Rather than take a chance on putting Nick Collins back on the field and seeing
Mark Murphy
him get hurt, the Green Bay Packers chose to cut ties with Collins, releasing him on Wednesday after seven seasons with the Packers.
AUDIO: President & CEO Mark Murphy on releasing Nick Collins :22
Collins suffered a herniated disk in his neck and underwent single-level cervical fusion surgery. Following a lengthy rehab, some specialists thought Collins could play again with risking injury. But the Packers and their doctors felt the risk was too great and decided they didn’t want to be a party to something bad happening.
The 29-year-old Collins hasn’t made a final decision on whether he is going to try to play in the NFL again.
AUDIO: Mark Murphy says if Collins doesn’t come back, he’ll get some cash :21
Collins can now sign with any team around the league. It’s not certain if any other NFL teams will take a chance on him.
Collins started all 95 games he played in since being taken in the second round of the 2005 draft. He intercepted 21 passes and returned four of them for touchdowns.
Collins became the second core player released in the last few days. Chad Clifton was let go on Monday after 12 seasons in the NFL.
The two moves combined will save the Packers more than $8.5-million in salary cap space.
*** I’ll be the Packers Draft Headquarters at Lambeau Field tonight and Friday night. I’ll have the Packers selections, reaction from the Packers on their choices, audio, photo’s and more. The Draft starts at 7pm tonight with rounds 2 and 3 starting at 6pm on Friday night.