Kerry Collins

Kerry Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is an American football player who currently plays quarterback for the Oakland Raiders.

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Penn State and the NFL

Kerry Collins played collegiate football at Penn State University, where he earned numerous awards. He was selected as the Carolina Panthers' first pick (fifth overall) in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was the first player ever chosen by the Panthers, who entered the league that year. 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 his quarterback rating was 65.6. In his second season, he led the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game.

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Battles with alcoholism

Before the 1997 season got underway, Collins' private battle with alcoholism started to make public headlines. Collins threw 21 interceptions during the 1997 season and the Panthers finished 7-9, just one season after advancing to the NFC Championship. Collins was placed on waivers by Carolina during the 1998 season and subsequently signed by the New Orleans Saints. On November 2, 1998 Collins was arrested for drunk driving in Charlotte, North Carolina. He finished the 1998 campaign in New Orleans and signed with the New York Giants as a free agent on February 19, 1999.

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Racism

In 1997 Collins called African-American teammate Muhsin Muhammad a nigger, and was subsequently punched by teammate Norberto Davidds-Garrido.

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Rehabilitation

Not long after signing with New York, Collins decided to seek treatment for his alcoholism. He entered a rehabilitation clinic in Topeka, Kansas. No sooner did Collins get his personal life back on track than his professional career followed. Collins started the 1999 season as the Giants' second-string quarterback, but soon claimed the starting job. In the 2000 season Collins led the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. After five seasons in New York, Collins was released by the Giants in 2004. The team had already signed former league MVP Kurt Warner and traded for 2004's #1 draft pick, Eli Manning. The move was seen as a cost-cutting measure, since Collins was due to earn $7 million from the Giants in 2004. After his release, Collins signed a three-year, $16.82 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

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Collins began the 2004 season as the team's backup to Rich Gannon, but took over the starting role when Gannon suffered a neck injury in the third week of the regular season. Collins is the team's starting quarterback for the 2005 season, subsequent to Gannon's retirement.http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050729/NEWS/507290360/1010/SPORTS

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December 30: December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining....

1972: 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday....

Lebanon, Pennsylvania: Lebanon is a city located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 24,461. It is the county seat of Lebanon County....

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