Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/news_items_more.php?id=5567§ion_id=40 

ARLINGTON, Texas Nick Collins looked lonely.

It was Wednesday morning, and Collins, the Green Bay Packers three-time Pro Bowl safety, found himself all alone at a small table inside the restaurant at the Omni Mandalay hotel at Las Colinas, reading USA Today. While the Super Bowl XLV media throng swarmed table after table, there sat Collins, thumbing through the sports section.

I get no respect around here, he said with a big smile. But its OK. Everybody will see me one day.

That day was Sunday.

Collins 37-yard first-quarter pick-six interception return for a touchdown created a tidal wave of momentum that, while the Packers werent able to sustain it through yet another rash of injuries, certainly helped lift them to their 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium.

Collins touchdown, which came 18 seconds after the Packers first touchdown and gave Green Bay a 14-0 lead, was the first of three turnovers the Packers defense forced. The offense turned the other two into touchdowns as well, giving the Packers 21 points off turnovers

All this while his more famous safety counterpart, the NFLs new Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu, was being beaten for a pair of touchdowns by Greg Jennings.

I dont appreciate (being less recognizable than Polamalu), but I accept it, Collins said that Wednesday morning after putting down his newspaper. Like I said before, one day somebody will recognize that Im a three-time Pro Bowler. But its all good. I might need to change my image. I need to do something. But Im me. I love what I do. So Im going to stick to what I know and what Ive had a lot of success doing.

In the Packers scheme, that means playing mostly in coverage and serving as the last line of defense. On his interception, Collins took advantage of defensive end Howard Greens hit on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and claimed the fluttering pass intended for Mike Wallace before weaving his way to the end zone for the score, his fifth career interception return for a touchdown but first since 2008, when he had three in the regular season.

I was able to read Big Ben and got a nice jump on the ball, Collins said. I made a couple cuts to get into the end zone. I was a high-school running back, so I know what to do when the ball is in my hands. I was just reading Bens eyes. When I saw it floating up there, I just wanted to make sure that I caught it.

Collins was just as important the rest of the night, as injuries to Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson (broken collarbone) and nickelback Sam Shields (shoulder) left him in charge of a secondary that was forced to play dime back Jarrett Bush as the No. 2 corner and little-used backup Pat Lee as the nickel along with Pro Bowler Tramon Williams.

Nevertheless, Bush, who delivered a second-quarter interception that the Packers also turned into points, and Lee were able to get the job done, in part because they had Collins directing traffic in the back end. The Packers third takeaway, a fumble forced by Clay Matthews and recovered by Desmond Bishop, led to the teams final touchdown.

Thats been one of the keys to our run in the playoffs, being able to take the ball away, said defensive coordinator Dom Capers, whose team finished its four-game playoff run having forced 11 turnovers while the team gave it away just five times. If you look at the playoffs and you look at these Super Bowl games, the things that affect them the most are the takeaways-giveaways. That had a big impact on this game.

That it did, and it was the relatively anonymous Collins who got it all started. Afterward, he called the interception the highlight of my day and winning the Super Bowl title a dream come true. But maybe itll turn out to be more than that.

On Thursday, inside the same hotel restaurant, Collins was seen at another table as hed been the day before. Only this time, there was a crowd there. Later, when the media session ended, someone mentioned to Collins that his table had looked much busier than it had the day before. Collins just laughed.

That wasnt for me, he said, shaking his head. I was sharing the table with Tramon. Everybody wanted to talk to him.

On Sunday night, though, it was Collins who was the talk of the town.

"Jason Wilde" wrote:


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
dfosterf (1h) : Apparently it is too complicated for several to follow your simple instructions, but I digress
dfosterf (1h) : Zero- Did you see what I posted about Voice of Reason and his wife? She posted over at fleaflicker that they are both "In"
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Well, not crazy, it makes sense. Crazy I didn't notice/find it earlier
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : it's crazy how one stored procedure to get data bogged everything down for speed here
dfosterf (7-Aug) : to herd cats or goldfish without a bowl. They reminded me of the annual assembly of our fantasy league
dfosterf (7-Aug) : out on a field trip, outfitting them with little yellow smocks. Most of the little folk were well behaved, but several were like trying
dfosterf (7-Aug) : Yesterday my wife and I spent the afternoon on the waterfront here in Alexandria, Va. A daycare company took about 15 three/four year olds
wpr (7-Aug) : seems faster. yay
dfosterf (7-Aug) : Wife of reason posted on the in/out thread on fleaflicker that both she and vor are in
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : This page was generated in 0.135 seconds.
Mucky Tundra (7-Aug) : Tbh, I can never tell the difference in speed unless it's completely shitting the bed
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Sure does feel like site is more snappy
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : I thought that was the Lions OL
Mucky Tundra (6-Aug) : Travis Glover placed on IR; seasons over for him
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : found bad sql in database, maybe site faster now?
dfosterf (5-Aug) : I'm going to call that a good move.
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Packers sign CB Corey Ballentine
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : I'm not sure how to kill the draft order just yet so it's not so confusing.
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : *to be able
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : and because it's not a dynasty league (which makes a lot more sense to be ability to trade picks)
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Oh I know; I was just exploring and it blew my mind that you could trade picks because of the whole reordering thing
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Zero, I think I preferred my offer: your 1st for my 15th rounder
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Keep in mind, we do a draft reorder once all members locked in
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : You can have my 12th Rd for your 2nd round
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Hey i didn't know we could trade picks in fantasy
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Update: Rock has tried a cheese curd, promises it's not his last
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : watch it!! lol
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : you're right, we never did leave, the site just went down :P
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Rock claims to have never eaten a cheese curd
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : We did not leave.
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Family Night! WE ARE SO BACK!
Mucky Tundra (2-Aug) : To this day, I'm still miffed about his 4 TD game against Dallas on Thanksgiving going to waste
Martha Careful (2-Aug) : Congratulations Sterling Sharpe. He was terrific and I loved watching him play.
beast (2-Aug) : I believe it's technically against the CBA rules, but Jerry just calls it a simple unofficial chat... and somehow gets away with it.
beast (2-Aug) : Jerry Jones is infamous for ̶n̶e̶g̶o̶t̶i̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ chatting with players one on one... and going around the agent.
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Oo just saw a blurb saying that Dallas negotiated directly with Parsons and not through his agent
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I assumed that both guys will get paid, just a matter of when or how we get there
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : McLaurin nor Micah going anywhere. They will get money
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : the Synder years or do they take care of one of their own?
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Do the Commanders risk losing a top WR with an emerging QB just because he's turning 30 and potentially risk damaging the rebuild from
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Turns 30 this September, plays at a high level and Washington has some cap space I believe
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : More interesting is Washington with Terry McLaurin
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I would imagine Dallas will resolve this issue with a truckload of money
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : Micah pulling a Myles with trade request
beast (1-Aug) : Packers should make some cheese forks
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : GRAB THE PITCHFORKS~
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : CUT HIM
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : Socieltal collapse imminent
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : The West has fallen
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : After starting off camp with 25 straight made field goals, Brandon McManus has missed one
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
32m / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

1h / Fantasy Sports Talk / packerfanoutwest

7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

17h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

5-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

4-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

3-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

3-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

3-Aug / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / Zero2Cool

2-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

2-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

28-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

28-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

28-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.