The agent for Nick Collins has told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the Packers are going to release the three time Pro Bowl safety.  Collins underwent neck fusion surgery after getting injured in week 2 last season trying to take down Carolina's Jonathan Stewart.   According to reports, Collins is still hopeful to play but Mike McCarthy made it clear during the NFL Combine that he's reluctant to put the veteran back on the field considering the risk for further or even permanent damage.  Collins was a second round pick out of Bethune Cookman in 2005 and became an immediate starter.  A sure tackler with big play ability, Collins developed into a star, being named to the Pro Bowl after the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.   He had 21 career interceptions, scoring five defensive touchdowns, the biggest, his pick six of Ben Roethlisberger in Green Bay's 31-25 Super Bowl 45 victory in Dallas.  When Collins is released, it will free up approximately 4.7 million dollars in salary cap space.   It will also increase the possibility the Packers will consider a safety at some point in this weekend's draft.   Collins would become the second veteran stallwart to be released in the past week, after 12 year offensive tackle Chad Clifton was cut earlier this week.

Our draft preview series continues, sponsored by Nicolet Bank with the focus of this episode on the running backs.