Kim Klement USA Today Sports
In professional sports, there are underdogs and long shots, and then there is Nate Collins.
Since entering the NFL in 2010 with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Virginia, Collins hasn’t amassed much time on an professional football field. Thus far, Collins’ biggest contribution to the league is the clothing line Young Whales, which he started with than teammate and Salsa dancing aficionado, Victor Cruz.
For the Chicago Bears, Collins has been nothing more than a situational/emergency defensive tackle. For the 2012 season, he finished the year with six total tackles, five of whom were assisted. At 6-foot-2 and 296 pounds, Collins is a load of a man that one would assume would have the tenacity and physical strength to break the pocket and harass opposing team’s quarterbacks.
However, in his four years and three stops around the league, Collins has yet to prove himself to the team’s defensive staff.
Now entering into his second season as a member of the Bears and with so many proven veteran D tackles on the roster such as Henry Melton and Stephen Paea, what will it take for Collins to break into the D-line rotation and possibility the starting lineup?
Lots of blood, sweat and tears on the part of Collins couldn’t hurt his cause, as well as him seeking out a Village Shaman who can ultimately prescribe him a combination of ginseng root and Gummy Berry Juice before the start of training camp in order for him to make that quantum leap into the starting lineup.
There are currently eight defensive tackles on the team’s roster going into training camp, with the organization bringing in free agent tackle Sedrick Ellis, from the New Orleans Saints, as well as several rookies at the position, Zach Minter, Brent Russell and Christian Tupou.
So if Collins wants sustained playing time those are the players that he must first beat out in order to see the field this season.
M. Quann Boyd is a writer for www.RantSports.com Follow him on Twitter @MQuannBoyd. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
