The Nittany Turkey

Primarily about Penn State football, this is a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

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Kerry Collins Announces Retirement

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Finally, I can write about something other than Casey Anthony!

Former Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins, most recently QB of the NFL Tennessee Titans, announced his retirement today. He threw for 40,441 yards and 206 touchdowns in his distinguished career of 16 NFL seasons in which he played for Carolina, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, and Tennessee.

The ex-Nittany Lion was a journeyman quarterback, as his longevity in an unforgiving league suggests, especially in the wake of the personal issues he had to deal with: alcoholism and accusations of racism by teammates.

At Penn State, he was named All-America in 1994 and was the recipient of the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Trophy. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting that year. Collins made a serious run at the NCAA season passing efficiency record, falling just four points short (172.8), the fourth-highest figure in NCAA annals. He broke Penn State season records for total offense (2,660), completions (176), passing yardage (2,679), completion percentage (66.7), yards per attempt (10.15) and passing efficiency (172.86). He had 14 consecutive completions at Minnesota, another Penn State record. Collins was the linchpin of an explosive offense that shattered 14 school records and led the nation in scoring (47.8 ppg.) and total offense (520.2 ypg.). With 5,304 career passing yards, Collins ranks third in Penn State annals and is one of only three quarterbacks to top 5,000 yards through the air. With Collins at quarterback, the 1994 Nittany Lions completed an undefeated season, the fifth under coach Joe Paterno, capped by a Rose Bowl win over Pac-10 Champion Oregon. His team was voted #1 by the New York Times, although they were voted #2 behind undefeated Nebraska in the traditional polls (AP Poll and Coaches’ Poll) used to determine Division 1-A champions prior to the BCS era.

Collins was also selected for the NFL Pro Bowl after the 1996 season with the Carolina Panthers and the 2008 season with the Tennessee Titans. In the 2000 season, Collins led the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, which they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

Deon Butler Breaks Leg

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Former Nittany Lion wide receiver Deon Butler, now with the NFL Seattle Seahawks, suffered a broken leg in yesterday’s 40-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Butler suffered a broken right leg after catching the ball in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Butler did his best to conceal the severity of the injury as he was taken to the locker room on a cart.

This will certainly end Butler’s season. He remained in California to be treated, and was apparently scheduled for surgery last night. Recovery time will depend upon the severity of the fracture.

Once again, we see a Penn State player who after playing a short while in the NFL sustains a serious, possibly career-threatening injury. Coincidence? I know the NFL is a rough league, but it seems to this Turkey that a disproportionate number of former Penn State players meet with calamity there. I’ll continue to question the efficacy of the Penn State strength and conditioning program until someone knocks some sense into my head.

We wish Deon a quick and complete recovery.

Kapinos Signed by Steelers

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In a move destined to please Penn State fans, the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers have signed erstwhile Nittany Lions punter Jeremy Kapinos to replace Daniel Sepulveda, who was moved to the IR with a season-ending ACL tear.

Kapinos, 26, punted in one game this season for the Indianapolis Colts and averaged 44. ???? ?????? ????? 5 yards on four punts, including a long of 55 yards and two punts placed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He also posted a 37.0 net average in the game.

Kapinos spent the 2009 season with the Green Bay Packers and averaged 43.8 yards on 66 punts, including 15 punts placed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. ???????? ?? ???????? He originally signed with Green Bay as a free agent on Dec. ????? ????? ?? ??????? 3, 2008, and averaged 39.1 yards on 17 punts during the final four games of the season. He was not re-signed by Green Bay in 2010 and did not participate in a training camp this past summer.

Kapinos originally signed as an undrafted rookie with the New York Jets in 2007 after receiving third-team All-America honors as a senior in 2006 at Penn State. He was released in training camp but re-signed with the Jets late in the season and played in the final game of the year a Tennessee. He averaged 41.6 yards on five punts against the Titans.

Kapinos will wear No. 3 for the Steelers.

Sepulveda was placed on the Steelers’ Reserve/Injured List today after injuring his right knee in Sunday night’s 13-10 bloodbath victory over Baltimore. Sepulveda will be out for the remainder of the season.