Gary Collins (American football)

  • 2 × Pro Bowl selection (1965, 1966)
  • 4 × All-Pro selection ( 1965-1967, 1969)
  • NFL 1960s All- Decade Team
  • Maryland Athletics Walk of Fame (1997)
  • Cleveland Browns Legends ( 2004)
  • NFL Champion (1964 )

Gary James Collins ( born August 20, 1940 in Williamstown, Pennsylvania) is an American former American football player. He played in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Cleveland Browns as a wide receiver and punter.

Playing career

College career

Gary Collins studied from 1959 to 1961 at the University of Maryland. He played football for the " Maryland Terrapins " as a wide receiver and punter. In all three years of study, he was honored by his college because of his athletic achievements. Collins was during his studies of the statistically best wide receiver of his team. The number of caught touchdown passes he is still # 4 on the leaderboard his college.

Professional career

Collins was drafted in 1962 by the Cleveland Browns in the first round in fourth place. The Boston Patriots who played in the NFL competition league American Football League ( AFL) attracted him in the AFL Draft in the first round in sixth place. Gary Collins decided to accept the offer of the Browns. The undisputed star player the Browns was fullback Jim Brown. In team but were also other key performers, like the later members in the Pro Football Hall of Famer Lou Groza and Gene Hickerson.

Collins came mainly in his rookie season as a punter for use as a wide receiver, he was the coach of the Browns Blanton Collier at first only the second choice. In 1963, he managed to establish itself as a starter on offense the Browns. He could achieve the Ligabestleistung of 13 caught touchdown passes.

In 1964, the Browns were able to amplify well with the running back Leroy Kelly and the wide receiver Paul Warfield and Collins succeeded with his team in the NFL Championship Game against the Baltimore Colts recovered. In the final, he was repeatedly set by quarterback Frank Ryan in scene. In five catches pass he scored a space gain of 130 yards. With three scored touchdowns he was instrumental in the success of his team. The following year, the Browns came to defend their title in the final against the Green Bay Packers. Also in this game, he scored a touchdown, but it was unable to prevent the defeat of his team 23:12 against the Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi. After a serious shoulder injury, Collins was the 1968 season contest only in part. In the final defeat of his team against the Packers in the same year he was not a factor. 1969 moved the Browns again in the NFC Championship Game. When 27:7 defeat of his team, he scored the only touchdown. After the Browns had tried over the 1971 season Collins leave to another team, he ended his career.

After the career

Gary Collins was forgotten despite his individual achievements for a long time. Only after he has shown himself disappointed by the behavior of club officials in 2003 in an interview that he was honored by the Browns in 2004. Gary Collins worked after his playing career as an insurance agent in Hershey.

Honors

Collins played twice in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. He was elected four times to the All- Pro and is a member of the NFL 1960s All- Decade Team and will be honored at the Maryland Athletics Walk of Fame.

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