In this Jan. 2, 2011, file photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins throws during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, in Indianapolis. Collins, formerly of Penn State and the New York Giants, went from saying he felt he had two more good years left him in as an NFL quarterback to announcing his retirement, Thursday, July 7, 2011, after 16 seasons. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)By Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
NASHVILLE – Kerry Collins thought about calling it quits at the end of last season only to give himself plenty of time before finally announcing his unexpected retirement earlier this month.
In the end, going out on his own terms mattered most to a 38-year-old quarterback still eager to play on Sunday but not ready for all the other work anymore.
“I didn’t win a Super Bowl, and that is going to be one of the things that bugs me, I know it will,” Collins said Wednesday in his first public comments to four reporters.
“But when I sit here and look back at the age of 38, I played 16 years and I had kind of a rough start but I am proud of the way I came back from that and the things I accomplished over the years. There will be parts of it that I will miss, but I don’t think I’ll ever regret the decision I made.”