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 ESPN's Chris Mortensen looks at Kerry Collins' candid news conference with the media.
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| | Thursday, January 25
Goldberg is angel on Collins' shoulder
By Wayne Drehs
ESPN.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- Like the rest of us, Joel Goldberg watched the television
broadcast a bit amazed. There was quarterback Kerry Collins, walking out of
a North Carolina jail after getting arrested for a DWI, with a smug grin
splashed across his face and a wet six-inch stogie dripping from the side of
his mouth.
|  | | Kerry Collins couldn't have made his miraculous turnaround without Joel Goldberg. |
Remorse was nowhere to be found inside Collins, and Goldberg pondered the
path of another professional athlete whose life ran amuck. But unlike the
rest of us, he didn't write Collins off. Instead, he contemplated the idea of
saving him.
Now, less than two years later, Collins is the starting quarterback in
the Super Bowl and his off-the-field life is just as spectacular. Lost in
the countless stories about his turnaround is Goldberg, the director of
counseling services for the Giants.
It was Goldberg who came up with the idea of bringing Collins to New
York. It was Goldberg who stood behind the quarterback when everyone else
snickered about him joining the Giants. And it's Goldberg who now refuses to
take any credit for Collins' on- and off-field success.
That's OK, though, as Collins is quick to give credit where credit is
due.
"He was somebody who had confidence in me when I didn't feel that I had
that much confidence in myself," Collins said. "He believed in my talent,
believed in my core and believed I was a good person who was just having
problems.
"Quite honestly, he believed I was someone who was worth saving."
And for that, Collins is grateful. Without the help of Goldberg, he knows
he wouldn't be here today.
"I am more indebted for getting that opportunity than anything on earth,"
Collins said. "And when it happened, I made a point that I was going to bust
my butt everyday, to show (the Giants) they were right."
Goldberg was one of a handful of people who thought Collins had a future
in the NFL after that infamous night in Charlotte. He had heard the stories
of Collins' alcohol abuse, racial slurs, and careless attitude, but didn't
care.
So, he conferred with Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi and head coach Jim
Fassel, and the three of them decided to bring Collins in for a round of
interviews. Lengthy introspective conversations later, Goldberg gave his
approval and Collins was signed as a Giant.
The one-year contract paid Collins $5.4 million, a mind-boggling
amount for a player that had been cut by the Panthers and Saints in less
than a year, and had been accused of being an alcoholic, a racist, and a
quitter.
"The thing with Kerry was that he had demonstrated in the past that he
could get the job done," said Goldberg, who joined the Giants in 1981. "He
had taken a team to the Rose Bowl and deep into the playoffs. He was an
All-Pro. There was a lot of tangible success there.
"And he had the capacity to learn from his personal history and grow for
the future. He was committed to self-help and growth. I was confident he
could do this."
And in the Giants offices, if Goldberg is confident, everyone is
confident. The team thinks so highly of his personality evaluation skills
that any potential draft pick who refuses to answer Goldberg's 400-question
survey is removed from the Giants' draft board.
"Without him, we wouldn't have tackled the situations we have," Accorsi said of Goldberg. "That's how much confidence
we have in him. It's a tremendously secure feeling to know that he's there
and he's someone we can rely on through the difficult times."
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I'm extraordinarily proud of
where he is and where is he going. And this is just the beginning. ” |
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— Joel Goldberg on Giants QB Kerry Collins |
Such was the case in 1997, when the Giants received a host of negative
publicity for signing Nebraska standout Christian Peter, whose rap sheet was
more disturbing than that of Collins. During his time at Nebraska, Peter was
involved in a string of incidents involving alcohol and women and in 1997
pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual assault.
The Patriots drafted him in the fifth round in 1996, but cut him three
days later, under heavy pressure from female fans as well as the wife of
Patriots owner Robert Kraft. That's where Goldberg stepped in, suggesting to
Accorsi that the Giants give Peter a look. Goldberg's wife and daughter
urged against helping Peter, but four years later, he's become a solid
contributor on the defensive line and a model citizen.
"Dr. Goldberg was the first one that came to me and told me I needed to
get help," Peter said. "And he was one of the few people who still supported
me during those times. It was huge to have somebody like that to turn to."
Goldberg joined the team after hearing former Giant George
Martin complain about the team's inadequate post-career planning and sending
a letter to owner Wellington Mara offering his services.
A licensed therapist and school psychologist in the state of New Jersey,
Goldberg was one of the first from the field to work with athletes. Growing
up in Brooklyn a die-hard Giants fan, he initially worked for free. But
after the team understood his importance, that quickly changed.
"It's something that us football people, we don't have experience with
personality issues," Accorsi said. "It's a very important facet to on-field
success, from counseling to advising and all these things. And he's the best
there is, no doubt about it. He's a big reason our team has so much
character."
What goes on behind the closed doors of Goldberg's office is a very
private matter. He says one of the reasons he's so successful in his
treatment is the confidentiality agreements he keeps with his players.
Goldberg declined this week to talk about any facet of his meetings with
either player, which still go on today.
"One of the things I value, at least people tell me they value, is that
I'm a reasonably close-mouthed person," Goldberg said. "And these issues are
very, very personal matters."
Whatever the specifics of Goldberg's treatments are, it works. Not only
are both individuals successful on and off the field, but they've also
learned to handle the media crush that accompanies their turnarounds.
Just this week, a reporter baited Collins, asking him what it would feel
like to be Super Bowl MVP and not be able to drive the truck that goes to
the award-winner (due to his DWI, Collins' license was suspended until
February).
Instead of getting aggravated, Collins just grinned and offered a polite
"Thanks. I appreciate questions like that. Thanks for your support." He then
turned and walked away.
The response didn't surprise Goldberg one bit.
"Those are some of those dumb questions that he's had to learn to deal
with," Goldberg said. "And he's done just that. I'm extraordinarily proud of
where he is and where is he going. And this is just the beginning."
Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com.
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