Ryan Collins returns to NFL Europe

April 23, 2003
Former St. Thomas All-American tight end Ryan Collins returned to the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe.

Collins, who made the All-NFL Europe Team in 2002, missed the first two games of 2003 with an ankle injury. In Saturday's 35-17 loss to the Barcelona Dragons, Collins caught three passes for 39 yards, including a 23-yard TD pass.

This is the sixth pro season for the 28-year-old Collins. He's played with seven different pro teams since he finished his collegiate career at St. Thomas in the fall of 1997.

Also ion the Admirals' roster are former Viking WR Matthew Hatchette, Viking backup QB Shaun Hill, and former Gopher RB Tellis Redmon.

Last season, Collins was one of 25 players named to the All-NFL Europe team. Voting was conducted by coaching staffs, media and fans, with 11 players honored on both offense and defense and three on special teams. He finished his 10-game season with 34 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns. That ranked him fifth in NFL Europe in overall receptions and first in catches by tight ends. He caught four passes for 49 yards for the Amsterdam Admirals (4-6) in their season-ending victory over first-place Rhein Fire.

Later last summer, Collins was in training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs but was released in the final cutdown.

Collins started his pro career in 1998 as an undrafted free agent and made the Minnesota Viking practice squad player. After starting the 1999 season with the Cleveland Browns in their expansion year, he was released in October 1999. He signed with Baltimore, where he started two games in December 1999 before suffering a broken ankle. He was cut from the Ravens in training camp in August 2000 after he came out of May mini-camp competing for the Ravens' starting job. That summer's acquisitions of All-Pro tight ends Ben Coates and Shannon Sharpe greatly diminished Collins' opportunity. The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl that season.

Collins played in 2001 with the New Jersey Hitmen of the now defunct XFL as a deep snapper and tight end. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 but was cut in training camp.

see Collins feature story here