'Humbled' Mark Collins reacts to 'very special' Giants honor

With training camp in full effect, the New York Giants continued their celebration of their 100th season and in particular, their countdown of the top 100 players in franchise history.

The list, which was compiled by a committee of 14 individuals, has been releasing players in reverse order each of the last five weeks in groups of 10.

This week, the list revealed players 60 through 51, which included cornerback Mark Collins coming in at No. 56.

56 – Mark Collins

The Giants’ first six draft choices in 1986, their Super Bowl XXI season, were all defensive players, including linemen Eric Dorsey and Erik Howard, linebacker Pepper Johnson, and cornerback Mark Collins. “I remember looking at those guys in training camp and saying, ‘We have some help here,'” coach Bill Parcells said. “Pepper Johnson was my nickel linebacker. Collins was my nickel back. Dorsey and Howard – they played more because they were linemen. We got a big contribution out of those kids. I remember thinking to myself, ‘We are going to have five or six rookies make the team.’ And not only that, but they are going to make the team better.”

A second-round pick out of Cal State Fullerton, Collins did just that and contributed immediately with 14 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, and an interception in his rookie season. The Giants won eight consecutive games to end the regular season to clinch home-field advantage throughout the postseason. “We knew we were going to win,” Collins said. “We just had to figure out by how much. We were so confident without being cocky. That came from the leadership of Harry [Carson] and George [Martin]. One thing about this team, we were close then and we’re close now. Being around the league – and I played for three other teams – I never played on a group this tight, a group that genuinely cared about each other.”

Four years later, Collins was part of a group that played significant roles in another championship run in 1990. In all, Collins started 104 of 112 games as a Giant, recording 17 interceptions, four forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.

The retired Giants cornerback shared his thoughts on the honor of being named on this list while praising the franchise.

Collins is on a very exclusive list of players who won two Super Bowls with the franchise.

The Giants selected Collins in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft. He spent the first eight years of his career with Big Blue and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 1989.

He spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks after his tenure with the Giants.

Collins played 112 games with the Giants and clearly, he was not only one of the best at his position, but one of the best players in franchise history as well.