Railbird Central Podcast: The Nick Collins Ship Has Sailed

Railbird Central investigates the odds that the former Packers safety returns to Green Bay.

Episode 358

Coming on the heels of Nick Collins expressing his desire to return to football, we discuss the potential of the former Pro Bowl safety returning to Green Bay in spite of his neck injury. Spoiler alert, the odds aren't good. Then we get into Peter King's recent comments that the Packers will draft a tackle with one of their first two selections.

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Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America" and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (20)

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David's picture

February 05, 2014 at 01:01 pm

I wouldn't be so hasty. With the Packers defense in shambles, beggars can't be choosy. Why not take a chance?

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Chad Lundberg's picture

February 05, 2014 at 01:14 pm

Collins career may be over, but how do we honestly know unless he is given a physical??? Are the opponents of this idea gonna say that he may be re-injured if the Packers just take a look at him? What could possibly be the harm in just checking? His cyst might be gone by now.

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Stroh's picture

February 05, 2014 at 07:52 pm

Other teams could easily request his medical charts and talk to his surgeon. Its pretty telling that none have even bothered to contact Collins to get a look at his medical charts or give him a physical.

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William Serrano's picture

February 05, 2014 at 01:24 pm

I wouldnt say his career is over last i checked the packers brought back sean Richardson, didnt they have the same surgery? If so then why would we rule collins as not a possibility. Mike McCarthy already said he would want to work him out.

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Evan's picture

February 05, 2014 at 01:45 pm

Similar, but not the same. Richardson has C5 and C6 vertebrae fused. Collins has C3 and C4 (higher up the neck).

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Stroh's picture

February 05, 2014 at 07:50 pm

Higher up the neck the more serious. Pretty sure Collins might be a quadriplegic if he got hit again. Farther down is always better. Higher up the vertebral column is progressively worse.

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Hank Scorpio's picture

February 05, 2014 at 01:27 pm

Jason Wilde talked to Collins' agent, who was unaware of any change in his medical condition.

And, oh, BTW, those Collins' tweets came out when he was vacationing in the Caribbean with James Jones and Tramon Williams. I think there is a fair chance that those 2 put Collins up to it as a prank, or were just talking about how great it would be to have him back.

I think there is a chance Collins plays but it is about the same odds as Lloyd Christmas getting together with Mary Swanson.

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Uncle Louie's picture

February 05, 2014 at 01:41 pm

If he get clearance from Packer doctors, his odds as good as Betty Smith marrying John Crocker. Meet Mrs. Betty Crocker.

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joshywoshybigfatposhy's picture

February 05, 2014 at 02:05 pm

i'll humor you...

so you're sayin' there's a chance!

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Phatgzus's picture

February 05, 2014 at 02:20 pm

Aww, you beat me to it, touché.
So very happy the sequel will be out soon.

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RC Packer Fan's picture

February 05, 2014 at 04:20 pm

Can't wait for it.

I'm wondering if Lloyd and Harry's store "I've Got Worms" ever got going.

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Idiot Fan's picture

February 06, 2014 at 04:03 pm

Killer boots man!

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Hank Scorpio's picture

February 05, 2014 at 03:02 pm

Wilde has tweeted that he talked to Collins directly today. So I'm sure there will be a story up at ESPN Wisconsin soon.

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Hank Scorpio's picture

February 05, 2014 at 04:15 pm

Here is the Wilde story after talking to Collins. There are a lot of quotes in there.

http://www.espnwisconsin.com/common/page.php?feed=2&id=13011&is_...

I can't say I know a thing about the medical side. Wilde sort of makes it sound like McKenzie failed him permanently. Is that right? Or am I reading too much into it?

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Stroh's picture

February 05, 2014 at 07:44 pm

I don't doubt that McKenzie failed him and won't clear him to ever play again. But a Cervical fusion that high up the neck is extremely serious. If he gets hit and has an issue he won't just need surgery he'll likely be a quadriplegic (no movement in the arms or legs).

Everyone knows the Packers medical staff is very cautious, but its telling that other teams haven't even contacted him to get a look at his medical charts and give him a physical.

I was talking to a Bronco's fan they were saying Manning is probably going to need another neck surgery isn't going to be cleared to play again. They seem to think that Manning is going to be forced to retire. His arm strength was clearly affected by his recurring neck issue.

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Michael Gentry's picture

February 05, 2014 at 06:21 pm

Whether Nick Collins plays or not and had he not got hurt he would have been a first ballot hall of farmer and he is as is in my book.

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Stroh's picture

February 05, 2014 at 07:46 pm

He won't make the NFL HOF, but he will be in the Packer HOF for sure. He didn't play long enough or great enough to make Canton. If he continued to play the level he was at for another 5-7 yrs he might have made Canton.

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Phatgzus's picture

February 05, 2014 at 10:07 pm

Absolutely agreed.

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Phatgzus's picture

February 05, 2014 at 10:06 pm

Sterling Sharpe all over again, though Sterling was a stinger much like Finley, but YOTTOMan isn't nearly on the same level as those two were. What could've been, sigh-it's always a shame when an electrifying player gets his career cut short (Sayers, Jackson) no matter who he played for.

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Calabasa's picture

February 06, 2014 at 12:36 am

"A few years later, I know that Richardson, another safety, they cleared him for contact not too long ago. But I think it became more about how close we were, they looked at me as family and really didn’t want to take that chance."

That's Collins talking. Saying the organization cleared SR because his life isn't as important to them as Collins'.

WTF is up with Packers I previously liked turning a-hole and talking smack? Jennings, Favre, Woodson?!

I guess that reinforces my opinion- for the most part, these are the jocks from High School.

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