Eric Pinkins was a hybrid DB/LB at San Diego State from 2009-’13.
He finished with 172 total tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions for 70 yards and a TD over 4 years with the Aztecs.
6th round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.
After 2 seasons with the Seahawks, he joined the Giants for 2016.
Waived by the Giants in mid-2017, Eric signed with the Cowboys in 2018, but did not make the squad.
He started 6 of 8 contests, posting 29 total tackles and .5 sacks.
After the AAF ended, Pinkins was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL in 2020.
He’d finish the season on the roster of ‘Team 9’ before the COVID abbreviated season ended.
NOTES:
After the AAF collapsed, I rushed out a few cards to players that I could readily find through the mail. Eric was in that first batch, and then proceeded to get lost in the shuffle of all my returns that year. There is no discoloration in the Topps AAF base card he autographed. It looks like he started in purple and realized it wouldn’t take as well as blue. I really appreciate his effort there though.
Kerry Collins played QB at Penn State from 1991-’94.
Over his college career his stats increased across the board.
In his Senior campaign in 1994, he completed 176/264 passes for 2,679 yards, 21 TDs to 7 INT.
He’d be the first pick in the history of the Carolina Panthers franchise at #5 overall.
In a historic 1996 season, he led the Panthers to the NFC Championship in just the franchise’s second season.
During 1998, he struggled with alcoholism and considered quitting the game.
The franchise cut him and he finished the season on the roster of the New Orleans Saints.
Over 3 seasons with the Panthers, Kerry threw for 7,295 yards, 39 TDs, and 49 INT and completed 52.6% of his passes.
He briefly played for New Orleans, winning 2 games in 7 contests, while throwing just 4 TDs to 10 INT in 1998.
In 1999, Kerry joined the Giants, and later in the season took over as starter, going 2-5 the rest of the way out.
Kerry led the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, as he finished the season 12-4 and threw for 3610 yards (311/529), 22 TDs, and just 13 INT.
He played for the Giants through the 2003 season after the team decided to go in another direction with Kurt Warner and Eli Manning waiting in the wings.
After two middling seasons as a starter in Oakland in 2004 and ’05, the journeyman phase of his career began- but not without controversy.
Collins signed with the Tennessee Titans, who secretly were not completely sold on Vince Young.
He and Vince traded starting duties for the team under HC Jeff Fisher through the 2010 season.
In 2008, he led the team to a 12-3 record completing 242 of 415 passes for 2676 yards and 12 TDs.
After the 2010 season, he announced his retirement.
Signed with the Colts in 2011, and became first quarterback to start for the Colts other than Peyton Manning since 1997 (Jim Harbaugh).
A concussion sustained in late October of that year, ended his season, and ultimately he decided to hang up his cleats.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Bowl 1996, ’08
Davey O’Brien Award 1994
Sammy Baugh Trophy 1994
PFWA All-Rookie Team 1995
NOTES:
Kerry owns multiple passing records for both the Panthers and Giants franchises.
Kerry had some really nice cards near the end of his career and I adored all the stuff that came out in 2009 and 2010. Once I saw that he was signing it was a no-brainer to send these cards out and hope for the best.
Kerry’s struggle with alcoholism should not be understated. Although much of it went public, it allowed him to get the help he needed to address his problem, and he aggressively sought treatment in 2000 while with the Giants, and continued to do so over the next 3-4 years.
A talented baseball player, Kerry was selected by both the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays, but opted to play football instead.
I had gotten Jeff at Dallas Cowboys training camp so long ago, I figured it was time to get him on the remaining cards I had. The Action Packed 1992 was a great dual signature candidate, since both players remain decent signers through the mail, and it’s a great card to boot.
I was surprised that Gameday didn’t have a 1992 card of him, but the Topps Stadium Club fit in nicely as a nice c-tier card to get autographed.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
