Veteran QB Collins turns down Bears
The Chicago Bears are in search of a veteran backup for their franchise quarterback Jay Cutler. Caleb Hanie, the current second string quarterback suffered a sprained right shoulder and the Bears were looking for a player to fill, in until he was available again.
That man won’t be Todd Collins who rejected the Bears' offer due to the fact the Bears offered Collins a minimum league salary with no guaranteed money. The 38-year old elected to stay remain a free agent instead.
"It was a no-brainer thing where they had an injury, and they called up a guy who was essentially retired," Collins' agent Brad Blank said on ESPN 1000."And they made an offer, and the player was apprehensive that he would just get used for a couple of weeks and then would just get released.”
Collins has barely started in games throughout his career, remaining a backup throughout his career. He holds the record for the longest gap between starts as he went 10 years and two days between starts with the Buffalo Bills in 1997 and the Washington Redskins in 2007.
"All players have different stations in their careers and different stations in life. Todd Collins has played 15 years in the NFL, and it ended pretty well. He doesn't want to just go into camp for a few weeks and have that end his career. He'd rather just not make the effort at all and stay retired."
Other options for the Bears to fill the void include Josh McCown who is currently playing in the UFL for the Hartford Colonials. The Bears also reached out to Trent Green and Damon Huard who both decided to stay retired.
"What they said is, 'We'll give you a chance to come in and compete for that job. And if you're really good, you may be our backup. And if you're not good, we may cut you," Blank said. "Todd was apprehensive with no money up front and no guarantee ... he could have been released ... and it wouldn't have cost the Bears anything."
Although Collins rejected the Bears offer that yielded no signing bonus or guaranteed money, his agent Blank, said the door’s still open for the Bears if they want to sign Collins. They’d just have to show a bigger commitment and give Collins some assurance.
"If they want to assure him in the form of a signing bonus that he's not going to just come in and have his arm be used for a couple of weeks and then be released, I said 'Feel free to call back. My ears are open,'" Blank said. "What he rejected was the minimum salary with no signing bonus."
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