NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 28, 2006) -- The Tennessee Titans signed veteran quarterback Kerry Collins after finally deciding they need more experience after trading Steve McNair.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Collins already met with offensive coordinator Norm Chow for about an hour and would be in practice Aug. 29. Fisher said Billy Volek remains the starter, with rookie Vince Young backing him up while Collins learns the offense.
"Billy's got some competition," Fisher said. "I've spoken with Billy. Billy's not too awfully pleased with it. But that's life in the NFL."
Fisher said the Titans have been talking with Collins for a while. But the Titans are 0-3 this preseason and finally decided they needed more help.
Volek is a six-year veteran who has only 10 career starts. Through three preseason games, he has passed for only 277 and completed only 52.5 percent of his passes.
Collins went 7-21 as the starter in Oakland the past two years, but became a salary-cap casualty. He completed 302 passes for 3,759 yards in 2005 and 20 touchdowns, but was sacked 39 times and suffered 12 interceptions.
The 11-year veteran Collins has started 145 of 152 games and played for Carolina, New Orleans, the New York Giants and Raiders. He has thrown for 33,637 yards, 173 touchdowns and 166 interceptions in a career that includes leading Carolina and the Giants to NFC championship games. He lost to Baltimore in the 2001 Super Bowl with the Giants.
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