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 ESPN's Chris Mortensen looks at Kerry Collins' candid news conference with the media.
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Goldberg is angel on Collins' shoulder
By Wayne Drehs


TAMPA, Fla. -- Like the rest of us, Joel Goldberg watched the television broadcast a bit amazed. There was quarterback Kerry Collins, walking out of a North Carolina jail after getting arrested for a DWI, with a smug grin splashed across his face and a wet six-inch stogie dripping from the side of his mouth.

Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins couldn't have made his miraculous turnaround without Joel Goldberg.

Remorse was nowhere to be found inside Collins, and Goldberg pondered the path of another professional athlete whose life ran amuck. But unlike the rest of us, he didn't write Collins off. Instead, he contemplated the idea of saving him.

Now, less than two years later, Collins is the starting quarterback in the Super Bowl and his off-the-field life is just as spectacular. Lost in the countless stories about his turnaround is Goldberg, the director of counseling services for the Giants.

It was Goldberg who came up with the idea of bringing Collins to New York. It was Goldberg who stood behind the quarterback when everyone else snickered about him joining the Giants. And it's Goldberg who now refuses to take any credit for Collins' on- and off-field success.

That's OK, though, as Collins is quick to give credit where credit is due.

"He was somebody who had confidence in me when I didn't feel that I had that much confidence in myself," Collins said. "He believed in my talent, believed in my core and believed I was a good person who was just having problems.

"Quite honestly, he believed I was someone who was worth saving."

And for that, Collins is grateful. Without the help of Goldberg, he knows he wouldn't be here today.

"I am more indebted for getting that opportunity than anything on earth," Collins said. "And when it happened, I made a point that I was going to bust my butt everyday, to show (the Giants) they were right."

Goldberg was one of a handful of people who thought Collins had a future in the NFL after that infamous night in Charlotte. He had heard the stories of Collins' alcohol abuse, racial slurs, and careless attitude, but didn't care.

So, he conferred with Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi and head coach Jim Fassel, and the three of them decided to bring Collins in for a round of interviews. Lengthy introspective conversations later, Goldberg gave his approval and Collins was signed as a Giant.

The one-year contract paid Collins $5.4 million, a mind-boggling amount for a player that had been cut by the Panthers and Saints in less than a year, and had been accused of being an alcoholic, a racist, and a quitter.

"The thing with Kerry was that he had demonstrated in the past that he could get the job done," said Goldberg, who joined the Giants in 1981. "He had taken a team to the Rose Bowl and deep into the playoffs. He was an All-Pro. There was a lot of tangible success there.

"And he had the capacity to learn from his personal history and grow for the future. He was committed to self-help and growth. I was confident he could do this."

And in the Giants offices, if Goldberg is confident, everyone is confident. The team thinks so highly of his personality evaluation skills that any potential draft pick who refuses to answer Goldberg's 400-question survey is removed from the Giants' draft board.

"Without him, we wouldn't have tackled the situations we have," Accorsi said of Goldberg. "That's how much confidence we have in him. It's a tremendously secure feeling to know that he's there and he's someone we can rely on through the difficult times."

I'm extraordinarily proud of where he is and where is he going. And this is just the beginning.
Joel Goldberg on Giants QB Kerry Collins

Such was the case in 1997, when the Giants received a host of negative publicity for signing Nebraska standout Christian Peter, whose rap sheet was more disturbing than that of Collins. During his time at Nebraska, Peter was involved in a string of incidents involving alcohol and women and in 1997 pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual assault.

The Patriots drafted him in the fifth round in 1996, but cut him three days later, under heavy pressure from female fans as well as the wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft. That's where Goldberg stepped in, suggesting to Accorsi that the Giants give Peter a look. Goldberg's wife and daughter urged against helping Peter, but four years later, he's become a solid contributor on the defensive line and a model citizen. "Dr. Goldberg was the first one that came to me and told me I needed to get help," Peter said. "And he was one of the few people who still supported me during those times. It was huge to have somebody like that to turn to."

Goldberg joined the team after hearing former Giant George Martin complain about the team's inadequate post-career planning and sending a letter to owner Wellington Mara offering his services.

A licensed therapist and school psychologist in the state of New Jersey, Goldberg was one of the first from the field to work with athletes. Growing up in Brooklyn a die-hard Giants fan, he initially worked for free. But after the team understood his importance, that quickly changed.

"It's something that us football people, we don't have experience with personality issues," Accorsi said. "It's a very important facet to on-field success, from counseling to advising and all these things. And he's the best there is, no doubt about it. He's a big reason our team has so much character."

What goes on behind the closed doors of Goldberg's office is a very private matter. He says one of the reasons he's so successful in his treatment is the confidentiality agreements he keeps with his players. Goldberg declined this week to talk about any facet of his meetings with either player, which still go on today.

"One of the things I value, at least people tell me they value, is that I'm a reasonably close-mouthed person," Goldberg said. "And these issues are very, very personal matters."

Whatever the specifics of Goldberg's treatments are, it works. Not only are both individuals successful on and off the field, but they've also learned to handle the media crush that accompanies their turnarounds.

Just this week, a reporter baited Collins, asking him what it would feel like to be Super Bowl MVP and not be able to drive the truck that goes to the award-winner (due to his DWI, Collins' license was suspended until February).

Instead of getting aggravated, Collins just grinned and offered a polite "Thanks. I appreciate questions like that. Thanks for your support." He then turned and walked away.

The response didn't surprise Goldberg one bit.

"Those are some of those dumb questions that he's had to learn to deal with," Goldberg said. "And he's done just that. I'm extraordinarily proud of where he is and where is he going. And this is just the beginning."

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com.


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