We’ve all been waiting to hear the status of Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins, who is looking to return from spinal fusion surgery after suffering a neck injury early last season.
Word is, there may be news by the end of the week. At present, it looks good from a medical standpoint.
“I’ll tell you what (team physician) Dr. Pat McKenzie told me, ‘It’s something that they feel very good about based on the last exam, and if he has a good chance just based on the way he’s progressing, but you don’t know,’” McCarthy said. “He said it’s either yes or no.”
That being said, there’s no guarantee Collins will be cleared to play. In fact, coach Mike McCarthy said if Collins were his son, he wouldn’t let him play.
“That’s probably one of the worst parts of your job (as a coach),” McCarthy said. “Walking out on the field looking over a player, especially when it didn’t look very serious and then you get out there, I don’t want to be put in that position again.
“And this is not about me. I’m just talking about, if that was my son, if Nick was my son, I would not let him play.”
That’s not exactly reassuring.
The Packers defense wasn’t the same after Collins went down last season and ultimately finished last in the NFL in total defense. Collins absence wasn’t the only issue, but there was clearly a big drop off when the Packers were forced to insert Charlie Peprah into the lineup.
If Collins is unable to return, the Packers will have to draft his replacement.
Nobody in the NFL wants their own kids to play football. It’s a violent and dangerous sport with a “what have you done for me lately” attitude.
Says a lot about MM integrity, but when it comes down to it, it should be Collins’ decision. If the Dr.’s clear him, and he wants to risk further injury, then the Packer’s would be stupid not to welcome him back.
I personally think Collins is nuts if he comes back. Great player, but hey, shit happens.
He’s probably already sitting on a big chunk of change and I suspect he would get a decent injury settlement.
Sure beats the hell out of eating through a straw and working on your Stephen Hawking imitation.
As cool as voice emulators are it wouldn’t be cool if Collins had to use one.
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4831/reggie-smith
Here’s a guy if Collins can’t play…he’s a strong safety and could be an upgrade over C. Peprah.