Two men, one very similar story
QBs Collins and Dilfer have gone from early success to crash landings to redemption
By Ron Pollack, Editor-in-chief
Friday, Jan. 26, 2001
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| TAMPA, Fla. — Have Giants QB Kerry Collins and
Ravens QB Trent Dilfer ever been seen in the same room at the same time? It is a
question worth asking because their football careers have been so strikingly similar that
the possibility that they are really the same person seems worth considering.
They play the same position on opposing sides of this year’s Super Bowl, but the
similarities run far deeper than that.
Both enjoyed early success in the NFL followed by severe crash landings followed by
redemption with new teams.
One story shared by two men. They must look at one another and feel like leveling
charges of plagiarism.
Whether they are copycats or simply two guys who overcame adversity to end up at the
same place at the same time, Collins and Dilfer make for one of the more compelling story
lines of this year’s Super Bowl.
"There are some similarities," said Collins. "We both struggled for
whatever reasons in other places. Maybe it took getting released for us to learn some
things. I’ve learned a lot about the game and what it takes to be a good quarterback
in this league, and I think Trent has as well. Frankly, I think we’ve both gone to
better teams."
Dilfer said, "I think more than anything else what the two of us have in common is
we’ve allowed adversity to sharpen us, to make us stronger and to make us better
football players, obviously. But more important than that, and Kerry has mentioned this,
it’s made him a better person. And I’ve said from the get-go: I use football.
I’m going to use football up because it’s a great opportunity to become a better
person. It’s a great platform to develop a lot of character traits and life skills
that are going to be priceless when I’m done with this game. I think Kerry and I have
been able to do that and first of all, we’re better people because of it, and second
of all, we’re better football players."
Dilfer and Collins. Collins and Dilfer. Seemingly separated at birth. Unquestionably
reunited on football’s biggest stage.
Here are their stories.
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