http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/1595 Recent articles about Nick Collins en-us More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP Browse more photos » I was nervous the entire first quarter while watching the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving. The Lions had a quick 7-0 lead, and the Packer offense had already stalled once before they missed a FG attempt. I was wondering if this was going to be like their last loss in Tampa. But once QB Matthew Stafford threw his first INT, and QB Aaron Rodgers completed a 68 yard pass to WR Donald Dri... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:20:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Extended_Recap_Green_Bay_Packers_Defeat_Lions_34_12/1647929 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Extended_Recap_Green_Bay_Packers_Defeat_Lions_34_12/1647929 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Extended_Recap_Green_Bay_Packers_Defeat_Lions_34_12/1647929 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/a/0a8ac089e1616fe80c356c57ef9990922c71ab93/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93076596.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D01CAEAFDEEFC1D6EAE8EAAB9D254D024C38274B361C45E126.jpg More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP Browse more photos » From Tom Pelissero at the Press-Gazette: This was as straightforward a game plan as Capers has put together. The Packers played 60 of 77 snaps (77.9 percent) in nickel against Scott Linehan’s three-wide offense. The rest was base (16 snaps) and a single snap of prevent — no dime, no "corner Okie," no "big Okie," not even an... Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:03:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/The_Packers_Straightforward_Defense/1643591 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/The_Packers_Straightforward_Defense/1643591 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/The_Packers_Straightforward_Defense/1643591 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/5/75183f7442278018af1fbea04627b7d52535f49f/small/Green_Bay_Packers_52c3.jpg Matthew Stafford's magic touch just faded a bit. A third-down interception by the Packers' Nick Collins stopped a Lions drive at the Green Bay 26. A nice leaping grab, but it looked like Stafford may have rushed his throw -- intended for Will Heller on the sideline -- as he felt the pass rush. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:01:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Staffords_first_INT_kills_Lions_drive/1636365 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Staffords_first_INT_kills_Lions_drive/1636365 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Staffords_first_INT_kills_Lions_drive/1636365 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/4/746848b93311ec8ff78545bbae87031c6a2a4c59/small/Minnesota_Vikings_v_f050.jpg So...I know it's not Friday, but it is the day before the Packers play the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. For this holiday game, instead of analyzing matchups (which I've already done for the first game against the Lions anyway), I've decided to give you the things about this Green Bay Packers team that I am thankful for. I'll start it off with the big one. Aaron Rodgers He has been the epitome of football toughness this season, considering how many hits he has taken over th... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:15:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Texs_Friday_Preview_Lions_II/1634295 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Texs_Friday_Preview_Lions_II/1634295 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Texs_Friday_Preview_Lions_II/1634295 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/4/e469ced054c5a9db7eec0e7dca73bb39d7d7010e/small/Green_Bay_Packers_b231.jpg by Jeffrey Phelps - AP View full size photo » With the return of SS Atari Bigby, to play alongside FS Nick Collins, the safety position is as solid as it has been all season. But the lack of depth behind the starters was exposed when Bigby missed 3 games. Coming into the season, it looked like free agent S Anthony Smith would be the top backup, but he was surprisingly cut after the final preseason game. The backup job i... Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:00:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Analysis_The_Backup_Safety/1518868 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Analysis_The_Backup_Safety/1518868 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Analysis_The_Backup_Safety/1518868 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/0/50b6ec7d7d20a94b3506e501cbec99b6a41a7cbf/small/Green_Bay_Packers_ea3d.jpg In Part One we’ve touched on the Packers running back “need” and in Part Two the offensive tackle “need”. Today we look at  the Safeties. At free safety Nick Collins is the starter, the playmaker, a ball hawk and a Pro Bowler. He is also a free agent at the end of the year. He and [...] Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:04:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Already_There_Are_Needs_For_The_Packers_Part_3/1279024 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Already_There_Are_Needs_For_The_Packers_Part_3/1279024 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Already_There_Are_Needs_For_The_Packers_Part_3/1279024 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76727090f0459bfbe1acd8f0cca93870f1c60e15/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f89631133.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1937481C04F04AA214351F68EDE6151A829.jpg Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to address reporters in a few minutes. We'll also get the injury report. I'll post the newsy stuff as it comes, so refresh for the latest.* First, here's the injury report from Packers media maven Jeff Blumb: S Atari Bigby (knee, out), LT Chad Clifton (ankle, did not participate), S Nick Collins (chest, limited participation), K Mason Crsoby (abdominal, limited), FB Korey Hall (shoulder/concussion, limited), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle, limited parti... Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:16:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/McCarthy_anticipates_Collins_will_play_on_Sunday/1230984 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/McCarthy_anticipates_Collins_will_play_on_Sunday/1230984 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/McCarthy_anticipates_Collins_will_play_on_Sunday/1230984 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bbe95380dbe68a836403d761dae26802b2f27108/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f71341229.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193DADD97B58D4678D010CFDBEF59BF79ED.jpg Maybe the Packers will have S Nick Collins (chest) this week after all. On Monday, it appeared Collins' injury might keep him out a game or two, but he was back on the practice field today.The decision to release S Aaron Rouse might also have been based partly on the fact that Collins would be available for Sunday's game at St. Louis. It's hard to imagine the Packers would dump Rouse if Collins' status was iffy.The only two players who were held completely out of practice were... Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:13:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Wednesday_practice_report_Collins_on_the_field/1230442 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Wednesday_practice_report_Collins_on_the_field/1230442 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Wednesday_practice_report_Collins_on_the_field/1230442 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/d/7d96060a1c1983a1fff203771e8f62af1b22cc5b/small/Green_Bay_Packers_58a4.jpg It looks as if Nick Collins may not be able to go Sunday for the Packers, another blow for the D: The Green Bay Packers’ defensive demise Sunday coincided with the loss of safety Nick Collins, making the prospects for marked improvement this week against St. Louis a bit sketchy. Other than calling it a clavicle [...] Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:33:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Collins_May_Not_Be_Able_to_Play_Sunday_vs_the_Rams/1221175 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Collins_May_Not_Be_Able_to_Play_Sunday_vs_the_Rams/1221175 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Collins_May_Not_Be_Able_to_Play_Sunday_vs_the_Rams/1221175 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76727090f0459bfbe1acd8f0cca93870f1c60e15/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f89631133.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1937481C04F04AA214351F68EDE6151A829.jpg In the next two weeks, I’m going to take a look at the 10 most important players for the Green Bay Packers in the 2009 NFL season.  They may not be the best players, but their roles have a distinct impact on how far the team can go. Going into 2008, Nick Collins was under the radar.  Most only new him as that safety from Bethune-Cookman that Ted Thompson drafted after drafting Aaron Rodgers.  Well, like Rodgers, Collins had his breakout year in 2008. Collins’ accomplishments from 2008 a... Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:33:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Top_10_Players_8_Nick_Collins/787896 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Top_10_Players_8_Nick_Collins/787896 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Top_10_Players_8_Nick_Collins/787896 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/96cd771a628f4d77808058d18f6963c98d5012b5/small/Green_Bay_Packers_e8f5.jpg The Packers got some good news today at their mandatory minicamp, as despite wanting a new deal, safety Nick Collins showed up to round out what should be the teams entire starting defense for Dom Capers in 2009. Collins didn’t commit to being at training camp in a couple of weeks, but didn’t seem to want [...] Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:42:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Packers_Safety_Collins_Shows_Up_for_Mandatory_Minicamp/729743 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Packers_Safety_Collins_Shows_Up_for_Mandatory_Minicamp/729743 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Packers_Safety_Collins_Shows_Up_for_Mandatory_Minicamp/729743 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/96cd771a628f4d77808058d18f6963c98d5012b5/small/Green_Bay_Packers_e8f5.jpg Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins showed up for the team's mandatory minicamp, though he clearly doesn't consider his contract situation resolved. Collins said Monday that he was happy to be back after skipping all but one of the team's voluntary workouts and was committed to the team. He didn't want to talk about his contract, which runs through the end of this season. Asked if he would show up for training camp if the team didn't redo his deal, Collins said sim... Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:16:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Collins_attends_Packers_minicamp_contract_lingers/728701 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Collins_attends_Packers_minicamp_contract_lingers/728701 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Collins_attends_Packers_minicamp_contract_lingers/728701 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/96cd771a628f4d77808058d18f6963c98d5012b5/small/Green_Bay_Packers_e8f5.jpg Packers safety Nick Collins reportedly wants a new contract, but that didn’t stop him from attending Green Bay’s final open offseason practice Wednesday. According to Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Collins was at the session but quickly left with other players who were rehabbing injuries. The one-time Pro Bowler’s attendance is noteworthy because he’s entering the [...] Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:27:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Nick_Collins_Shows_Up_For_Packers_Practice/713061 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Nick_Collins_Shows_Up_For_Packers_Practice/713061 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Nick_Collins_Shows_Up_For_Packers_Practice/713061 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/96cd771a628f4d77808058d18f6963c98d5012b5/small/Green_Bay_Packers_e8f5.jpg