Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 20, 1990 TAG: 9007200188
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On July 11, the league lifted a ban imposed on Collins in August 1988 for drug abuse. Collins signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Miami Dolphins.
"It's great," said Collins, 31. "With my life, you're really looking at a walking miracle."
Collins, who came out of the Dolphins' locker room smiling and wearing a T-shirt that read "Get High on the Right Stuff," said he has not used drugs for 18 months. His worst binge, he said, came following the NFL ban; a cocaine overdose sent him to an Indianapolis hospital.
"It was terrible," he said. "It was close to death."
Collins said God helped turn his life around.
He also got married in January and his wife is expecting a child. He has been counseling children in the Orlando, Fla., area on the evils of drugs.
With the domestic pieces in place, Collins now wants to put his professional life back together.
Collins spent seven seasons with New England - Miami's first regular-season opponent this season. He rushed for 4,647 yards, caught passes for 2,356 yards and scored 44 touchdowns.
Coach Don Shula decided those numbers made the 184-pound runner worth a gamble. Collins said at least five other teams rejected his request for a tryout.
"He will be judged on a day-by-day, week-by-week basis," Shula said. "We made a decision to give him an opportunity based on his accomplishments as a player in the National Football League, and if he fulfills all our requirements, he has the opportunity to compete for a position on our team."
by CNB