Athletes - Kerry Collins

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	Athletes - Kerry Collins

Kerry Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is an American football player who currently plays as a quarterback. He is a free agent. He has played for the Oakland Raiders New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, playing in Super Bowl XXXV for New York.

Playing career

Penn State and the NFL

Kerry Collins played collegiate football at Penn State University, where he earned numerous awards. As quarterback, 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 — 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 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 coach Joe Paterno), capped by a Rose Bowl championship over Oregon. His team was awarded the NCAA Division 1-A football championship by the New York Times and Jeff Sagarin.

Collins was selected as the Carolina Panthers' first pick (fifth overall) in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was the first player ever chosen by the Panthers, who entered the league that year. 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.

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 the New Orleans Saints. On November 2, 1998 Collins was arrested for drunk driving in Charlotte, North Carolina. He finished the 1998 campaign in New Orleans and signed with the New York Giants as a free agent on February 19, 1999.

Racism

In a highly publicized incident, on the last night of Carolina Panthers training camp in 1997 Collins used the word nigger in reference to African-American teammate Muhsin Muhammad while in a drunken state. Supposedly, Collins also inadvertently slurred offensive lineman Noberto Davidds-Garrido, who is of hispanic descent. This resulted in Collins being punched in the eye by Davidds-Garrido. Collins has stated that in his intoxicated state he thought the use of the racial epithet would help him and his teammates bond. Collins claims he is not a racist, but to no one's surprise he was labeled a racist in the media for the event.

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 to Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. After five seasons in New York, Collins was released by the Giants in 2004. The team had already signed former league MVP Kurt Warner and traded for 2004's #1 draft pick, Eli Manning. The move was seen as a cost-cutting measure, since Collins was due to earn $7 million from the Giants in 2004. After his release, Collins signed a three-year, $16.82 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

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