played for coach Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1991 to 1994.[2] As a senior quarterback in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having received first-team honors from the Associated Press, United Press International, The Football News, the Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News. Collins also captured two of college football's major postseason prizes — the Maxwell Award, presented to the nation's outstanding player, and the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the nation's top quarterback. Collins finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting that year. In addition, he was chosen UPI Back-of-the-Year and garnered Player-of-the-Year honors from ABC-TV/Chevrolet and the Big Ten Conference. Collins made a serious run at the NCAA season passing efficiency record, falling just four points short (172.8), the fourth-highest figure in NCAA annals. He broke Penn State season records for total offense (2,660), completions (176), passing yardage (2,679), completion percentage (66.7), yards per attempt (10.15) and passing efficiency (172.86). He had 14 consecutive completions at Minnesota, another Penn State record. Collins was the linchpin of an explosive offense that shattered 14 school records and led the nation in scoring (47.8 ppg.) and total offense (520.2 ypg.). With 5,304 career passing yards, Collins ranks third in Penn State annals and is one of only three quarterbacks to top 5,000 yards through the air. With Collins at quarterback, the 1994 Nittany Lions completed an undefeated season, the fifth under coach Joe Paterno, capped by a Rose Bowl win over Pac-10 Champion Oregon. His team was voted #1 by the New York Times, although they were voted #2 behind undefeated Nebraska in the traditional polls (AP Poll and Coaches' Poll) used to determine Division I-A champions prior to the BCS era. In 2018, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

SeasonCompAttPercentYardsTDINTWL
19913650.0%951100
19926413746.7%9254223
199312725050.8%1,605131172
199417626466.7%2,679217120
Total37065756.3%5,3043921215

Professional career

Collins presently ranks 16th all-time in NFL career passing yardage and 11th all-time in NFL career passing completions. He was less successful in terms of wins and losses, and finished with a career total of 81 regular season wins (winning percentage of .450) and three playoff wins (winning percentage of .429). His lone Super Bowl appearance was for the New York Giants in their loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. He played for a large number of professional teams, and is regarded as a journeyman quarterback. In his career, he beat 31 NFL teams; the only team he never beat was the Miami Dolphins, against whom he is 0-5.

Carolina Panthers

Collins was selected as the Carolina Panthers' first round pick (fifth overall) in the 1995 NFL Draft.[3] He was the first player ever chosen by the Panthers in the annual college draft, though other players—some free agents, as well as players from the expansion draft—had previously signed with the team. In his three seasons with the Panthers, he threw for 7,295 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions. His completion percentage was 52.6% and his quarterback rating was 65.6. In his second season, he led the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game.

Collins threw 21 interceptions during the 1997 season and the Panthers finished 7–9, just one season after advancing to the NFC Championship.

Carolina started the 1998 season with Collins as its starting quarterback. After an 0–4 start, Collins walked into head coach Dom Capers' office and, as Collins later put it, "told Coach Capers my heart's not in it, I'm not happy, and I don't feel like I can play right now."[4] He asked to be traded, but was instead placed on waivers by Carolina during the 1998 season and subsequently signed with the New Orleans Saints to finish the season with seven more starts but only two wins.

Collins would later say that he did not intend to quit the Panthers, only to sit out for a few weeks. However, Capers interpreted his request as quitting on the team and he was released. He later admitted that much of his erratic behavior was due to his struggles with alcoholism. After being arrested for drunk driving later that year, he was ordered by the NFL to seek treatment for alcohol abuse.[5]

Franchise records

Collins held or shared four Panthers franchise records As of 2017:

New York Giants

Collins started the 1999 season as the Giants' second-string quarterback behind Kent Graham, but claimed the starting job in Week 11 as Graham struggled with a 5–4 record. In the 2000 season, Collins led the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. His performance in his lone Super Bowl appearance is among the worst in NFL history. During the 2001 season, Collins set a single-season NFL record with 23 fumbles,[6] a record tied in 2002 by then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. In 2002, Collins set the Giants single season franchise passing record with 4,073 yards; the record was broken by Eli Manning in 2011. After five seasons, 68 starts and 16,875 yards, Collins was released by the Giants in 2004.[7] The team had already signed former league MVP Kurt Warner and traded for 2004's #1 draft pick, Eli Manning.

As of 2018, Kerry Collins held at least 7 Giants franchise records, including:

  • Most Passing Yards (playoff game): 381 (2001-01-14 MIN)
  • Most Passing TDs (playoff game): 5 (2001-01-14 MIN)
  • Most Intercepted (playoff season): 6 (2000)
  • Best Passer Rating (game): 158.3 (2002-12-22 @IND)
  • Most Pass Yds/Game (playoff career): 240.0
  • Most Pass Yds/Game (playoff season): 342.0 (2002)
  • Most 300+ yard passing games (playoffs): 2 (tied with Eli Manning)

Oakland Raiders

After his release from the Giants, Collins signed a three-year, $16.82 million contract with the Oakland Raiders. Collins began the 2004 season as the team's backup to Rich Gannon, but took over the starting role when Gannon suffered a neck injury in the third week of the regular season. Collins was the team's starting quarterback for the 2005 season, subsequent to Gannon's retirement.[8]

The 2005 season started off well for Collins, but he was benched after a 34–10 Week 12 loss to the San Diego Chargers. He was replaced by Marques Tuiasosopo. After Tuiasosopo's 26–10 loss at the Jets in Week 13, Collins regained his starting job in Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns (a 9–7 loss at home). After two seasons and a 7–21 record with the Raiders, Collins was cut on March 10, 2006 in what was at least partially a move designed to free space with the salary cap.[9]

Tennessee Titans

On August 28, 2006, Collins agreed to a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. After three games, all losses for the Titans, Collins had completed fewer than half his passes, and had thrown one touchdown and six interceptions. Vince Young, who played extensively as a substitute in the second game, started the fourth through sixth games while Collins saw no playing time in any of them. On March 5, 2007, he re-signed with the Titans.

Collins (right) and Peyton Manning at the 2009 Pro Bowl.

After Young was injured against Jacksonville on September 7, 2008, Collins finished the game and was named the Titans starting quarterback for the rest of 2008 later that week. On September 21, 2008, Collins became the 15th player in NFL history to pass for more than 35,000 yards. Coming into the game against the Houston Texans, Collins needed only 90 yards to eclipse the mark. On his ninth completion of 13 attempts, Collins completed a 17-yard pass to Justin McCareins to give him 107 yards on the day and 35,017 yards for his career.

The Titans finished the 2008 regular season with a record of 13–3, top seed in the playoffs, and a first round bye. In the divisional round they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 13–10. A last minute field goal by Matt Stover won the game for the Ravens. Collins indicated after the season that he would like to play in 2009, but only as a starter.[10] Collins replaced Jets quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 Pro Bowl, after first alternate Philip Rivers pulled out. He re-signed with the Titans on February 27, 2009. His new contract was worth $15 million, with $8.5 million guaranteed over two years.[11]

Collins (left) and Matt Schaub.

Collins returned as the team's starting quarterback for the beginning of the 2009 season. In week six the Titans were defeated by the New England Patriots 59–0. After that loss and a 0–6 record on the season, coach Jeff Fisher replaced Collins as starting quarterback with Vince Young, three days before the November 1, 2009 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fisher stated that he was against this decision, saying that the problems with the team were unrelated to quarterback play, but he made the substitution after being urged by Titans owner Bud Adams to do so.[12] The Titans won five straight games with Young as quarterback, and later finished the season 8–8.[13]

Collins officially announced his retirement from the NFL on July 7, 2011.[14]

Indianapolis Colts

On August 24, 2011, Collins decided to forgo his retirement plans and agreed with the Indianapolis Colts on a contract deal.[15] The contract was worth one-year and $4 million.[16] Collins was signed as insurance for Peyton Manning, who was recovering from offseason neck surgery. The Colts named Collins the starter for week one, ending Manning's streak of 227 consecutive starts (208 regular season plus 19 playoff games) and making Collins the first quarterback other than Manning to start a regular-season game for the Colts since Jim Harbaugh in week 17 of the 1997 NFL season.[17] On October 25, 2011, the Colts placed Collins on injured reserve due to a concussion, ending his season.[18]

On March 8, the Colts officially released Collins from their active roster.

After his release, Collins did not re-sign with any team and would retire from professional football. His 40,922 career passing yards ranks 19th all-time at present, and his 3,487 completions ranks 16th all-time at present.

Awards

NFL career statistics
Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season
YearTeamGPPassingRushing
CompAttPctYardsTDIntRateAttYdsTDFum
1995CAR 1521443249.52,717141961.94274313
1996CAR 13 204 364 56.0 2,454 14 9 79.4 32 38 0 6
1997CAR 13 200 381 52.5 2,124 11 21 55.7 26 65 1 8
1998CAR 4 76 162 46.9 1,011 8 5 70.8 7 40 0 5
1998NO 7 94 191 49.2 1,202 4 10 54.5 23 113 1 8
1999NYG 10 191 332 57.5 2,316 8 11 73.3 19 36 2 11
2000NYG 16 311 529 58.8 3,610 22 13 83.1 41 65 1 7
2001NYG 16 327 568 57.6 3,764 19 16 77.1 39 73 0 23
2002NYG 16 335 545 61.5 4,073 19 14 85.4 44 -3 0 8
2003NYG 13 284 500 56.8 3,110 13 16 70.7 17 49 0 12
2004OAK 14 289 513 56.3 3,495 21 20 74.8 16 36 0 7
2005OAK 15 302 565 53.5 3,759 20 12 77.3 17 39 1 13
2006TEN 4 42 90 46.7 549 1 6 42.3 0 0 0 0
2007TEN 6 50 82 61.0 531 0 0 79.9 3 -3 0 1
2008TEN 16 242 415 58.3 2,676 12 7 80.2 25 49 0 5
2009TEN 7 119 216 55.1 1,225 6 8 65.5 11 15 1 3
2010 TEN 10 160 278 57.6 1,823 14 8 82.2 10 1 0 5
2011IND 3 48 98 49.0 481 2 1 65.9 2 -1 0 4
Total 198 3,487 6,261 55.7 40,922 208 196 73.8 374 686 10 139

Playoffs
YearTeamGPPassingRushing
CompAttPctYardsTDIntRateAttYdsTDFum
1996 CAR 2 31 59 52.5 315 3 3 63.9 7 4 0 0
2000 NYG 3 56 98 57.1 622 5 6 67.3 14 26 0 1
2002 NYG 1 29 43 67.4 342 4 1 112.7 0 0 0 0
2008 TEN 1 29 42 61.9 281 0 1 71.6 1 0 0 1
Total 7 145 242 59.7 1,560 12 11 75.3 22 30 0 2

Major League Baseball Draft

Collins was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 26th round of the 1990 MLB draft, but opted to attend Penn State. Detroit selected him in the 60th round of the 1991 amateur draft, but he did not sign with the club. He was again selected in the 48th round of the 1994 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays but again did not sign.[19]

Personal life

Battles with alcoholism

Before the 1997 season got underway, Collins's private battle with alcoholism started to make public headlines. In a highly publicized incident, on the last night of Carolina Panthers training camp in 1997, Collins used a racial slur in reference to black teammate Muhsin Muhammad while in a drunken state at a bar in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Supposedly, Collins also inadvertently slurred offensive lineman Norberto Garrido, who is of Hispanic descent. It was widely rumored that Garrido punched Collins in the eye as a result, although this was later proven false.[20]

On November 2, 1998, Collins was arrested for drunk driving in Charlotte, North Carolina.[21] He finished the 1998 season in New Orleans and signed with the New York Giants as a free agent on February 19, 1999.[22] Not long before signing with New York, Collins decided to seek treatment for his alcoholism. He entered a rehabilitation clinic in Topeka, Kansas.[23]

Collins in Nashville helping clean out homes after floods damaged the city

While a member of the New York Giants, Collins remained in therapy for four years. As a member of the Tennessee Titans, he readdressed the 1997 racial slur incident, explaining that "The guys were talking to each other that way, and I was trying to be funny and thought I could do it, too. I was so upset by it. It was bad judgment. I could have been labeled a racist for the rest of my career. I had to live with the way I used that word with a teammate. Extremely poor judgment. I was naïve to think I could use that word in any context."[24]

See also

References
  1. Gross, Mike. "Penn State QB and Lebanon native Kerry Collins makes college football hall of fame". LancasterOnline. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  2. "Kerry Collins College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  3. "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. "Video". CNN. October 19, 1998. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  5. King, Peter (January 22, 2001). "Renewed and revitalized at 28, Collins finally comes clean". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  6. "NFL Records". www.nfl.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  7. Best, Neil (April 27, 2004). "Collins, Giants ready to part ways". Newsday. Archived from the original on May 1, 2004.
  8. Barber, Phil (July 29, 2005). "Gannon's career nears end". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  9. "Raiders cut Collins, saving $9.2 million on cap". ESPN.com. March 11, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  10. Collins: I feel like I'm a starter in this league NFL.com, January 13, 2009
  11. "Titans re-sign Collins, agree to two-year deal with QB". National Football League. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  12. Wyatt, Jim (October 30, 2009). "Second chance: Titans move to Vince Young as starting QB". USA Today. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  13. Walker, Teresa. "Young, Titans win 1st of '09, beat Jaguars 30–13". Yahoo Sports.
  14. Florio, Mike (July 7, 2011). "Kerry Collins retires". profootballtalk.com. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  15. Aziz, Andrew (August 24, 2011). "Colts sign Kerry Collins". everything-colts.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  16. "Kerry Collins: Career Earnings". spotrac.com. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  17. "Jim Harbaugh Game Logs: 1997". NFL.com. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  18. Florio, Mike (October 25, 2011). "Colts send Kerry Collins to injured reserve". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  19. "Kerry Collins – BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  20. Freeman, Mike (August 24, 1997). "Panthers' Collins Finds Himself Tangled Up in Racial Barbs". New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  21. "Collins' DWI Case On Hold". CBS News. February 15, 1999. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  22. "Giants Sign QB Kerry Collins". CBS News. February 19, 1999. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  23. Gaughan, Mark (January 26, 2001). "Uncorked: Kerry Collins Couldn't Release His Bottled Up Talent Until He Let Go of Alcohol". The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  24. George, Thomas (September 25, 2008). "Young's mentor is right next to him, if only he'd reach out". NFL.com. Retrieved September 25, 2008.

Sources
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