Collins Is an Expert in His Field

He has not started since. Collins went to Kansas City in 1998, but did not throw a pass in his first three seasons, and he has attempted as many as 12 passes in a season just once since leaving Buffalo (2003). But in Saunders he found a mentor, and over time made himself a prototype in the calculated footwork, speedy drop-backs, swift release and intricate timing necessary to thrive in this system.

Collins admits that he sometimes wonders if or when his next start will come, but accepts the life of the backup: Preparing to start despite getting few snaps in practice, and remaining mentally sharp despite such lapses between starts.

"It hasn't happened for me in a number of years," Collins said, "and, yeah, you start to wonder if it'll happen for yourself, but the challenge is to stay focused during the season and the preseason and not slack off in your preparation. That's what motivates me. I want to be prepared because I've put in a lot of work up to this point to squander it now."

In the meantime, Collins will go on being a font of information for his teammates. He already is known for striking up conversations with anyone, anytime, about anything. Receiver Antwaan Randle El learned that Collins is a lifelong renter after arriving in Kansas City uncertain of how long he would stay. Collins and Brunell compared notes about London and their shared interest in traveling abroad. (Collins goes on regular fishing expeditions and took a six-week safari to Africa in 1998.) Campbell has gotten an education on wars and battles from long ago, including the history that took place on some of the islands around Boston Harbor.

"He's always talking about stuff you don't ever think about," Campbell said.

Collins has become something of the class clown in quarterback meetings, as well, which is saying something given Brunell's penchant for levity. ("I try to keep it under wraps a little bit since I'm still the new guy," Collins said.) Brunell and Collins met when they were in college, playing against each other at one point. Brunell was a history major, so they have plenty in common.

"He's been a huge help to me in this system," said Brunell, who was close to Patrick Ramsey, now playing for the New York Jets. "I can ask Al [questions] and I can ask [quarterback coach] Bill [Lazor], but there's another guy there who has actually done it and has been on the field time and time again in this offense. So I ask him as many questions as anybody else.

"I've spent some time with him, and he's a different cat. He's got a great personality and we kind of go back and forth. We have some interesting conversations."