Ryan Collins cut by Dallas Cowboys

August 24, 2001
Former St. Thomas All-America tight end/long snapper Ryan Collins was released this week by the Dallas Cowboys.

The 6-6, 264-pound Collins went into the preseason as the Cowboys' No. 1 deep snapper, an art he polished last winter while playing for the XFL's New Jersey Hitmen. He was also battling for playing time at tight end, a position where Dallas has been hit hard by injuries.

This was the fourth NFL training camp for Collins in four seasons. He played on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad as a rookie in 1998; tried out and made the opening day roster with the expansion Cleveland Browns in 1999; and played with the Baltimore Ravens to close 1999 and the 2000 training camp. The Ravens, who went on to win the Super Bowl, acquired two All-Pro tight ends in the summer of 2000, which in effect pushed Collins out of a job.

see Dallas Morning News story on Cowboys' tight ends here