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The Real Super Bowl Winner
Rick Reilly
February 05, 2001
THE SUPER BOWL hero walked down the tunnel with no trophy in his arms or minicams in his face. In fact, all the Super Bowl hero had done was throw four interceptions, a dozen or so wounded quail, and one touchdown pass—to the other team.
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February 05, 2001

The Real Super Bowl Winner

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He fingered a water bottle. Two years ago it might've been Jack Daniel's. "Two years ago, I would've checked out," he said. "I would've got mad at somebody or something. I would've self-destructed in some way."

Instead, for the first time in forever, he had a family hug waiting for him at the end of the tunnel. "Some things in life don't always work out quite like you planned," said Roseanne, consoling Kerry. "Super Bowls are one of them."

But Kerry knew that. He'd seen rock bottom, and this wasn't it. "Nothing can happen on a football field now that can affect me," Collins said when the sting was starting to wear off. "My worst day sober is better than my best day drunk."

Besides, this week Collins gets his driver's license back, two years after it was taken away for the DUI conviction. He's going to take off, see if that road is really as smooth and limitless as his future. "You know where I'm gonna drive?" he said. "Grace-land. Gonna go see Elvis."

This just in: KERRY LIVES!

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