After 16 years in the NFL, Kerry Collins is retiring. He played most of his career with the Giants and the Panthers but had a two year stint with the Raiders in which he put up some good numbers. In fact, he put up good numbers just about everywhere he went.
He announced his decision through his agents on Thursday saying:
“My willingness to commit to the preparation necessary to play another season has waned to a level that I feel is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the position.”
A statement that every player must admit at some point. In this case, he was facing the possibility of watching rookie Jake Locker start ahead of him.
Collins seemed like an unwanted man no matter which uniform he put on. But his accomplishments may astound a lot of people if you look back at them.
First of all, he has thrown for over 40,000 yards and stands 11th all-time in passing yards in the NFL.
He played for five different teams in his 16 seasons. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round out of Penn State and led the Panthers to the NFC Championship game in just his second season. He would also make his first Pro Bowl appearance that season
He would later play for the Giants, Saints (briefly), Raiders, and Titans.
Most of those years were spent in New York. During which he would lead the Giants all the way to Super Bowl XXXV.
For six straight years from 2000 and 2005, he passed for over 3000 yards a season, and once passed for over 4000 yards.
His final season passing for over 3000 yards was his best. It was his final season in Oakland in which he passed for 3759 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
His two seasons in Oakland were two of his best in the NFL in terms of passing yards and touchdowns as he put up a combined 7254 passing yards and 41 TD’s. He currently sits ninth all-time in passing yards for the Raiders and fifth in completion percentage (54.8) among the top ten. He took the #5 slot in my recent list of “Greatest Raiders by jersey number“.
Unfortunately the Raiders’ shoddy pass protection combined with Collins’ slow release and immobility was a recipe for disaster. He was sacked a career high 39 times that season. The team finished 4-12 and he was released after that season and signed with the Titans.
He spent the final five seasons of his career in Tennessee. In his third season, he came in for Vince Young and went 12-3 to lead the Titans to the playoffs. He would be named to his second career Pro Bowl that season as a result.
For a quarterback no one ever seemed to want, he sure made a career out of it.
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