Collins talks about projected trade

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants' interest in acquiring the No.1 pick in the draft from San Diego hasn't changed quarterback Kerry Collins' feelings about next season.

The Chargers acknowledged Wednesday that the Giants have discussed acquiring the pick, presumably to draft quarterback Eli Manning.

That didn't seem to worry Collins, whose future in New York would be in jeopardy with Manning in town

"I take pride in the way I play," said Collins, who led the Giants to a Super Bowl appearance in 2000, a year after the team revived his troubled career. "This organization has treated me well. I still have a lot of fight. Every time I go out there I am going to give it my best."

Like most of the Giants, who finished 4-12 last season, Collins struggled after the offensive line was decimated by injuries.

With Tom Coughlin replacing Jim Fassel as coach, Collins' future - with or without Manning - is uncertain with a year left on his contract.

Collins isn't mobile, a quality something Coughlin had in Jacksonville with Mark Brunell.

There is a chance Collins could be traded to San Diego as part of a package for the No. 1 pick, but Collins said he would demand a new contract if that happened.

Collins will earn $7 million next season. He has an $8 million-plus salary cap value.

While Collins' family is located on the East Coast, he said he would not be opposed to moving.

"Obviously I would have to settle my contract before that would happen," he said after finishing a workout.

"No team is going to trade for me for one year with a $7 million salary and a high cap number, so I would say I would be pretty stingy on my part. It would have to be pretty good for me to say OK to that."

All-Pro defensive end Michael Strahan came to Collins' defense.

"There is no doubt in my mind about him," Strahan said. "He is a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback. He proved that by getting us there and I definitely believe he can get us there and win it. He has a lot of good years left."

Getting Strahan to talk about his new coach or his recent decision to drop out of the race for a seat on the Montclair City Council was more difficult.

Other than to say he was feeling good, he had little to say about the offseason conditioning program. He said the Giants have focused on stopping the run with their signings of free-agent defensive linemen Norman Hand, Fred Robbins, Martin Chase and Lorenzo Bromell.

He was optimistic about next season.

"I believe we will win," he said. "You know what, had we had a lack of injuries and some more depth, or even better players at positions last year, we would have won. That's not a secret to anybody. We almost started out the season handicapped, and just finished up handicapped."

Collins and Strahan had fun when discussing backup quarterback Jesse Palmer's starring role in the television series The Bachelor, a show in which 25 women are trying to become Palmer's love interest.

"I told Jesse don't worry about what anyone here says because 99 percent of the guys here are mad they are not the bachelor, and about 99 percent of the country and the world is mad they are not the bachelor," Strahan said. "The heck with it. Enjoy it!"

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