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The Tennessee Titans on Monday reached an agreement in principle with free-agent quarterback Kerry Collins, a move that could dramatically alter the team's depth chart by the start of the season.
Released by the Oakland Raiders earlier this spring, Collins, 33, was expected to arrive in Nashville on Monday for a physical examination. Details of the agreement, some of which remained to be worked out, were not immediately available.
ESPN.com previously reported that the Titans, who had a brief flirtation with Collins earlier in the offseason but backed off signing him at the time, had rekindled their interest, and that a few other teams were considering him as well. The Tennessean of Nashville reported Sunday night on its Web site that discussions between the Titans and Collins accelerated over the weekend.
While it is unclear what role Collins will play, he is expected to challenge for the starting job once he is able to assimilate the offense. Collins had indicated in the offseason, when there was much speculation about his future, that he would probably only resume his career if there was a team willing to provide him a chance for playing time.
At one point in the offseason, Collins considered retirement.
It is unusual for a team to bring in a potential starting quarterback so close to the start of the season, but the Tennessee offense has struggled under the stewardship of current starter Billy Volek, and it is obvious that first-round draft choice Vince Young is not ready yet to assume the No. 1 job. Volek has been a backup his entire six-year career, but moved to the top of the depth chart when the Titans traded Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens.
Ironically, the Ravens were a team that considered signing Collins before they acquired McNair, who has supplanted Kyle Boller as their starter.
Regarded as one of the NFL's top backup quarterbacks, Volek, 30, is 3-7 in 10 career starts. In his starts, the former Fresno State standout has four games of 250-plus passing yards and in 2004 posted consecutive 400-yard outings. But there have been rumors for much of training camp that Volek was struggling and that some members of the coaching staff were not sold on him as the starter.
It will be interesting, assuming the deal with Collins is completed, to see how the Tennessee staff handles the quarterback situation with less than two weeks until the Titans open the regular season.
Tennessee would be Collins' fifth different NFL team. He began his career as a first-round choice of the Carolina Panthers in 1995 and played three seasons there before he was released in 1998 after apprising the team that his heart was no longer in the game. In addition to the Panthers, he has played with New Orleans (1998), the New York Giants (1999-2003) and Oakland (2004-2005).
The former Penn State star led Carolina to an NFC championship game berth in 1996 and piloted the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV in 2000. He has appeared in 152 games, and started 145 of them, completing 2,826 of 5,082 passes for 33,637 yards, with 173 touchdown passes and 166 interceptions. Collins has thrown for over 3,000 yards in each of the last six seasons.
Collins is 66-79 record as a starter.
Released by the Oakland Raiders earlier this spring, Collins, 33, was expected to arrive in Nashville on Monday for a physical examination. Details of the agreement, some of which remained to be worked out, were not immediately available.
ESPN.com previously reported that the Titans, who had a brief flirtation with Collins earlier in the offseason but backed off signing him at the time, had rekindled their interest, and that a few other teams were considering him as well. The Tennessean of Nashville reported Sunday night on its Web site that discussions between the Titans and Collins accelerated over the weekend.
While it is unclear what role Collins will play, he is expected to challenge for the starting job once he is able to assimilate the offense. Collins had indicated in the offseason, when there was much speculation about his future, that he would probably only resume his career if there was a team willing to provide him a chance for playing time.
At one point in the offseason, Collins considered retirement.
It is unusual for a team to bring in a potential starting quarterback so close to the start of the season, but the Tennessee offense has struggled under the stewardship of current starter Billy Volek, and it is obvious that first-round draft choice Vince Young is not ready yet to assume the No. 1 job. Volek has been a backup his entire six-year career, but moved to the top of the depth chart when the Titans traded Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens.
Ironically, the Ravens were a team that considered signing Collins before they acquired McNair, who has supplanted Kyle Boller as their starter.
Regarded as one of the NFL's top backup quarterbacks, Volek, 30, is 3-7 in 10 career starts. In his starts, the former Fresno State standout has four games of 250-plus passing yards and in 2004 posted consecutive 400-yard outings. But there have been rumors for much of training camp that Volek was struggling and that some members of the coaching staff were not sold on him as the starter.
It will be interesting, assuming the deal with Collins is completed, to see how the Tennessee staff handles the quarterback situation with less than two weeks until the Titans open the regular season.
Tennessee would be Collins' fifth different NFL team. He began his career as a first-round choice of the Carolina Panthers in 1995 and played three seasons there before he was released in 1998 after apprising the team that his heart was no longer in the game. In addition to the Panthers, he has played with New Orleans (1998), the New York Giants (1999-2003) and Oakland (2004-2005).
The former Penn State star led Carolina to an NFC championship game berth in 1996 and piloted the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV in 2000. He has appeared in 152 games, and started 145 of them, completing 2,826 of 5,082 passes for 33,637 yards, with 173 touchdown passes and 166 interceptions. Collins has thrown for over 3,000 yards in each of the last six seasons.
Collins is 66-79 record as a starter.
