Before the 1997 season got underway, Collins's private battle with alcoholism started to make public headlines.
 In a highly publicized incident, on the last night of Carolina Panthers training camp in 1997, Collins used a racial slur in reference to black teammate Muhsin Muhammad while in a drunken state at a bar in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Supposedly, Collins also inadvertently slurred offensive lineman Norberto Garrido, who is of Hispanic descent.
It was widely rumored that Garrido punched Collins in the eye as a result, although this was later proven false.

On November 2, 1998, Collins was arrested for drunk driving in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He finished the 1998 season in New Orleans and signed with the New York Giants as a free agent on February 19, 1999.
 Not long before signing with New York, Collins decided to seek treatment for his alcoholism.
He entered a rehabilitation clinic in Topeka, Kansas.

While a member of the New York Giants, Collins remained in therapy for four years.
As a member of the Tennessee Titans, he readdressed the 1997 racial slur incident, explaining that "The guys were talking to each other that way, and I was trying to be funny and thought I could do it, too.
I was so upset by it.
It was bad judgment.
I could have been labeled a racist for the rest of my career.
I had to live with the way I used that word with a teammate.
Extremely poor judgment.
I was naïve to think I could use that word in any context."
Before the 1997 season got underway, Collins's private battle with alcoholism started to make public headlines.  In a highly publicized incident, on the last night of Carolina Panthers training camp in 1997, Collins used a racial slur in reference to black teammate Muhsin Muhammad while in a drunken state at a bar in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Supposedly, Collins also inadvertently slurred offensive lineman Norberto Garrido, who is of Hispanic descent. It was widely rumored that Garrido punched Collins in the eye as a result, although this was later proven false.
On November 2, 1998, Collins was arrested for drunk driving in Charlotte, North Carolina. He finished the 1998 season in New Orleans and signed with the New York Giants as a free agent on February 19, 1999.  Not long before signing with New York, Collins decided to seek treatment for his alcoholism. He entered a rehabilitation clinic in Topeka, Kansas.
While a member of the New York Giants, Collins remained in therapy for four years. As a member of the Tennessee Titans, he readdressed the 1997 racial slur incident, explaining that "The guys were talking to each other that way, and I was trying to be funny and thought I could do it, too. I was so upset by it. It was bad judgment. I could have been labeled a racist for the rest of my career. I had to live with the way I used that word with a teammate. Extremely poor judgment. I was naïve to think I could use that word in any context."
Kerry Collins