Landon Collins Comments on Tony Romo, NFL Debut vs. Dallas Cowboys

Landon Collins knows it pays to pick on rookies. Heading into his first NFL game, the New York Giants safety says Tony Romo will regret it if he thinks Collins is your typical first-year player. 

“Tony Romo said he’s looking for key matchups,” Collins said, per Michael Eisen of Giants.com. “If he’s going to look for key matchups, he’s going to pick on me. … I’m a rookie, but I mean, he comes towards my way, and he won’t be happy.”

A second-round pick out of Alabama, Collins is slated to start at free safety for the Giants in their Week 1 matchup with Dallas. The game will be broadcast on NBC's national telecast, but Collins says he won't be affected by the bright lights.

“We played in big bowl games; we played in games where it cost the most,” Collins said. “We played in games that can make or break a season. Same thing, only it’s the beginning of the season now. Not really nervous about it.”

The Giants better hope he's right. They ranked 21st in pass defense last season, per Football Outsiders' DVOA metric. Opponents averaged 8.0 yards per attempt, and Pro Football Focus' grades put their coverage outside the top 20. Big years for cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara are expected, but New York's coverage will be nothing without help in the back half.

“I’m confident in him. You bet I am,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “He’s a good football player. And he’s demonstrated that throughout his collegiate career, and he was taken in the second round.”

Of course, the NFL stage is far different from Alabama. Romo is coming off the best year of his NFL career, throwing touchdowns on 7.8 percent of his passes and tying for third in the league MVP voting. With Pro Bowler Dez Bryant and talented deep threat Terrance Williams on the outside, Collins is going to have his hands full.

We'll get to see early and often whether his brash words come with production.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.