Jump to content

Kerry Collins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kerry Collins
refer to caption
Collins with the Titans in 2008
No. 12, 13, 5
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1972-12-30)December 30, 1972(age 51)
Lebanon, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school:Wilson
(West Lawn, Pennsylvania)
College:Penn State(1991–1994)
NFL draft:1995/ Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts:6,261
Passing completions:3,487
Completion percentage:55.7%
TD–INT:208–196
Passing yards:40,922
Passer rating:73.8
Rushing yards:686
Rushing touchdowns:10
Player stats atPFR

Kerry Michael Collins(born December 30, 1972) is an American former professionalfootballquarterbackwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for 17 seasons. Collins was a member of six NFL teams, most notably theCarolina Panthers,New York Giants,andTennessee Titans.He playedcollege footballfor thePenn State Nittany Lions,winning theMaxwell Award,Davey O'Brien Award,andSammy Baugh Trophyin 1994.

Selected by the Panthers fifth overall in the1995 NFL draft,Collins was the franchise's first draft selection. In his second season, he helped the Panthers become the youngest NFL expansion team to clinch their division and appear in a conference championship, also earning himPro Bowlhonors. Collins served as the Giants starting quarterback from 1999 to 2003, leading them to an appearance inSuper Bowl XXXV.Following a period of limited success, Collins earned a second Pro Bowl selection after helping the Titans obtain a league-best 13–3 record in 2008. He saw less playing time in his final three years and retired after the 2011 season. Collins was inducted to theCollege Football Hall of Famein 2018.

Early life

[edit]

Collins was born inLebanon, Pennsylvania.He attendedLebanon High School,until 1987, and then transferred toWilson High SchoolinWest Lawn, Pennsylvania,where he playedfootball,basketball,andbaseball.[1]

College career

[edit]

Collins attendedPennsylvania State University,where he played for coachJoe Paterno'sPenn State Nittany Lions footballteam from 1991 to 1994.[2]As a senior quarterback in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-teamAll-American,having received first-team honors from theAssociated Press,United Press International,The Football News,the Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Foundation, andThe 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 Trophyballoting that year. 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 atMinnesota,another Penn State record. Collins was the linchpin of an explosive offense (includingKi-Jana Carter,Kyle Brady,andBobby Engram) 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, the1994 Nittany Lionscompleted an undefeated season, the fifth under coach Joe Paterno, capped by aRose Bowlwin overPac-10ChampionOregon.His team was voted #1 by theNew York Times,although they were voted #2 behind undefeatedNebraskain the traditional polls (AP PollandCoaches' Poll) used to determineDivision I-A championsprior to theBCSera. In 2018, he was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.

College statistics

[edit]
Penn State Nittany Lions
Season Passing
Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Rtg
1991 3 6 50.0 95 1 1 204.7
1992 64 137 46.7 925 4 2 110.1
1993 127 250 50.8 1,605 13 11 113.1
1994 176 264 66.7 2,679 21 7 172.9
Career 370 657 56.3 5,304 39 21 137.3

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
6 ft 5 in
(1.96 m) 		240 lb
(109 kg) 		32+3⁄4in
(0.83 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)
All values fromNFL Combine[3]

Collins presently ranks 20th all-time inNFL career passing yardageand 19th all-time inNFL career passing completions.His TD:INT ratio and completion percentage were less impressive, however, resulting in passer ratings of 73.8 and 75.3 for the regular season and postseason. He was also less successful in wins and losses, finishing with a.450 regular season winning percentage and a.429 playoff winning percentage. Despite this, he defeated every NFL team except theMiami Dolphins.

Carolina Panthers

[edit]

Collins was selected as theCarolina Panthers' first round pick (fifth overall) in the1995 NFL draft.[4]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 ratingwas 65.6. In his second season, he led the Panthers to theNFC Championship,a 30–13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.[5]

Collins threw 21 interceptions during the 1997 season and the Panthers finished 7–9, just one season after advancing to the NFC Championship.[6][7]

Carolina started the 1998 season with Collins as its starting quarterback. After an 0–4 start, Collins walked into head coachDom 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."[8]He asked to be traded, but was instead placed on waivers by Carolina during the 1998 season and subsequently signed with theNew Orleans Saintsto finish the season.

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.[9]

Franchise records

[edit]

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

  • Passing touchdowns, rookie game (3; withCam Newtonx2)
  • Interceptions, season (21 in 1997), rookie season (19; withChris Weinke), rookie game (4 on 1995-11-12 @STL and 1995-11-26 @NOR; with Chris Weinke and Cam Newton)

New Orleans Saints

[edit]

After signing with the Saints, Collins started the final seven games of the season, but had only two wins.[10]In his lone season with the Saints, Collins threw for 1,202 yards, four touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.[11]

New York Giants

[edit]

Collins started the 1999 season as the Giants' second-string quarterback behindKent 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 toSuper Bowl XXXV,where they lost to theBaltimore Ravens.[12]He went 15-of-39 for 112 yards while throwing for four interceptions, with one being returned for a touchdown. Hispasser ratingof 7.1 is the second worst inSuper Bowlhistory.[13]During the 2001 season, Collins set a single-season NFL record with 23 fumbles,[14]a record tied in 2002 by then-Minnesota Vikings quarterbackDaunte Culpepper.In 2002, Collins set the Giants' single season franchise passing record with 4,073 yards; this record was broken byEli Manningin 2011.[15]After five seasons, 68 starts and 16,875 yards, Collins was released by the Giants in 2004.[16]The team had already signed former league MVPKurt Warnerand traded for 2004's #1 draft pick, Eli Manning.

Franchise records

[edit]

As of 2018,Kerry Collins held at least seven 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): two (tied withEli Manning)

Oakland Raiders

[edit]

After his release from the Giants, Collins signed a three-year, $16.82 million contract with theOakland Raiders.Collins began the 2004 season as the team's backup toRich 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.[17]

The 2005 season started off well for Collins, but he was benched after a 34–10 Week 12 loss to theSan Diego Chargers.He was replaced byMarques Tuiasosopo.After Tuiasosopo's 26–10 loss at the Jets in Week 13, Collins regained his starting job in Week 14 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.[18]

Tennessee Titans

[edit]

On August 28, 2006, Collins agreed to a one-year contract with theTennessee 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) andPeyton Manningat the2009 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 theHouston Texans,Collins needed only 90 yards to eclipse the mark. On his ninth completion of 13 attempts, Collins completed a 17-yard pass toJustin McCareinsto 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.[19]In the Divisional Round, they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 13–10.[20]Collins indicated after the season that he would like to play in 2009, but only as a starter.[21]Collins replaced Jets quarterbackBrett Favrein the 2009 Pro Bowl, after first alternatePhilip Riverspulled out.[22]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.[23]

Collins (left) andMatt Schaub.

Collins returned as the team's starting quarterback for the beginning of the 2009 season. In week six, the Titans were defeated by theNew England Patriots,59–0.[24]After that loss and an 0–6 record on the season, coachJeff Fisherreplaced Collins as starting quarterback withVince 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 ownerBud Adamsto do so.[25]The Titans won five straight games with Young as quarterback, and later finished the season 8–8.[26]

Collins officially announced his retirement from the NFL on July 7, 2011.[27]

Indianapolis Colts

[edit]

On August 24, 2011, Collins decided to forgo his retirement plans and agreed with theIndianapolis Coltson a contract deal.[28]The contract was worth one-year and $4 million.[29]Collins was signed as insurance forPeyton 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 sinceJim Harbaughin week 17 of the1997 NFL season.[30]On October 25, 2011, the Colts placed Collins on injured reserve due to a concussion, ending his season.[31]

On March 8, 2012, the Colts officially released Collins from their active roster.

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
1995 CAR 15 13 7–6 214 432 49.5 2,717 6.3 14 19 61.9 42 74 1.8 3
1996 CAR 13 12 9–3 204 364 56.0 2,454 6.7 14 9 79.4 32 38 1.2 0
1997 CAR 13 13 6–7 200 381 52.5 2,124 5.6 11 21 55.7 26 65 2.5 1
1998 CAR 4 4 0–4 76 162 46.9 1,011 6.2 8 5 70.8 7 40 5.7 0
NO 7 7 2–5 94 191 49.2 1,202 6.3 4 10 54.5 23 113 4.9 1
1999 NYG 10 7 2–5 191 332 57.5 2,316 7.0 8 11 73.3 19 36 1.9 2
2000 NYG 16 16 12–4 311 529 58.8 3,610 6.8 22 13 83.1 41 65 1.6 1
2001 NYG 16 16 7–9 327 568 57.6 3,764 6.6 19 16 77.1 39 73 1.9 0
2002 NYG 16 16 10–6 335 545 61.5 4,073 7.5 19 14 85.4 44 -3 -0.1 0
2003 NYG 13 13 4–9 284 500 56.8 3,110 6.2 13 16 70.7 17 49 2.9 0
2004 OAK 14 13 3–10 289 513 56.3 3,495 6.8 21 20 74.8 16 36 2.3 0
2005 OAK 15 15 4–11 302 565 53.5 3,759 6.7 20 12 77.3 17 39 2.3 1
2006 TEN 4 3 0–3 42 90 46.7 549 6.1 1 6 42.3 0 0 0.0 0
2007 TEN 6 1 1–0 50 82 61.0 531 6.5 0 0 79.9 3 -3 -1.0 0
2008 TEN 16 15 12–3 242 415 58.3 2,676 6.4 12 7 80.2 25 49 2.0 0
2009 TEN 7 6 0–6 119 216 55.1 1,225 5.7 6 8 65.5 11 15 1.4 1
2010 TEN 10 7 2–5 160 278 57.6 1,823 6.6 14 8 82.2 10 1 0.1 0
2011 IND 3 3 0–3 48 98 49.0 481 4.9 2 1 65.9 2 -1 -0.5 0
Career 198 190 81–99 3,487 6,261 55.7 40,922 6.5 208 196 73.8 374 686 1.8 10

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
1996 CAR 2 2 1–1 31 59 52.5 315 5.3 3 3 63.9 7 4 0.6 0
2000 NYG 3 3 2–1 56 98 57.1 622 6.4 5 6 67.3 11 29 2.6 0
2002 NYG 1 1 0–1 29 43 67.4 342 8.0 4 1 112.7 0 0 0.0 0
2008 TEN 1 1 0–1 29 42 61.9 281 6.7 0 1 71.6 1 0 0.0 0
Career 7 7 3–4 145 242 59.7 1,560 6.5 12 11 75.3 19 33 1.7 0

Major League Baseball Draft

[edit]

Collins was drafted by theDetroit Tigersin 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.[32]He was again selected in the 48th round of the 1994 amateur draft by theToronto Blue Jaysbut again did not sign.[33]

Personal life

[edit]

Collins is married to Brooke Isenhour, whom he met at a George Strait concert in 2000. They have one child, a daughter.[34]

Battles with alcoholism

[edit]
Collins inNashvillehelping clean out homes after floods damaged the city

Before the 1997 season got underway, Collins's private battle withalcoholismstarted to make public headlines. In a highly publicized incident, on the last night ofCarolina Pantherstraining camp in 1997, Collins used a racial slur in reference toblackteammateMuhsin Muhammadwhile in a drunken state at a bar inSpartanburg, South Carolina.Supposedly, Collins also inadvertently slurred offensive linemanNorberto Garrido,who is ofHispanicdescent. It was widely rumored that Garrido punched Collins in the eye as a result, although this was later proven false.[35]

On November 2, 1998, Collins was arrested for drunk driving inCharlotte, North Carolina.[36]He finished the 1998 season in New Orleans and signed with theNew York Giantsas a free agent on February 19, 1999.[37]Not long before signing with New York, Collins decided to seek treatment for his alcoholism. He entered a rehabilitation clinic inTopeka, Kansas.[38]

While a member of the New York Giants, Collins remained in therapy for four years. As a member of theTennessee 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."[39]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Gross, Mike (January 8, 2018)."Penn State QB and Lebanon native Kerry Collins makes college football hall of fame".LancasterOnline.RetrievedJune 27,2019.
  2. ^"Kerry Collins College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits".College Football at Sports-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  3. ^"Kerry Collins, Combine Results, QB - Penn State".nflcombineresults.RetrievedMarch 14,2022.
  4. ^"1995 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedJune 27,2019.
  5. ^"NFC Championship - Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers - January 12th, 1997".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  6. ^"Kerry Collins 1997 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  7. ^"1997 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  8. ^"Video".CNN.October 19, 1998.RetrievedMay 7,2010.
  9. ^King, Peter(January 22, 2001)."Renewed and revitalized at 28, Collins finally comes clean".Sports Illustrated.Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2001.RetrievedOctober 23,2014.
  10. ^"Kerry Collins 1998 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  11. ^"1998 New Orleans Saints Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 11,2022.
  12. ^"Super Bowl XXXV - Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants - January 28th, 2001".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  13. ^Canzano, John (February 3, 2014)."Who had a worse Super Bowl than Peyton Manning? These 10 guys for starters..."OregonLive.RetrievedMarch 20,2024.
  14. ^"NFL Records".NFL.RetrievedJune 27,2019.
  15. ^"New York Giants Single-Season Passing Leaders".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  16. ^Best, Neil (April 27, 2004)."Collins, Giants ready to part ways".Newsday.Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2004.
  17. ^Barber, Phil (July 29, 2005)."Gannon's career nears end".The Press Democrat.Archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2007.RetrievedOctober 3,2009.
  18. ^"Raiders cut Collins, saving $9.2 million on cap".ESPN.March 11, 2006.RetrievedJune 27,2019.
  19. ^"2008 Tennessee Titans Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  20. ^"Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans - January 10th, 2009".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  21. ^Collins: I feel like I'm a starter in this leagueNFL, January 13, 2009
  22. ^"2008 NFL Pro Bowlers".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  23. ^"Titans re-sign Collins, agree to two-year deal with QB".National Football League. Archived fromthe originalon March 2, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 27,2009.
  24. ^"Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots - October 18th, 2009".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  25. ^Wyatt, Jim (October 30, 2009)."Second chance: Titans move to Vince Young as starting QB".USA Today.RetrievedAugust 9,2010.
  26. ^Walker, Teresa."Young, Titans win 1st of '09, beat Jaguars 30–13".Yahoo Sports.
  27. ^Florio, Mike (July 7, 2011)."Kerry Collins retires".profootballtalk.RetrievedJuly 7,2011.
  28. ^Aziz, Andrew (August 24, 2011)."Colts sign Kerry Collins".everything-colts.Archived fromthe originalon October 4, 2013.RetrievedAugust 24,2011.
  29. ^"Kerry Collins: Career Earnings".spotrac.RetrievedJanuary 4,2019.
  30. ^"Jim Harbaugh Game Logs: 1997".NFL.RetrievedJanuary 4,2019.
  31. ^Florio, Mike (October 25, 2011)."Colts send Kerry Collins to injured reserve".NBC Sports.RetrievedAugust 14,2023.
  32. ^"Kerry Collins Leagues Statistics".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  33. ^"48th Round of the 1994 MLB June Amateur Draft".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.
  34. ^Marlow, Daniell (May 24, 2021)."Kerry Collins Met His Wife at a George Strait Concert".FanBuzz.
  35. ^Freeman, Mike (August 24, 1997)."Panthers' Collins Finds Himself Tangled Up in Racial Barbs".New York Times.RetrievedOctober 3,2009.
  36. ^"Collins' DWI Case On Hold".CBS News.February 15, 1999.RetrievedDecember 20,2019.
  37. ^"Giants Sign QB Kerry Collins".CBS News.February 19, 1999.RetrievedDecember 20,2019.
  38. ^Gaughan, Mark (January 26, 2001)."Uncorked: Kerry Collins Couldn't Release His Bottled Up Talent Until He Let Go of Alcohol".The Buffalo News.RetrievedDecember 20,2019.
  39. ^George, Thomas (September 25, 2008)."Young's mentor is right next to him, if only he'd reach out".NFL.RetrievedSeptember 25,2008.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toKerry Collins.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerry_Collins&oldid=1243007185"