Collins to sign with Oakland this week

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1807345

It appears that Kerry Collins' short visit to the unemployment line is about to end.



Gannon


Collins



Released by the New York Giants on April 28, only four days after the club acquired Eli Manning in a blockbuster draft day trade, the nine-year veteran quarterback is poised to sign with the Oakland Raiders later this week, various sources told ESPN.com.


The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Collins, 31, has agreed to a deal with the Raiders. Several sources to whom ESPN.com spoke over the last few days, said that there remains work to be done before the understanding between Collins and the club can even be termed an agreement "in principle." That said, all agreed that Collins made a verbal commitment to Oakland and that a deal will be in place this week.


How the addition of Collins affects incumbent starter Rich Gannon, the league's most valuable player in 2002 but sidelined for all but seven games last season by a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, remains to be seen.


Gannon is due a $7 million base salary and has a steep salary cap charge of $8.928 million. The Daily News reports that while the Raiders could try to restructure his deal, it is more likely Gannon will be released.


One source close to negotiations with Collins allowed that the two sides are "moving pretty steadily" toward an agreement and that "nothing is going to queer the deal." Said one source from another team that had demonstrated interest in Collins: "The handwriting is on the wall. They've just got to get it on paper now."


The contract will essentially be for three years although, given Oakland's penchant for stretching out deals to minimize salary cap impact, it could appear longer when filed with the league office. Collins will earn at least $4 million annually for the three years.


The structure of the deal is not known, so it's unclear if Collins will even approximate the $7 million he was to have made with the Giants in 2004. He could have remained in New York and received all that money, although distributed differently, but clearly was miffed when the Giants acquired Manning.


Basically, in a meeting with general manager Ernie Accorsi to discuss his future with the club, Collins forced a decision and his ouster quickly followed.


Collins visited recently with Oakland officials and is believed to have rejected a two-year offer that would have paid him backup-type money. But he revisited the situation with the Raiders after realizing that Oakland offered the best opportunity among his very few realistic options.


Last week, Collins canceled a two-day trip to Green Bay, and Packers officials actually believed it was because he was close to a deal with the Ravens. Baltimore offered Collins a one-year contract, and a chance to back up second-year veteran Kyle Boller, late last week, after the Ravens learned that No. 2 quarterback Anthony Wright will need shoulder surgery to correct at least a partially torn labrum.


That surgery, which will occur Monday, could sideline Wright the entire season. But the Ravens emphasized to Collins that Boller is their unchallenged starter and that he would not have an opportunity to oust him in camp. The only attractive element to the Ravens' offer is that it would have allowed Collins to go into the unrestricted free agent market again next March.


The opportunity with the Raiders, though, was too good to pass up, especially after the team raised its contract proposal. At worst, Collins will compete with Gannon for the starting job. More realistically, if Gannon continues to balk at reducing his salary, the Raiders will release him and Collins will move to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.


Known for his strong arm and ability to get the ball up the field, Collins figures to be a very good fit for the offense being installed by new coach Norv Turner and coordinator Jimmy Raye. Both men prefer a vertical passing game, as does Raiders owner Al Davis, rooted in a powerful inside running attack.


In nine NFL seasons, Collins has started 117 of 123 games, in stints with Carolina (1995-98), New Orleans (1998) and the Giants (1999-2003).


Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.


The Raiders have to be approaching Salary Cap Hell soon don't they? That is a hell of a hit to take if Gannon is just released. I don't think the is a bad move for Collins, thought the youth along their offensive line may cause more of those imfamous Collins fumbles

[SFL Cat]

Me thinks Rich Gannon has seen his last days in the silver and black.

[IMetTrentGreen]

good signing for them. gannon will be this years jeff garcia, a short passing qb stuck in a deep passing system. collins is a top 10 qb when he gets protection. they will still need some faster recievers though

[cthomer5000]

Gannon could really only be heading to New York or Tampa. But Tampa has so many QB's I don't see how it would be possible.

[Desnudo]

What a perfect fit.

[Philliesfan980]

Good job by Collins not to bite at the Green Bay offer earlier in the week. It seems that Farve might be one of those guys who plays until he's 40.

In Oakland , he has a better than average chance of starting this year.

[Arles]

From a GB perspective, I could never understand their interest in Collins. He wasn't going to sign longer than a 2 year deal. And, given Favre will probably play through 2005, the only reason to add him would be as a nice backup. But, given Favre hasn't missed a start in a decade, I don't see how GB could afford to pay him the money he would have wanted (even to be a backup).

[judicial clerk]

can they keep em both?

[WSUCougar]

I don't know why the Packers and Couch don't get married. It seems a good fit.

[digamma]

The Giants signed Kittner, which means the Bachelor may be looking for a job also.

[Franklinnoble]

Am I the only one who thinks Collins is overrated?

Not that Gannon was any better - but the Raiders still have lots of problems, and Kerry Collins isn't the solution they need. I think the money would be better spent elsewhere.

[pennywisesb]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Am I the only one who thinks Collins is overrated?

Not that Gannon was any better - but the Raiders still have lots of problems, and Kerry Collins isn't the solution they need. I think the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Did you happen to see how terrible the Raiders were last year without a decent QB? I know I sure did, and Gannon is not a sure thing anymore now that he's 38 and had major shoulder surgery. I think Collins will be a great upgrade, and the only other area that I think the Raiders need to upgrade at is WR, but how can they cut Mr. Silver and Black himself Tim Brown? I kinda just wish he would retire, but I love him to death.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Am I the only one who thinks Collins is overrated?

Not that Gannon was any better - but the Raiders still have lots of problems, and Kerry Collins isn't the solution they need. I think the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Collins will come much cheaper, is debateably as good or better than Gannon, much younger than Gannon, and a better fit for Norv Turners offense.

I don't see how this isn't a good move.

[Rhone Ranger]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Am I the only one who thinks Collins is overrated?

Nope.

I think Collins is solidly average. But like the other guys said, he's younger than Gannon and may be willing to play for less money.

Also, from what I can see, Gannon is a real type-A sort of personality, prone to a lot of shouting and throbbing veins in the forehead; not very likeable. And Collins seems nicer, more mellow, probably gets along with teammates better. So that may be good for a locker room that has had its problems lately.

[sabotai]

Luckily for the Raiders, all you need these days to win is a solidly average QB.

[judicial clerk]

I think that the move to bring in Collins might be a good decision, but it does not pump me up as a raider fan. I do like that Collins is younger than Gannon and will take a lower salary. I also am concerned b/c I don't know how good Gannon will be this year. What I do know is that Collins will not be as good as Gannon was just a couple of years ago. Gannon was an excellent decision maker on the field and he had the ability to run if the defense gave it to him. He also led by his actions and his competitive spirit. Those guys are so hard to find that I hat to see the Raiders give up on one.

Also, the Radiers problems are at half back and wide receiver, and Collins can't help us at either. I am hopeful that the emphasis the league is putting on restricting DB contact with receivers will help Rice and Brown to be effective. However, unless the league decides to also limit the amount of contact linebackers can have with ball carriers, the raiders are going to have a hard time moving the ball on the ground. Charlie Garner was a better running back then he got credit for and he is way better than any runningback on the raiders current roster. I was worried about the O-line, but the Raiders have taken some short term and long term steps to address this.

I guess I would like to see the Raiders keep both QBs for at least one year and let Collins compete for the starting job. If he actually is more effective than Gannon (which I doubt) then give him the job and trade/release gannon next year.

[Darkiller]

I've always liked Kerry Collins...I've always felt some sort of "sympathy" for him.
But -unfortunately- he now signs with the hated Oakland Raiders.

too bad.

I will have to root against him week in and week out now...

[RendeR]

Collins wa overrated in College, Collins was overrated in Carolina, New Orleans AND NY, he will be overrated in oakland as well. The raiders will never see the plus side of .500 with collins as their quarterback.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Collins wa overrated in College, Collins was overrated in Carolina, New Orleans AND NY, he will be overrated in oakland as well. The raiders will never see the plus side of .500 with collins as their quarterback.

I think they'll need a lot more than Collins, that's for sure.

Collins had problems earlier in his career due to alcoholism, but has supposedly recovered. I think he's a better long-term option than Gannon at this point, and he's cheaper than Gannon right now, so it's not a bad deal for the Raiders.

[SteelerFan448]

Originally Posted by digamma

The Giants signed Kittner, which means the Bachelor may be looking for a job also.

No way is Kittner better than Palmer.

But it is a good move for the Raiders. He is a better fit than Gannon in the new offensive system. Although, is it a for sure thing that the Raiders will release Gannon?

[judicial clerk]

According to ESPN, Gannon is going to stay and be the starter and Collins is going to be the backup until Gannon leaves. Apparently, both QB's are ok with the situation.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by judicial clerk

According to ESPN, Gannon is going to stay and be the starter and Collins is going to be the backup until Gannon leaves. Apparently, both QB's are ok with the situation.

Bah. I think that's what the Raiders are saying right now, but they WILL be asking Gannon to lower his cap number this year, and Gannon may not cooperate.

If Gannon doesn't lower his salary, he's gone. If he does, I think Collins will win the job in training camp, and Gannon will be pissed.