Collins (neck) officially announced his retirement from football Tuesday on his Twitter account. Collins, 31, was one of the top free safeties in the league before suffering a severe neck injury on an attempted tackle in Week 2 of the 2011 season. The Packers waived him a season later after team doctors refused to clear him for a return, and it seems Collins has finally accepted that the injury won't allow him to play football again. He played seven years with the Packers, collecting 21 interceptions and earning three Pro Bowl nods during his career.

Free agent S Nick Collins reiterated his surgically-repaired neck is "100 percent," and he's "ready" to resume his playing career. Collins was a fan favorite with the Packers, which is part of the reason he's getting a lot of attention from the Green Bay media. He suffered a serious neck injury in Week 2 of the 2011 season and needed cervical fusion surgery. Collins says the only doctor that wouldn't medically clear him is Packers team doc Dr. Pat McKenzie. 30-year-old Collins is hoping to get a shot to join a team this summer. It seems doubtful, but we won't completely rule it out.

Free agent FS Nick Collins wants to continue his playing career. Collins, 30, hasn't appeared in a game since Week 2 of the 2011 season when he suffered a career-ending neck injury. He underwent cervical fusion surgery, but the Packers wouldn't clear him to play. Collins was released ahead of the 2012 season and was advised to end his pursuit of football. It's undoubtedly tough on Collins to have his career taken away from him, but there's just no way we can see any medical staff clearing him for football activities.

The player rep for free agent S Nick Collins acknowledges that his client's career is likely over. Collins suffered a herniated disk in his neck in Week 2 of last season and required cervical neck fusion. The Packers released him this offseason because they were not comfortable letting Collins back out onto a football field, based on his medical records. Per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, "Collins was advised not to pursue football .... effectively ending the process."

Free agent S Nick Collins will consult a surgeon next week about receiving clearance to play football again. The Packers released Collins in April following single-fusion neck surgery, and he's yet to be medically cleared. Collins should be able to find a team willing to take the leap if he gets an okay from doctors. A Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker in his prime, 29-year-old Collins collected 17 interceptions from 2008-2010.

The player rep for FS Nick Collins says he's been fielding calls from interested teams. At the very least, teams are curious enough to check on the status of Collins' surgically repaired neck. Just because they're calling, though, it doesn't mean they would pass Collins on a physical.

Free agent FS Nick Collins (neck surgery) is still considering his options and has not decided whether to retire or play football in 2012. The Packers gave Collins his release because they weren't comfortable with him risking serious injury. Prior to the release, Collins had expressed optimism that he would gain clearance from neck specialist. He isn't known to have drawn interest yet from another team.

The Packers have reportedly informed FS Nick Collins (neck surgery) that he will be released. Collins has been optimistic that he will gain medical clearance after meeting with specialists, but the Packers aren't comfortable with him risking his health going forward. Collins' own agent has also questioned the wisdom of continuing his playing career. Collins has not yet made a final decision on his 2012 status.

The player rep for Nick Collins (neck surgery) isn't expecting a decision on the safety's playing career until after the draft. "All the opinions aren't in," said Herman, "and I think he's getting another [specialist] opinion." Although Collins is reportedly optimistic about resuming his career, the agent insists he doesn't yet have a better feel for whether he will be cleared to play.

Packers FS Nick Collins (neck surgery), "bouncing off the walls" in anticipation of returning to the NFL, is expected to push coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson to play if he's given the green light from doctors later this month. McCarthy has made it clear that all parties involved must be in agreement for Collins to return to the Packers. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, not a single cervical fusion has failed among all NFL players to undergo the procedure. After a 20-year study of NFL players, assistant professor of spine surgery at Northwestern University Wellington Hsu downplays the risks and insists Collins can play "at a high level" again. This is most positive outlook we've seen on Collins' football future.