Raiders confident in Collins
Part of Kerry Collins’ travels through sobriety requires him to share his story.
It came up again Wednesday, on his first official day as starting quarterback of the Oakland Raiders. Collins credits the experience of getting clean to helping him handle being a backup for the first time in his career.
He hasn’t had a drink in five years.
The 31-year-old Collins will start for the Raiders (2-1) at Houston on Sunday in place of Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP sidelined for at least eight weeks with a broken vertebra in his neck.
Gannon, 38, has returned home to Minnesota for a week to be with his wife and family. The Raiders might decide later this week whether to place Gannon on injured reserve for the second consecutive season, coach Norv Turner said after practice. Gannon missed the final nine games last season and underwent shoulder surgery in November.
The Raiders are confident in Collins.
“We’re ready for him to step in and do what he’s capable of doing and make plays for this team,” receiver Alvis Whitted said. “He’s an excellent quarterback.”
Collins, a 10-year veteran who led the Giants to the 2001 Super Bowl, was released by New York four days after it acquired No. 1 draft pick Eli Manning from the San Diego Chargers on draft day. Collins joined the Raiders in May to be the No. 2 quarterback and had a great preseason.
He has handled his situation admirably since the beginning, promising to be ready when needed, but insisting Gannon was the guy.
“I think more than anything I enjoy the game so much more now,” Collins said. “I don’t take it nearly as seriously as I did when I was younger. I really felt like it was life and death winning or losing a football game.”
Collins entered late in the first quarter of Oakland’s 30-20 win over Tampa Bay last week after Gannon was knocked out of the game following a helmet-to-helmet hit by Derrick Brooks. Collins led four scoring drives, completing 16 of 27 passes for 228 yards and one touchdown, a 19-yard strike to Ronald Curry just before halftime.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Collins was the first draft pick by the Panthers in 1995 out of Penn State and led them to the NFC championship game in their second season.
But alcohol problems ended his career in Carolina two years later. After a brief stop in New Orleans and eight weeks in rehab, he joined the Giants in 1999 — and rehabilitated his life and career. The next season, Collins led them to the NFC championship before losing to Baltimore in the Super Bowl.
Collins’ most productive year came in 2002, when he threw for 4,073 yards.
Fiedler regains Dolphins’ No. 1 job
After 2 1/2 games on the bench, Jay Fiedler lined up with Miami’s first team at practice and claimed to be pleased with the “promotion.” Trying to revive the worst offense in the NFL, however, looks like a thankless task.
Fiedler replaces A.J. Feeley, who committed six turnovers in 10 quarters as Miami stumbled to a 0-3 start.
• Wide receiver Chris Chambers sat out practice with a previously undisclosed knee injury. His is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Around the league
Dallas placed tight end Dan Campbell and cornerback Pete Hunter on injured reserve, meaning both players will miss the remainder of the season. Campbell will have surgery after severely spraining his right foot, and Hunter tore a ligament in his left knee. … The Bengals put middle linebacker Nate Webster on injured reserve, officially ending his season. Webster tore a tendon in his knee during a 23-9 loss to the Ravens on Sunday. … Patriots tight end Ben Watson, and first-round draft pick, is out for the season after injuring his knee. New England picked up tight end Jed Weaver, who has played with Philadelphia, Miami and San Francisco. … Quarterback J.P. Losman threw his first practice passes for the Buffalo Bills since breaking his left leg last month, and anticipates being cleared for contact within three weeks. … Browns rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. had a sprained ligament in his ankle surgically repaired on Wednesday and will need at least four months to make a full recovery after the second operation on his right leg.