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Notebook: S Nick Collins won't commit to attending OTAs

MARSHFIELD – Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins wouldn’t say Monday whether he plans to attend any of the team’s upcoming organized team activities after skipping some voluntary workouts last month because of what sources said was unhappiness with his contract.

Collins, who took part in the Packers’ Tailgate Tour along with linebacker Brady Poppinga, wide receiver Jordy Nelson and Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy, said he believes he deserves a new contract.

“Yeah, I feel like I deserve it,” Collins said. “It’s been. …this year, I just go out there and played my guts out. I think I’m deserving of whatever the Green Bay offer is.

“You know, I’m not pushing them to do anything. I’m just going out there to help this team win the best I can.”

Collins didn’t want to discuss the details of contract negotiations with the Packers.

“Right now, I’m here enjoying the tailgate,” Collins said. “I’m not really worried about my contract. If you have questions, just talk to my agent. I leave that up to him and the organization.”

Collins’ agent, David Butz, could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Collins’ belief that he has earned a new contract stems from his breakout 2008 season, one in which he made his first Pro Bowl and returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns.

Collins is entering the last season of a five-year contract he signed in 2005 after the Packers selected him in the second round of the NFL draft. He is due $3.045 million in 2009 — up from $545,000 — after an escalator clause kicked in.

Collins said he understands the NFL is a business, and he knows the life of a football player can be short. If there were ever a chance to cash in, now would seem to be the time.

“That’s the game plan,” Collins said. “But sometimes the game plan doesn’t always work. So you just have to deal with the situation and go from there. But, hopefully, if you play good, you see a lot of guys being signed (after) having a great year.

“Hopefully, that will be me one day.”

After skipping some of the early voluntary offseason workouts, Collins attended more recent sessions, Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed last week. Collins’ attendance on the Tailgate Tour also could be an indication he and the Packers have discussed a new deal.

Money issues aside, Collins said he’s excited about the Packers’ 3-4 defense, although it could take a while to get adjusted to the new scheme for some players.

Both Collins and Poppinga believe the defense should be much improved from last season under defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

“It depends on the person, and how determined he is to learn the defense,” Collins said. “I think everybody in the Packers organization is dedicated to learning the defense so we can just go out there and be a dominating defense this year.

“It’s a defense that a safety would love to be in. Everybody is on the same page. Just go out and have fun.”

The Packers' tour bus is scheduled to make stops in Hudson, Platteville and Beaver Dam in the next three days.
Tauscher's uncertain future

Doctors have told veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher that it could be mid- to late October before he would be ready to play, according to Murphy.

Tauscher, an unrestricted free agent, tore his anterior cruciate left knee ligament on Dec. 7. He will turn 32 in June.

Murphy said the Packers will wait until Tauscher heals before making a final decision on whether to re-sign him.

“He had a really bad injury last year,” Murphy said. “It was the second time he’s had knee surgery. He’s in a situation where he doesn’t have a contract for next year, and we really are waiting to see how his rehabilitation on his knee comes along.

“It really depends on how quickly his rehabilitation comes along.

“But he’s such a great player and has been a steady influence on the offensive line. We are hoping he can come back quicker than the reports say.”