Cardinals Claim Receiver Chris Collins; Release Riall Johnson

[Jim O]

Cardinals Claim Receiver Chris Collins; Release Riall Johnson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 16, 2004

Flagstaff, AZ – The Arizona Cardinals today announced that the team has claimed receiver CHRIS COLLINS off waivers and released defensive end RIALL JOHNSON.

A rookie free agent out of Mississippi, Collins was released late last week by the Minnesota Vikings. As a senior at Ole Miss last season, he led the Rebels in receiving with 77 catches for 949 yards and 7 touchdowns as a favorite target of quarterback Eli Manning.

Johnson signed with the Cardinals as a free agent on April 1, 2004. He spent the 2001-03 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Stanford.

- azcardinals.com -

 

[joeshmo]

Info on him for all interested.

http://www.nflfans.com/draft/2004/showplayer.php?key=Chris+Collins

"Pros: Collins is the perfect size for a wide receiver and can out jump some DBs for the ball. He runs great routes and is very reliable at catching the ball when it's needed most or making that touch catch in traffic.

Cons: Collins doesn't possess outstanding receiver speed that most starting NFL receivers have. He is not that strong nor that athletic and has trouble wrestling the ball away from DBs.
Draft Exchange Analysis:

Pro Day Update :

HEIGHT:6.00.7
WEIGHT:202
40 AVERAGE:4.67
SHORT SHUTTLE:4.24
LONG SHUTTLE:11.41
3 CONE:7.05
VERTICLE:37.0
LONG JUMP:10"2"

COMBINE UPDATE:

HEIGHT:6.00.1
WEIGHT:201
40 AVERAGE:4.67

Analysis prepared by Bryan Dietzler:

Collins had a pretty good career with the Bulldogs. He played as a true freshman and in his sophomore season caught 54 passes for 692 yards and six touchdowns. In his junior season, Collins completed the season as the teams leading receiver, catching 55 passes for 812 yards and ten touchdowns. Collin's senior season with the Bulldogs saw him catch 69 passes for 874 yards and seven touchdowns.

Collins size is his greatest attribute as well as his ability to run accurate routes. Collins also has an ability to maintain his speed when making a change in his route without having to slow down. Collins is also a pretty good blocker downfield and had a couple of crushing blocks this season.

On the downside, he doesn't posses blazing speed or a lot of athletic ability. He also has some trouble being able to jump high enough to catch a pass or out-leap some of the better defensive backs."

 

[AZCB34]

I was always kind of impressed by Collins when I watched him at Ole Miss. Not a bad pickup although I kind of see him as practice squad material at this point.

 

[This_Guy]

Horrendous pick-up.

He left Vikings camp voluntarily saying his heart wasn't into it.

 

[Espo]

Horrendous pick-up.

He left Vikings camp voluntarily saying his heart wasn't into it.

Where did you read that?

 

[KingofCards]

Where did you read that?

Thats what Jurecki said.









j/k

Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[AZCB34]

Horrendous pick-up.

He left Vikings camp voluntarily saying his heart wasn't into it.

Oh, if that is the case I don't know why anyone would pick him up...then again, Green stirs the pot very well.

 

[NFL_FAN]

Is there no one else worth a look? I believe the following WRs to be unsigned: Shawn Jefferson (I know, old man), Reggie Barlow, Kevin Lockett who also is 2 for 2 in TD passes, JaJuan Dawson (WHO?), Dedric Ward, Oronde Gadsen for cryin out loud!! Did this Collins kid mow Denny's lawn during his teen years or something? Realistically, maybe none of these guys are worth a year contract but I bet they would work their butts off to try to stay in the game. I would think Gadsen and Lockett may be worth a look, maybe Barlow and maybe even Jefferson to mentor the new kids. Then again, maybe I'm just reaching big time because I don't want us to suck right from the start!!! Perhaps I am over reacting and our existing pool of receivers will be explosive and underestimated. Damn, I hope so!!

 

[Southpaw]

4.67????? Maybe he's a Mudder.

 

[Renz]

I guess Jake Soliday couldn't make it.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

4.67????? Maybe he's a Mudder.

His fadder was a mudder...

Mike

 

[AZCB34]

His fadder was a mudder...

Mike

His mudder was a mudder...

 

[Tangodnzr]

He inherited his mudder's combat boots.

 

[Tangodnzr]

I suppose the reason we picked him up is that alex wood knew him very well...both were with the Bengals...

Ahhh yes.... life as usual in the Dennis Green story. Stock the team with "his kind of guys"...ya' know....talent is secondary to the ability to say..."yessum".


Edited to add: This team needs another unfast, possession receiver about like it needs another hole in its foot.

 

[Shane]

Edited to add: This team needs another unfast, possession receiver about like it needs another hole in its foot.

:notworthy

 

[pinnacle]

Tango..FYI...I errored in my original post and quickly deleted it...The player we released was from cinci...not the player we picked up..my error..

 

[SECTION 11]

Edited to add: This team needs another unfast, possession receiver about like it needs another hole in its foot.

I think I said this, oh, about 1000 times before the draft.

 

[This_Guy]

Where did you read that?

• Undrafted rookie receiver Chris Collins left the team Thursday, telling Tice his "heart wasn't in it." The Vikings have not released Collins officially.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/football/9387557.htm

 

[Azlen]

Can anyone say, "training camp body" and just move on?

 

[Southpaw]

Is this a Demetrius Underwood thing?

 

[Russ Smith]

Is this a Demetrius Underwood thing?

NO. Apparently after his not so hot career as a selfish gunner at Duke, Collins renrolled at MSU and played WR.

So his heart really is NOT in it, he wanted to be a basketball star like his daddy but failed.

Huh, you mean it's not THAT Chris Collins?

Much ado about nothing we have injuries so we need guys for camp.

 

[This_Guy]

C'mon Russ. There are better camp bodies than a guy who "quit" last week. There are plenty of guys who could compete for a roster spot, since most of our currently healthy WRs are nothing more than camp bodies.

 

[Russ Smith]

C'mon Russ. There are better camp bodies than a guy who "quit" last week. There are plenty of guys who could compete for a roster spot, since most of our currently healthy WRs are nothing more than camp bodies.

I just meant that in relation to Underwood, who DG gave a big salary and a bonus and still waited to cut after he walked out of camp unannounced and was missing for several days.

Collins has zero chance of making the team and I don't think he's costing anybody else a chance either. Underwood was a different story, I was just answering Wally's comment about DU.

I agree you don't typically see a guy who walks out like that back in a week in another uniform.

I just see other things I could rail on DG about besides picking up a guy who's going to be cut in 2 weeks anyways.

 

[This_Guy]

Ah, I missed the point on Underwood. I don't disagree otherwise, I just think there are street free agents available that are as good or better than Kasper, Gilmore, McAddley and Newhouse.

I'd like to see DG cut all four of them today and pick up the 4 fastest street free agent WRs available. The four I mentioned have no chance to be effective in DG's offense.

 

[Russ Smith]

Ah, I missed the point on Underwood. I don't disagree otherwise, I just think there are street free agents available that are as good or better than Kasper, Gilmore, McAddley and Newhouse.

I'd like to see DG cut all four of them today and pick up the 4 fastest street free agent WRs available. The four I mentioned have no chance to be effective in DG's offense.

Agreed to a point, we need speed.

I haven't seen McAddley in 2 years but I actually thought he had a chance pre injury, he is fast, and he has size. Most of his drops came after he hurt his hand/shoulder(I forget the injury). If he's healthy I'd like to see him stick.

Kasper catches everything, is fast on a track, but in the games I just don't see him showing "game speed." Could be wrong, I just think he's one of those workout warriors that doesn't translate into the games. Newhouse I know nothing about. Gilmore, I've been on record for him for awhile, fast as hell, can't catch the ball or take the hits in the NFL. I think he's a bad James Jett impersonator.

We do need some speed at WR and that's why Gilmore is still around I guess.

Isn't it amazing, 1 preseason game and we're already debating which WR's we should pick up because all 3 starters are hurt )-: