N.F.L.: NOTEBOOK — NEW ORLEANS; Collins Arrested On D.W.I.
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Kerry Collins, admitting he broke the law, was charged with drunken driving yesterday, hours after being taunted by Carolina Panthers fans in his return to the city where he once was cheered. A police report said Collins, now a backup quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, was stopped after the car he was driving was seen crossing the center line on a downtown Charlotte street about 12:50 A.M. yesterday. Obviously I made a mistake; I don’t think there’s any question about that, Collins told WBTV as he prepared to board a flight yesterday afternoon to New Orleans. It was bad judgment on my part. Collins, 25, refused to take a breath test. In accordance with North Carolina law, he automatically loses his driver’s license for 12 months. He posted a $1,000 bond, was given a Nov. 12 court date and was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail. It’s unacceptable behavior, New Orleans General Manager Bill Kuharich said, adding that the Saints planned to conduct a medical review to determine whether Collins has a drinking problem. The next step would be obviously to get our team physician to make an evaluation. Collins also could face disciplinary action from the National Football League. A conviction on a charge of driving while impaired would represent a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy and leave him subject to a fine of up to $20,000. The arrest represented another dark chapter for Collins, who became the Panthers’ first-ever draft choice in 1995. But he failed to live up to the franchise’s hope of becoming its cornerstone player, was benched last month and subsequently was cut. He was picked up by the Saints, but did not play Sunday when New Orleans lost, 31-17. The Saints returned to New Orleans immediately after the game, but Coach Mike Ditka allowed Collins, Chad Cota and Eric Guliford — all former members of the Panthers — to stay behind in Charlotte. The last thing I told him was, ‘It’s a very hostile environment down there. Can you handle that?’ Ditka said, referring to Collins. And he said, ‘I’m not going to get into any trouble.’ MIAMI The most durable starter in the Dolphins’ history will miss a game on Sunday for the first time in seven years. Richmond Webb’s team record of consecutive starts (118) will end when Miami plays Indianapolis. The 320-pound left tackle tore the triceps in his left arm Sunday in the Dolphins’ 30-24 loss at Buffalo and underwent surgery yesterday. More : query.nytimes.com |