Afternoon Sports Brief - Green Bay Packers released Nick Collins today

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The Green Bay Packers announced this afternoon that they released Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins. General manager Ted Thompson said the team had received numerous medical opinions on whether the 29 year old Collins should play again, after he ruptured a neck disc last September. Thompson said it quote, “became obvious that the Packers didn’t feel comfortable putting Collins back on the field” after his single fusion surgery from last fall. Collins was hurt in Week Two, when Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart tried hurdle over him. The GM said Collins was part of the Packers’ core and quote, “This is a very difficult day for all Packers.” He said the three time Pro Bowler has meant a lot to the community, his teammates, and the organization. And the GM said quote, “He will always be part of the Packers’ family.” Collins has also been getting his own medical opinions on whether he can play again. He has not said anything one way or the other. Co-agent Dave Butz says he’s not sure what Collins will do. He had two years remaining on his Packers’ contract. He was due to make around $4 million dollars in salary and bonuses this season. Collins is free to sign with any NFL team who would want him. But if he doesn’t return, Collins would get $1.5 million in injury protection pay that was part of the new collective bargaining agreement approved last summer. If he signs with somebody else, he will not get that money.

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The Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros were tied at four going into the seventh inning this afternoon at Miller Park. At that point, all the scoring had been in the first two frames. The Astros scored first when JD Martinez hit an RBI double in the opening inning. But Milwaukee took the lead in the bottom of the first when Ryan Braun belted a two-run homer, his second in three games and his fourth of the season. The Astros scored three times in the second frame to go up 4-2. Ex-Brewer Carlos Lee hit a run-scoring single. And Martinez scored on a wild pitch from Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum. Travis Ishikawa, starting at first against for Mat Gamel, belted a two run homer to tie the game in the bottom of the second. It was Ishikawa’s second blast in two days. Both starters lasted only five innings. Marcum gave up four runs on eight hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Houston starter JA Happ also gave up four runs with seven hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts. Tim Dillard took the mound in the sixth for Milwaukee, and Wilton Lopez relieved Happ for the Astros. The Brewers are trying to sweep their three-game series with Houston, and win their 12th straight over the Astros dating back to last season. A win today would also put Milwaukee above .500 for the first time since April 12th.

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