Kerry Collins: A Revival in the Music City

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Entering his 16th NFL season, Kerry Collins is experiencing nothing short of what can be described as an amazing revival in the Music City for the Tennessee Titans.  Brought in in 2006 as the expected tutor for the dynamic rookie Vince Young, Collins was benched after only four games due to his inability to lead the team to victory.  However, at the beginning of the 2008 season, when Vince left the Jacksonville game, Collins grabbed the reigns of the team and would not let go.

Collins has had nothing short of what can be described as a rocky NFL career.  Drafted out of Penn State fifth overall to the Carolina Panthers in 1995, he would lead the expansion team to the NFC Championship game in its second year of existence in 1996, losing to the Green Bay Packers.  However, in 1998, problems with accused racism and alcoholism would lead Collins to be placed on waivers by the Panthers.

The New Orleans Saints were the next team to claim Collins.  However, a sub-par finish to the 1998 season led to the Saints not renewing his contract in the off season. 

Collins was in a bad place, a free agent with a stingy past.  He would get yet another shot, with the New York Giants recognizing his talent, and giving him a contract.

Continuing his struggle with alcoholism and accused racism, Collins still put together decent seasons in New York.  After being signed as a backup, Collins would claim the starting job to close out the 1999 season, and would start the 2000 season, leading the Giants to the Superbowl, subsequently losing to the Baltimore Ravens. 

The 2000 season seemed to be Collins peak, as every subsequent season in New York his stats dwindled, fumbles increased along with interceptions.  He would eventually be released in 2004 after the Giants drafted Eli Manning. 

The next stop on the Kerry Collins NFL Tour would be Oakland: where old players go to retire.  He was Rich Gannon's backup to begin the 2004 season, however injuries thrust him into the starting role.  Struggles throughout the 2004 and 2005 season led him to be cut once again.

Many thought Collins was done at this point, however one coach still thought he had at least enough left to tutor a young quarterback.  The same franchise that drafted Steve McNair two selections before Collins in the 1995 would give Collins his final landing place.

His embattled career, and seemingly his never-say-die attitude would lead me to ask him many questions.  There is a lot to learn from someone so traveled, and who had to deal with what he had to deal with in some of the largest, and smallest markets in the NFL.  Here is a list of questions I would want to ask Kerry Collins.

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