New York Giants: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time
By Curt Macysyn
31. . Quarterback. 1999-03. Kerry Collins. 2. player
- 81 touchdown passes for Giants
- Led team to berth in Super Bowl XXXV
- Passed for 4,073 yards in 2002
- League-leading five game-winning drives in 2002
Bringing veteran quarterback Kerry Collins to the Giants was an absolute gamble by general manager Ernie Accorsi. Back then, Accorsi was looking for stability at the position, but Collins career was derailed by alcohol problems that surfaced with his time with the Carolina Panthers.
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Thankfully, Collins turned his life and career around, as he was a solid, and sometimes spectacular starter for the Giants for five seasons.
The high point for him came, as he led the team to a berth in Super Bowl XXXV after the 2000 season.
That season, Collins went 12-4 as a starter, and he threw 22 touchdown passes in a successful campaign that was surprising to most pundits.
Unfortunately, the Giants lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-7 on the big stage, and the defeat undoubtedly removed some luster from an otherwise stellar season for the former Penn State star.
Overall, according to Pro Football Reference, Collins played in 71 games for the Giants, with 68 starts for the franchise. In his Giants career, Collins tossed 81 touchdown passes, and his strong arm was a clear attribute playing at the windy Meadowlands.
Most importantly, Collins stabilized the position for Accorsi and the G-Men after the team scuffled through the likes of Kent Graham, Dave Brown and Danny Kanell for several seasons. He provided an important bridge from the journeymen into the successful Eli Manning era.