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:


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Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Who?
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
beast (21-Mar) : Unsigned FA QB Rodgers is supposedly in the Steelers building
Martha Careful (19-Mar) : But I don't own a car! So can I still use it in my apartment?
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : btw, new site auto updates
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : Woohoo!
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