But stick around long enough in the NFL and get enough chances, and things have a way of working out. Even if it's not the way you'd have wanted.

There might be no better example than Collins, 35, who has gone from first-round draft pick to stunning fall from grace to career resurrection. Not once but twice.

Maybe someday he'll get to enjoy it. In the meantime, there's another game to be played: Jets-Titans today in Tennessee.

"It's been fun, but I don't take too much time to stop and think about it and enjoy it," Collins said. "There's always work to be done. We're certainly aware of the start we've gotten off to; it's just hard to stop and enjoy any of it because there is a new and bigger challenge that comes every week."

So far, Collins has met all the challenges. Taking over after Vince Young suffered a knee injury in the regular-season opener, Collins has helped the Titans to a 10-0 season with his patient, turnover-free play on the field and his quiet, effective leadership off it.

It's a completely unexpected turnaround for a player who figured his time had passed.

"I was in a backup role, and it was hard to think that I was going to get the opportunity to play and start week in and week out," he said.

Collins hasn't been asked to shoulder the burden of the offense, which revolves around the rushing attack of Chris Johnson and LenDale White. But in the last two games, Collins has shown an increasing willingness and ability to throw when the running game has been shut down. He passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-14 win over the Bears on Nov. 9 and threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-14 win over the Jaguars last week.

Who knows? If things keep going this way, maybe there will be an opportunity to get another shot at winning a Super Bowl. Against his old team and in the same stadium Collins played his only Super Bowl. He and the Giants were blown out by the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV after the 2000 season.

First things first.

"We're not paying a whole lot of attention to what everyone is saying," said Collins, who might explore free agency after the season. "One thing that this team has done well is focus in on the task at hand."

Collins' numbers hardly are overwhelming. He has only 1,755 yards, eight touchdown passes and four interceptions to go with an 82.0 rating. But it's the lack of turnovers that might be the most important stat of all. With a dominant defense and an elite running game, the turnover figure is paramount.

The confidence from years of experience - even though some of those years were filled with frustration, particularly the ones in Carolina, when he was beset by alcohol problems - have only enhanced Collins' performance.

"Overall, I make better decisions," Collins said. "As a young guy, I made my share of mistakes. With maturity comes better decision-making. That is what all quarterbacks strive for, to lean on their experience and hopefully to continue to make better decisions as their career goes on."

The combination has worked exceptionally well for Collins in this, his latest renaissance season. The experience with the Giants was particularly important, something he'll never forget.

"Every experience that you have, when you're successful, when you're not successful, every experience in the NFL if you use it as a positive, a learning tool or something you can carry with you, that benefits yourself," he said. "It was a long time ago, but I won't forget what it took for us to be successful that year and I will carry that with me throughout the rest of my career."

Kerry Collins' RECORD...

This Season Career*

as a starter 0-9 79-85

passing for 300+ yards None 14-18

with one or more TD passess 5-0 58-52

with two or more TD passess 2-0 30-22

with three or more TD passess 1-0 13-10

with zero interceptions 6-0 41-18

with a passer rating of 100.0+ 2-0 24-6

*including playoff games