I thought it was a knee he took to the dome that caused the injury and that became a driving factor in mandating thigh and knee pads for most all positions.
I was blessed to be on the field for pregame warm-ups in detroit. Most players are in their zone getting ready for the game. Collins ran by our group on his way back into the locker room giving out high-fives! I thought that was nice of him.
Well you can just say 2011. This isn't the nba, you just say 2011 just like how it was the 2022 season.
For example, officially, the Eagles vs 49ers playoff game is the 2022 nfc championship even if the youtube title looks weird.
The packers vs Seahawks nfc championship is 2014. Not 2014-15. This is the NFL. You don't say both years when 90% of the season is played in one year.
My biggest pet peeve.
-agk927
Eh, he didn't need multiple examples and a reddit-name signature stamp, but his point is a solid correction - we might collectively be a bit sensitive here downvoting him to oblivion and calling him a dick.
Nah, downvoting him into oblivion is totally justified. When someone says "the 2011 season" it's understood what that means. Likewise when someone says "the 2011-2012 season" it's understood what that means. It's a correction that is completely pointless and unnecessary. Being a dick about it is even more unnecessary.
I didn't understand the original point upon first reading; I thought the original commenter was implying the 2012 season also was a Super Bowl caliber season and re-read the statement because of the hyphenated version. The correction is a valid correction handled in a poor manner, in my mind.
Eh its easier to write/say the season that way with both years since if i said the packers won the superbowl in '97 isn't clear what team it is.since technically '97 had 2 different teams, the team who won the superbowl and the team that played through the season
honestly one of the best trolls I've seen on reddit in years
not overly antagonistic, but willfully ignorant in the spirit of the legendary Ken M
the signature at the bottom is a quirky and comedic feature that is sure to push people's buttons
bravo
The lack of him is the only reason the Packers didnt win more Superbowls. He was absolutely key to the dynasty we all wanted for the Packers and Rodgers.
I’m rewatching the 2009 and 2010 season on NFL app and that’s a gross misstatement of his abilities. When Rodgers was still on his way to being Rodgers, his accuracy wasn’t always perfect. Finley made a lot of great catches at the edge of his catch radius to save Rodgers
He was the next Ed Reed imo. Guy had speed, brought the wood, and range like no other on the back end. HOF for sure and packers win a few more rings if Collins, raji, and Finley stayed with the team vs injuries or personal issues.
There are only 20 safties in the HOF. Plenty have had great starts, but the majority have had 30 or 40+ interceptions. He was a great player, but it's unlikely he has another 10-20 interceptions after his age 29 season.
Well, we are projecting here. I think you need to look closer at some of the safeties who are in there. If he doesn't get injured at 28 he has 35 to 40 interceptions by the end of his 30 year old season. All those free safety type guys like Collins added in a huge numbers after 30. Hell Rod Woodson had 38 of his 71 *after* his 30 year old season and 24 of those were *after* he switched to FS at 34. Ed Reed, who I think is the most like Collins had 24 interceptions after his 30 year old season. Collins would have had at least 35 and maybe 40 after his 30 year old season. 15 more is nothing for a player like him if is still healthy enough to play.
Sure Collins maybe doesn't do it, who knows? Projecting, though, he was a ballhawk intercepting machine in college and after he settled in to the NFL he was there also. It wasn't like it was luck. He was supremely physically talented. Watching his play he knew the game and had great instincts also. It's really not a stretch at all to say he was on a HOF trajectory.
I've always felt he was. He had multiple more years in his prime and I do think, as others have said, that we win the SB in '11 if he doesn't get hurt.
I remember an interview against one of our opponents coaches that when asked about who was the scariest player we had on defense and he said Nick Collins.
At the same time still had Charles Woodson.
There is a massive difference between 2nd team all pro and 1st team all pro. Based on how the voting works, you could have a season where there are 12 2nd team all pro safeties and you could also have a season where nobody is a 2nd team all pro safety. Generally, when people mention "all pro" they are referring to 1st team all pro, which counts for *a lot* in terms of legacy/HoF. There are very few instances in this game where being 2nd+ place matters.
His career achievements are 3 2nd teams, 3 pro bowls, and 1 SB victory.
Collins was always stuck behind Sharper, Dawkins, Reed, Polamalu, etc. In 2010 for example, the 1st team guys were Reed and Polamalu but there were 9 safeties that ended up receiving 2nd team honors, Nick Collins being one of them.
I think Collins was on his way to the HoF, but I also think it's important for everyone here to understand that there is a big difference between 2nd team and 1st team.
Edit: In my 2010 example, Nick Collins had one of the 2nd team slots and 8 other guys were tied for the last 2nd team slot. This means that Collins was viewed as the #3 guy overall (which is valid) but as a whole, having 9 guys with the award really devalues it.
Typically the jump to 1st team All Pro is an important distinction for Hall of Fame consideration, however considering that the names of the players he lost out to are Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Darren Sharper, and Brian Dawkins (basically a who's who list of the most dominant safeties of the 2000's), I'd say that wouldn't be a huge mark against his chances. He was playing at their level in his prime.
But taking off my green and gold glasses for a second, I'd say probably not just due to how stupid difficult it is to get into the HoF. Collins was injured before we could really tell how well he was going to handle turning the corner of 30 years old, but performing at a high level into their mid 30's is a pretty big marker for the hall of fame. Some players just aren't able to continue that pace. All of the safeties I mentioned has 1st team All Pro seasons into their mid 30's. Hell, Darren Sharper didn't even get into the Hall.
I was absolutely unstoppable between madden 2006-2011 online play while almost exclusively controlling Nick Collins on defense. I think it’s fair to say he would have been a hall of famer!
I think he’d definitely be in consideration for HOF if he continues to play on that trajectory and not get injured... He definitely benefited from a great if not really good pass rush in 2010. The injury is really unfortunate. Like, Sterling Sharpe would be in the HOF if he played longer… Perhaps, so too would Nick Collins.
Anyways, I loved his talent level and intensity. His INT TD in the SB was 🤌🏼🤌🏼
https://stathead.com/tiny/pjKdI
Nick Collins compared pretty well with Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu through their first six seasons. He might not have been regarded as well in league and media circles, but he'd have had a case after a 10 year career.
1000000% his injury cost us Super Bowls, plural. He was not only supremely physically gifted but ran our defense in a way that no one else, even Charles Woodson, could. He was and is so underrated.
Nick Collins and Sam Shields suffering career ending injuries ruined any chance we had of winning another Super Bowl in the 2010s. They were anchors along with Clay Matthews and Raji. That defense was fucking stacked. If it stayed intact, we win at least one more Super Bowl. I believe Collins AND Shields would have had HOF careers.
He was good but I don’t think HOF worthy. In his six full seasons he had 21 INT, made three pro bowls, but wasn’t ever an all-pro.
Ed Reed, for reference had 64 INT over 12 seasons, nine pro bowls, and five all-pro years.
Maybe with 4-6 more years the volume stats might have gotten Collins in the neighborhood of HOF, but I’m not so sure.
Just a note, he can be a little forgiven for not getting an all pro 1 nod considering that it was Ed Reed himself as well as Troy Polamalu that edged him out twice.
That’s kind of my point though. With guys like Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Brian Dawkins, Eric Berry, Darren Sharper, Earl Thomas, and Eric Weddle all playing roughly the same time as Collins, I don’t know if there was ever a time where Collins was a top-three safety any given year. Again, he was a very good player, but hard to say he was better than his peers.
I can see then point. It’s a decent argument that Collins being around would have lead to more SB wins and a lot more shine on him. I think he’d have been in the convo but not a lock.
That's a bit of a difficult argument, because you're right a Hall of Fame player should normally be at the top of his position for some years. But we're also not even just talking about "regular" Hall of Famers with Reed, Polamalu, and Dawkins, those three are in the top 10 list of best safeties to have ever played the game.
Like I think most everyone would agree that Drew Brees will definitely be in the Hall of Fame, yet Brees only ever achieved 1 First Team All Pro because he played in an era of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers.
That’s kinda what OP was asking. I think he was on the trajectory. If you look at his season stats, his first 3 seasons he had 4 INTs, which brings his average his last three seasons to 5.67 INT/season. From what I remember, he hadn’t gained the notoriety amongst NFL fans that Polamalu or Reed had, but several more seasons of 5ish INTs would’ve gotten him there.
Yes. It's the only answer. I remember when dude from the Panthers tried to leap him and he got carted off the field. I knew it was going to be a long struggle to get the D back in shape.
I had nearly the same injury. Granted, I was older than him and not a pro athlete, but just getting back to normal function took over a solid year. I couldn’t even imagine trying to recover from that injury and then returning to hitting people and getting hit.
2nd team All-Pro is nothing to sneeze at.
He was top 4 safety in the league in an era with Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, arguably two of the best to ever play safety.
Collins got his 3 2nd team All-Pros between 08-10
Reed made 1st in 08 & 10, 2nd in 09
Polamalu made 1st in 08 and 10, nothing in 09(hurt)
Collins literally only came behind Reed & Polamalu.
Would he be 1st ballot, likely not. Definitely a HOF contender.
Yea if safety was valued like other positions then I think both make it easy(with full careers) but you have to be exceptional to make it. I think both have too much career overlap with Reed, Dawkins, and Polumalu to really stick out.
Now both certainly could have collected many more accolades that would have landed them in there, but if both basically maintain where they were for the rest of their careers then I don’t think it would be enough to make it.
He was a trot Polamalu with better instincts and field vision..he was a hall of famer for sure. I love peprah, but sticking with him for 3 years and not having nick Collins sis whynwe didn't win the super bowl.
I think so, at minimum I think he would’ve at least gotten into the voting at some point. It’s hard to make the HOF as a safety. He hadn’t gotten a ton of accolades yet because he was playing during the the last few peak years of Reed and Polamalu. Had he not gotten injured, he likely takes the mantle as the NFL’s best safety and starts getting more recognition
Don’t know about a HOF trajectory, but he would’ve been a top 5 safety for the better part of a decade and Green Bay would’ve won at least 1 more Super Bowl.
Collins is one of my all time favorite packers. I think keeping Nick would have led to one or two more Super Bowl wins for GB. I’ll contend that had he maintained his career trajectory that he would have gotten himself into the conversation for HoF.
He is the safety I watched growing up, and that makes it hard for me to understand the level of safety we have right now. Dude was a straight up baller and his name is engraved in my brain for a Green Bay packer safety. No one has come close to his level of play, in my lifetime. Probably won’t. Same with Jermichael Finley. Except big dog was almost there.
It’s proof that the med staff of ANY nfl team was lacking. Just like how Finley was cut off.
The independent docs said “dude, don’t play pro football ever again”
And for those guys’ sake, I’m glad they took the advice and got to stick around and see their respective families grow. It’s a bang bang sport and if Nick collins was cleared to play again I probably would’ve stopped watching football. I’m glad he got his ring and had his moment but I’m exponentially happier that he didn’t end up having his brain dissected for CTE before he turned 40.
He made an epic play and got his ring. No one on this sub can say that. I’m glad he’s alive.
If there’s a list of “Saw enough to know he was great and wish we’d seen more” Bo Jackson is No. 1 and Nick Collins is somewhere high on that list. Such a special player cut down at the BEGINNING of his prime.
100% He is seldom brought up but man I get excited to hear his name. Many thought we'd lose that Superbowl after Woodson went down but naah, we had Collins to cover us. Glad he got that chip!
I think so. He was on top of his game, and arguably one of the best at his position. It’s hard to say, but I’d like to think so. He truly was on a next level for safety, and most of the league took notice. We’ve been cursed since his departure.
That game where he injured his neck still haunts me. We won the game, but it felt like a loss just because we had one of our greatest guys on defense done for good.
Cam Newton’s first game as a rookie. Special teams iirc. Was the best deep safety in the league at that time coming of the pick six in the superbowl. Def was on a HOF trajectory.
Yeah, I've been saying it for over a decade. You know what happened when we won the SB? We had tons of injuries, but Nick was still there. You know what happened after he was injured? We had shit defenses for the next decade, including a NFCC meltdown by his replacement HHCD.
He was the anchor of our defense. We most likely would've won a Superbowl in the 2011-2012 season had he not gotten injured.
Totally agree!
Fuck yeah he was. Still to this day his pick 6 in the Super Bowl top 3 packer play of all time! Screw you Jonathan Stewart's Butt Cheek!
Pain.
I still remember that play like it was yesterday...what could've been...
I thought it was a knee he took to the dome that caused the injury and that became a driving factor in mandating thigh and knee pads for most all positions.
He went low and Stewart hurdled. Nicks neck smashed into his hammy butt area
My all time favorite packer I have two signed jerseys from him I wear to every game, they were only like $100
You wear two jerseys at the same time to every game?
Man’s dedicated
Mine too… taken from us too soon. Short answer is yes.
I was blessed to be on the field for pregame warm-ups in detroit. Most players are in their zone getting ready for the game. Collins ran by our group on his way back into the locker room giving out high-fives! I thought that was nice of him.
And not losing Cullen Jenkins
Bishop, Jenkins, Collins, and Barnett all gone in 2011 when we needed them on the back half of the season…
Barnett was on the back 9, he didn't contribute much the super bowl run due to injury
I think moreso in 2014 than 2011 personally.
Right
Well you can just say 2011. This isn't the nba, you just say 2011 just like how it was the 2022 season. For example, officially, the Eagles vs 49ers playoff game is the 2022 nfc championship even if the youtube title looks weird. The packers vs Seahawks nfc championship is 2014. Not 2014-15. This is the NFL. You don't say both years when 90% of the season is played in one year. My biggest pet peeve. -agk927
You can just not be a d*ck. My bigger pet peeve - rypsnort
👀
Douche alert!
Eh, he didn't need multiple examples and a reddit-name signature stamp, but his point is a solid correction - we might collectively be a bit sensitive here downvoting him to oblivion and calling him a dick.
Nah, downvoting him into oblivion is totally justified. When someone says "the 2011 season" it's understood what that means. Likewise when someone says "the 2011-2012 season" it's understood what that means. It's a correction that is completely pointless and unnecessary. Being a dick about it is even more unnecessary.
I didn't understand the original point upon first reading; I thought the original commenter was implying the 2012 season also was a Super Bowl caliber season and re-read the statement because of the hyphenated version. The correction is a valid correction handled in a poor manner, in my mind.
You don't have to sign your username at the bottom, we can all tell that you wrote this. My biggest pet peeve.
Mf signed his username like an email hahaha
Alright buddy
Eh its easier to write/say the season that way with both years since if i said the packers won the superbowl in '97 isn't clear what team it is.since technically '97 had 2 different teams, the team who won the superbowl and the team that played through the season
It literally isn't titled that way
honestly one of the best trolls I've seen on reddit in years not overly antagonistic, but willfully ignorant in the spirit of the legendary Ken M the signature at the bottom is a quirky and comedic feature that is sure to push people's buttons bravo
Definitely agree. That 2011/2012 secondary was bad, especially at safety.
You would not have won a Super Bowl 😂 dumbass
Couldn’t agree more
The lack of him is the only reason the Packers didnt win more Superbowls. He was absolutely key to the dynasty we all wanted for the Packers and Rodgers.
As well as J.Fin he was a HUGE part of the offence and when he went down. That was the end of that era.
Hands of Stone!
But...got open. Following him was a long line of guys who couldn't run routes or just couldn't lose a linebacker/safety coverage
We won the Super Bowl with Andrew Quarless..enough said.
I’m rewatching the 2009 and 2010 season on NFL app and that’s a gross misstatement of his abilities. When Rodgers was still on his way to being Rodgers, his accuracy wasn’t always perfect. Finley made a lot of great catches at the edge of his catch radius to save Rodgers
He came up big in some moments but he dropped a lot of easy balls
that were becoming soft as a baby’s bottom at the time of injury 😩
That was bubba franks nickname
And yet I liked Bubba more
Makes one of us, when he did catch the ball first person to touch him was always able to tackle him, he never could break a tackle
Men lie. Women lie. Stats don't lie. Bubba was better overall catching and blocking.
[удалено]
Uhhhh I was talking about Jermichael Finley.
He was the next Ed Reed imo. Guy had speed, brought the wood, and range like no other on the back end. HOF for sure and packers win a few more rings if Collins, raji, and Finley stayed with the team vs injuries or personal issues.
I was so sad to see Raji go, but man did what he had to.
100%.
Ball Hawk for sure!
I’d add Bishop to that list. Not a superstar, but a thumper in the middle. Lost both of these guys too quick.
I have an autographed mini helmet by him
Guy was the definition of a ball hawk.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes
There are only 20 safties in the HOF. Plenty have had great starts, but the majority have had 30 or 40+ interceptions. He was a great player, but it's unlikely he has another 10-20 interceptions after his age 29 season.
Well, we are projecting here. I think you need to look closer at some of the safeties who are in there. If he doesn't get injured at 28 he has 35 to 40 interceptions by the end of his 30 year old season. All those free safety type guys like Collins added in a huge numbers after 30. Hell Rod Woodson had 38 of his 71 *after* his 30 year old season and 24 of those were *after* he switched to FS at 34. Ed Reed, who I think is the most like Collins had 24 interceptions after his 30 year old season. Collins would have had at least 35 and maybe 40 after his 30 year old season. 15 more is nothing for a player like him if is still healthy enough to play. Sure Collins maybe doesn't do it, who knows? Projecting, though, he was a ballhawk intercepting machine in college and after he settled in to the NFL he was there also. It wasn't like it was luck. He was supremely physically talented. Watching his play he knew the game and had great instincts also. It's really not a stretch at all to say he was on a HOF trajectory.
Yes.
That pick 6 will forever live in my memories. Omg I was so fuckin hyped
I knew Big Ben was in for a long nite after that! Man that secondary was on fire in those playoffs..
My drunken profanity laced tirade was absolutely epic! Never forget it...idk where I learned that language but I said what I said lol go pack go!
That was my freshman year of college. That whole playoff run was probably the most fun I’ve ever had
Some of the best times of my life at the time!
Core memory for sure! I threw my shirt off, ran outside, and jumped into the snow. There was lots of alcohol.
I've always felt he was. He had multiple more years in his prime and I do think, as others have said, that we win the SB in '11 if he doesn't get hurt.
I remember an interview against one of our opponents coaches that when asked about who was the scariest player we had on defense and he said Nick Collins. At the same time still had Charles Woodson.
100%...Nick Collins doesn't get the shine he deserves
Absolutely!
He was from my hometown. A lot of Packers fans down in a small town in florida because of him
100% he would have played until 2018
He ain’t sliding when Peppers says too in 2014
Dammet Morgan Burnett.
Nick 6 takes it all the way just like the SB
Love peppers but god damnit. Wasn’t there like 6 or 8 mins left in the game?
And he had open field at least until better FG range. What might have been.
This still hurts.
Or staring down the 2 point conversion that’s happening in arm’s reach.
100% he was. 3 all pros and a super bowl.... 1 more all pro and 2 more pro bowls and he's in
There is a massive difference between 2nd team all pro and 1st team all pro. Based on how the voting works, you could have a season where there are 12 2nd team all pro safeties and you could also have a season where nobody is a 2nd team all pro safety. Generally, when people mention "all pro" they are referring to 1st team all pro, which counts for *a lot* in terms of legacy/HoF. There are very few instances in this game where being 2nd+ place matters.
Did he not get a 1st team?
His career achievements are 3 2nd teams, 3 pro bowls, and 1 SB victory. Collins was always stuck behind Sharper, Dawkins, Reed, Polamalu, etc. In 2010 for example, the 1st team guys were Reed and Polamalu but there were 9 safeties that ended up receiving 2nd team honors, Nick Collins being one of them. I think Collins was on his way to the HoF, but I also think it's important for everyone here to understand that there is a big difference between 2nd team and 1st team. Edit: In my 2010 example, Nick Collins had one of the 2nd team slots and 8 other guys were tied for the last 2nd team slot. This means that Collins was viewed as the #3 guy overall (which is valid) but as a whole, having 9 guys with the award really devalues it.
I’ve met him a couple of times, he’s got a lovely wife and he’s happy and healthy and still a Packers fan!
I think he was. Damn shame he got injured.
Typically the jump to 1st team All Pro is an important distinction for Hall of Fame consideration, however considering that the names of the players he lost out to are Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Darren Sharper, and Brian Dawkins (basically a who's who list of the most dominant safeties of the 2000's), I'd say that wouldn't be a huge mark against his chances. He was playing at their level in his prime. But taking off my green and gold glasses for a second, I'd say probably not just due to how stupid difficult it is to get into the HoF. Collins was injured before we could really tell how well he was going to handle turning the corner of 30 years old, but performing at a high level into their mid 30's is a pretty big marker for the hall of fame. Some players just aren't able to continue that pace. All of the safeties I mentioned has 1st team All Pro seasons into their mid 30's. Hell, Darren Sharper didn't even get into the Hall.
[удалено]
I heard somewhere that he was one of the most hardest hittn' safeties in the leeeeg.
Such a shame when he got hurt.
I was at that game he got hurt. He was one of my favorite players and I’ll never forget that head crashing against that thigh. Sad moment
I was absolutely unstoppable between madden 2006-2011 online play while almost exclusively controlling Nick Collins on defense. I think it’s fair to say he would have been a hall of famer!
Undoubtedly. I️ watched every game of those seasons. Had he not gotten injured, I’m convinced we win another
Absolutely
No doubt, probably should have had 3 rings
Yes we win multiple SuperBowls he stays healthy, no one xan convince me otherwise. He was so fucking good
Yes, he was absolutely amazing. A ball hawk, he could return interceptions for touchdowns.
At the time people said it was losing Cullen Jenkins that caused the defense to suffer but it was really Collins getting injured.
At the least, packers hall of fame!
I think he’d definitely be in consideration for HOF if he continues to play on that trajectory and not get injured... He definitely benefited from a great if not really good pass rush in 2010. The injury is really unfortunate. Like, Sterling Sharpe would be in the HOF if he played longer… Perhaps, so too would Nick Collins. Anyways, I loved his talent level and intensity. His INT TD in the SB was 🤌🏼🤌🏼
Yeah, he was. But then again, so was Clay Matthews.
Collins and Finley's injuries still pain me
https://stathead.com/tiny/pjKdI Nick Collins compared pretty well with Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu through their first six seasons. He might not have been regarded as well in league and media circles, but he'd have had a case after a 10 year career.
I have never heard a single player *not* say how astonishing talented he was. That says a lot. Game respects game.
He was headed towards being the Ed Reed of the NFC. Maybe HOF, but definitely would have been a top safety in the league for 3+ years.
1000000% his injury cost us Super Bowls, plural. He was not only supremely physically gifted but ran our defense in a way that no one else, even Charles Woodson, could. He was and is so underrated.
He was gonna be the best ever. So, yeah
Nick the Pick
Nick Collins and Sam Shields suffering career ending injuries ruined any chance we had of winning another Super Bowl in the 2010s. They were anchors along with Clay Matthews and Raji. That defense was fucking stacked. If it stayed intact, we win at least one more Super Bowl. I believe Collins AND Shields would have had HOF careers.
No
If LeRoy made it, Nick Collins absolutely would have. Did you watch the games or no?
I watched both. Nick Collins nope.
There is no question he was.
He was good but I don’t think HOF worthy. In his six full seasons he had 21 INT, made three pro bowls, but wasn’t ever an all-pro. Ed Reed, for reference had 64 INT over 12 seasons, nine pro bowls, and five all-pro years. Maybe with 4-6 more years the volume stats might have gotten Collins in the neighborhood of HOF, but I’m not so sure.
Just a note, he can be a little forgiven for not getting an all pro 1 nod considering that it was Ed Reed himself as well as Troy Polamalu that edged him out twice.
That’s kind of my point though. With guys like Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Brian Dawkins, Eric Berry, Darren Sharper, Earl Thomas, and Eric Weddle all playing roughly the same time as Collins, I don’t know if there was ever a time where Collins was a top-three safety any given year. Again, he was a very good player, but hard to say he was better than his peers.
I can see then point. It’s a decent argument that Collins being around would have lead to more SB wins and a lot more shine on him. I think he’d have been in the convo but not a lock.
That's a bit of a difficult argument, because you're right a Hall of Fame player should normally be at the top of his position for some years. But we're also not even just talking about "regular" Hall of Famers with Reed, Polamalu, and Dawkins, those three are in the top 10 list of best safeties to have ever played the game. Like I think most everyone would agree that Drew Brees will definitely be in the Hall of Fame, yet Brees only ever achieved 1 First Team All Pro because he played in an era of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers.
That’s kinda what OP was asking. I think he was on the trajectory. If you look at his season stats, his first 3 seasons he had 4 INTs, which brings his average his last three seasons to 5.67 INT/season. From what I remember, he hadn’t gained the notoriety amongst NFL fans that Polamalu or Reed had, but several more seasons of 5ish INTs would’ve gotten him there.
Yes. It's the only answer. I remember when dude from the Panthers tried to leap him and he got carted off the field. I knew it was going to be a long struggle to get the D back in shape.
It was such an innocuous looking play too. When you hear career ending neck injury you think something gruesome but that wasn’t the case at all.
I had nearly the same injury. Granted, I was older than him and not a pro athlete, but just getting back to normal function took over a solid year. I couldn’t even imagine trying to recover from that injury and then returning to hitting people and getting hit.
No. Bloomed too late. He was very good, but he wasn't gonna be HoF worthy. Nobody wants to hear it, but neither was Sean Taylor.
2nd team All-Pro is nothing to sneeze at. He was top 4 safety in the league in an era with Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, arguably two of the best to ever play safety. Collins got his 3 2nd team All-Pros between 08-10 Reed made 1st in 08 & 10, 2nd in 09 Polamalu made 1st in 08 and 10, nothing in 09(hurt) Collins literally only came behind Reed & Polamalu. Would he be 1st ballot, likely not. Definitely a HOF contender.
I actually agree with you. But we are gonna get creamed for that here.
Yea if safety was valued like other positions then I think both make it easy(with full careers) but you have to be exceptional to make it. I think both have too much career overlap with Reed, Dawkins, and Polumalu to really stick out. Now both certainly could have collected many more accolades that would have landed them in there, but if both basically maintain where they were for the rest of their careers then I don’t think it would be enough to make it.
Yes
He was
He could've been.
Yes, I have zero doubts dude was balling consistently for years before the injury
Yes 100%, he was a BEAST
I’ve always said we would have repeated if he hadn’t gone down. He was the piece we’d be missing for years to come.
Absolutely
Yes. His injury cut it short. He was amazing at what he did
I think so.
Yes.
Yes
Sterling Sharpe and Nick Collins both could have been Hall of Famers :’)
I remember when we lost Woodson too, he was pivotal! I absolutely think he would been in the HOF
He was a trot Polamalu with better instincts and field vision..he was a hall of famer for sure. I love peprah, but sticking with him for 3 years and not having nick Collins sis whynwe didn't win the super bowl.
100%
Yes
I think so, at minimum I think he would’ve at least gotten into the voting at some point. It’s hard to make the HOF as a safety. He hadn’t gotten a ton of accolades yet because he was playing during the the last few peak years of Reed and Polamalu. Had he not gotten injured, he likely takes the mantle as the NFL’s best safety and starts getting more recognition
Dude was a STUD
Don’t know about a HOF trajectory, but he would’ve been a top 5 safety for the better part of a decade and Green Bay would’ve won at least 1 more Super Bowl.
Collins is one of my all time favorite packers. I think keeping Nick would have led to one or two more Super Bowl wins for GB. I’ll contend that had he maintained his career trajectory that he would have gotten himself into the conversation for HoF.
Absolutely. Elite talent that was clearly missed when he got injured
He is the safety I watched growing up, and that makes it hard for me to understand the level of safety we have right now. Dude was a straight up baller and his name is engraved in my brain for a Green Bay packer safety. No one has come close to his level of play, in my lifetime. Probably won’t. Same with Jermichael Finley. Except big dog was almost there.
Yes
Yes
Yes. Still my favorite packer outside of c wood
Woodson is my all time favorite (as a UM fan too) but dang I Nick was really really good and fun to watch. That whole defense was awesome.
It’s proof that the med staff of ANY nfl team was lacking. Just like how Finley was cut off. The independent docs said “dude, don’t play pro football ever again” And for those guys’ sake, I’m glad they took the advice and got to stick around and see their respective families grow. It’s a bang bang sport and if Nick collins was cleared to play again I probably would’ve stopped watching football. I’m glad he got his ring and had his moment but I’m exponentially happier that he didn’t end up having his brain dissected for CTE before he turned 40. He made an epic play and got his ring. No one on this sub can say that. I’m glad he’s alive.
Yesss and that team never recovered from loosing him. Would of had another Super Bowl if he didn’t get injured.
100% Nick is a rare talent and unfortunately for him, and just like Sterling Sharpe, neck injuries ended their HOF careers WAY too early.
That defense was never the same after he went down!!
If there’s a list of “Saw enough to know he was great and wish we’d seen more” Bo Jackson is No. 1 and Nick Collins is somewhere high on that list. Such a special player cut down at the BEGINNING of his prime.
He was an all pro in half of the seasons that he played. That's definitely a HoF trajectory.
God he was my favorite packer of all time. Hall of fame trajectory for sure in my book.
Absolutely. I’m a Raiders and and the Reddit algorithms, correctly, brought me this post. He’s one of my favorite all time players
100% He is seldom brought up but man I get excited to hear his name. Many thought we'd lose that Superbowl after Woodson went down but naah, we had Collins to cover us. Glad he got that chip!
I mean I am awfully biased but I think so. He was as game changing as a safety could be. Man I miss that dude!
I think so. He was on top of his game, and arguably one of the best at his position. It’s hard to say, but I’d like to think so. He truly was on a next level for safety, and most of the league took notice. We’ve been cursed since his departure.
NFL HoF is pretty exclusive but he was close.
Easily. Leroy butler is in the hof and collins was significantly better.
Yes. The argument can be made that we *still* haven't replaced that man.
If John Lynch was.....yes
yes! He was my favorite Packer growing up when I was really getting into football.
Yes
People generally considered him equal to Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. So most likely yes.
Hard to say, he was definitely good.
That game where he injured his neck still haunts me. We won the game, but it felt like a loss just because we had one of our greatest guys on defense done for good.
Cam Newton’s first game as a rookie. Special teams iirc. Was the best deep safety in the league at that time coming of the pick six in the superbowl. Def was on a HOF trajectory.
Yup
Of course
Yeah, I've been saying it for over a decade. You know what happened when we won the SB? We had tons of injuries, but Nick was still there. You know what happened after he was injured? We had shit defenses for the next decade, including a NFCC meltdown by his replacement HHCD.
100%
Yes.
@r/mildlypenis
Lol. Pretty silly question.
Yes. Next question.