Brandon Collins: Giants Wide Receiver Suspended Four Games

Brandon Collins was suspended four games by the NFL after the New York Giants wide receiver violated league’s substance abuse policy.

The 5-foot-11 Collins, a backup for the Giants, will still be eligible to participate in the team’s offseason workouts and training camp. His suspension is scheduled to begin before the season starts and runs through September 30, after the Giants play the Kansas City Chiefs.

The loss of Brandon Collins is a blow to the New York Giants receiving corps. Though Collins has been in the league only one season, he was being counted on for a larger role this offseason with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks not participating in OTAs.

But the suspension will now hurt Brandon Collins in his bid for playing time. The Giants come into the offseason with 10 other wide receivers on the roster, including Nicks, Cruz, Rueben Randle, Louis Murphy, Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden, Jeremy Horn, Kris Adams, Kevin Hardy, and Keith Carlos.

Collins had been playing well in the team’s veteran minicamp, reports said. He could have been part of the future of the team, which in April drafted Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib.

Though Eli Manning is not in danger of losing his job due to age or skills, Nassib is seen as an insurance policy and came at a bargain to the Giants. Many believed Nassib would be snagged in the first round by the Buffalo Bills, but fell to the fourth round.

After the draft, Giants General Manager Jerry Reese commented that he hopes “he never gets to play here,” noting that he wishes nothing will happen to take Eli Manning out of his starting role. But Nassib could be a heir to Manning should the Giants ever look to trade Manning or take a new direction, a role Brandon Collins also could have played to Cruz or Nicks.

Brandon Collins came to the New York Giants as a free agent. Reports did not say exactly how he violated the league’s substance abuse policy.

(Brandon Collins photo via Giants.com)