- Kerry Collins
Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=Tennessee Titans
currentnumber=5
currentposition=Quarterback
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|12|30
birthplace=Lebanon, Pennsylvania
heightft=6
heightin=5
weight=245
debutyear=1995
debutteam=Carolina Panthers
highlights=
*Pro Bowl selection (1996)
*Maxwell Award (1994)
*Davey O'Brien Award (1994)
* Sammy Baugh Award (1994)
college=Penn State
draftyear=1995
draftround=1
draftpick=5
pastteams=
*Carolina Panthers (1995-1998)
*New Orleans Saints (1998)
*New York Giants (1999-2003)
*Oakland Raiders (2004-2005)
*Tennessee Titans (2006-present)
statweek=5
statseason=2008
statlabel1=TD-INT
statvalue1=177-175
statlabel2=Passing yards
statvalue2=35,457
statlabel3=QB Rating
statvalue3=73.3
nfl=COL620367Kerry Michael Collins (born
December 30 ,1972 in Lebanon,Pennsylvania ) is anAmerican football quarterback for theTennessee Titans of theNational Football League . He was drafted by theCarolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the1995 NFL Draft (The first ever draft choice in team history). He playedcollege football at Penn State, where he was aHeisman Trophy finalist during his senior season in 1994.Playing career
Penn State and the Carolina Panthers
Kerry Collins played
college football atPenn State University , where he earned many awards. Asquarterback , he was named All American in 1994 by the Associated Press, United Press International, The Football News, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp and The Sporting News. Collins also captured two of college football’s major postseason prizes — theMaxwell Award , presented to the nation’s outstanding player, and theDavey O'Brien Award , which goes to the nation’s top quarterback. Collins finished fourth in theHeisman 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 theBig 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 No. 3 in Penn State annals and is one of only three quarterbacks to top 5,000 yards through the air. Through his passion and leadership, the 1994 Nittany Lions completed an undefeated season, the fifth under coachJoe Paterno , capped by a Rose Bowl championship over Oregon. His team was awarded theNCAA Division I-A national football championship by theNew York Times . Collins was also a member ofAlpha Kappa Lambda fraternity.Collins was selected as the Carolina Panthers' first round pick (fifth overall) in the
1995 NFL Draft . He was the first player ever chosen by the Panthers in the annual college draft, though other players—somefree agents , as well as players from theexpansion 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 hisquarterback rating was 65.6. In his second season, he led the Panthers to theNFC Championship Game.Battles with alcoholism
Before the 1997 season got underway, Collins' private battle with
alcoholism started to make public headlines. Collins threw 21 interceptions during the 1997 season and the Panthers finished 7-9, just one season after advancing to the NFC Championship. Collins was placed on waivers by Carolina during the 1998 season and subsequently signed by theNew Orleans Saints . OnNovember 2 ,1998 Collins was arrested for drunk driving inCharlotte, North Carolina . He finished the 1998 campaign in New Orleans and signed with theNew York Giants as a free agent onFebruary 19 ,1999 .Offensive Language/Drunken Incident
In a highly publicized incident, on the last night of
Carolina Panthers training camp in 1997 Collins used the offensive racial slur "nigger " in reference to Black teammateMuhsin Muhammad while in a drunken state at a bar inSpartanburg, SC . Supposedly, Collins also inadvertently slurred offensive linemanNorberto Garrido , who is ofHispanic descent. This resulted in Collins being punched in the eye by Davidds-Garrido. Collins had stated, in an intoxicated state, that he thought the use of the racial epithet would help him and his teammates bond.When Collins was a member of the
New York Giants he revealed that for four of his five years there he remained in therapy to deal with that issue and others. As a member of theTennessee Titans he said 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."cite news|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80b1c033&template=with-video&confirm=true|title=Young's mentor is right next to him, if only he'd reach out|publisher=NFL.com|accessdate=2008-09-25|date=2008-09-25|author=George, Thomas]Rehabilitation
Not long after signing with New York, Collins decided to seek treatment for his alcoholism. He entered a rehabilitation clinic in
Topeka, Kansas . No sooner did Collins get his personal life back on track than his professional career followed. Collins started the 1999 season as the Giants' second-string quarterback, but soon claimed the starting job. In the 2000 season Collins led the Giants toSuper Bowl XXXV , where they lost to theBaltimore Ravens . During the 2001 season, Collins set a single-season NFL record with 23 fumbles [http://www.nfl.com/history/randf/records/indiv/fumbles] (Collins' record was tied in 2002 by then-Minnesota Vikings quarterbackDaunte Culpepper ). After five seasons, sixty-eight starts and 16,875 yards in New York, Collins was released by the Giants in 2004. The team had already signed former league MVPKurt Warner and traded for 2004's #1 draft pick,Eli Manning . After his release, Collins signed a three-year, $16.82 million contract with theOakland 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. [http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050729/NEWS/507290360/1010/SPORTS]The 2005 Raiders season started off well for Collins, but he was benched after a Week 13 loss to the
San Diego Chargers . However, he regained his starting job two weeks later against theCleveland 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.Tennessee Titans
On August 28, 2006, Collins agreed in principle, to a deal of unknown length and money with the
Tennessee Titans . After three games, all losses for the Titans, Collins had completed less 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.After Titans quarterback Vince Young was pulled from the game on September 14, 2008, Collins finished the game and was named the Titans starting quarterback for the rest of 2008 later in the week. On September 21, 2008, Collins became just 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 9th completion of 13 attempts, Collins completed a 17 yard pass toJustin McCareins to give him 107 yards on the day and 35,007 yards for his career.Awards
*Won the 1994
Maxwell Award (Nation's top college player)
*Won the 1994Davey O'Brien Award (Nation's top college quarterback)
*Selected to the NFLPro Bowl following the 1996 season.Career statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
Charity
Throughout his career, Collins has been one of the
NFL 's most charitable players. Immediately upon signing his rookie contract with theCarolina Panthers , he donated $250,000 to the Penn State athletic department to permanently endow thequarterback position. He has donated over 2 million dollars to charities such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and theHarlem Boys Choir . In 2001, Collins donated $120,000 toManhattan 's Ladder 5/Engine 24 Family Relief following the September 11th attack on theWorld Trade Center .Through the
KC for Kids Fund of the [http://www.kerrycollinsfoundation.com Kerry Collins Foundation] , Collins has donated more than $500,000 for the renovation of the [http://www.med.nyu.edu/rusk Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine] , a children's unit within the NYU Medical Center. Previously Collins donated $100,000 to theInstitute , to establish the Kerry M. Collins Computer Center and Classroom, with specially modified equipment for infirmed children.During the 2005 season, Collins pledged $1,000 for every touchdown he threw and every game the Raiders won to the
American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief fund. OnMarch 24 ,2006 , Collins was honored byThe Second Mile Foundation in recognition of his commitment to others.References
ources
*Reed, Steve (January 27, 2001). [http://www.gazettearchives.com/panthers2001/_article/00000335.htm Once a lost soul, Collins turns career, life around] "The Gaston Gazette"
*King, Peter (January 22, 2001). [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/peter_king/news/2001/01/22/king_collins/ Collins' sobering story] "CNNSI.com"
*Gay, Nancy (October 3, 2004). [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/10/03/RAIDERS.TMP Collins appreciates second chances] "San Francisco Chronicle"External links
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*Kerry Collins fantasy news and stats from [http://fantasynews.sandbox.com/2005/news/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=NFL&leaguenum=&id=3115 Sandbox Fantasy News]
* [http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=9618 Second Mile press release, March 22, 2006]
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