???As the darkness rises over Landover, Md., and the glow of the lights at FedEx Field slowly burns away, a true legend reemerges as the best backup quarterback to ever sit on the bench.
???Known as "the human highlight reel" in high school, Todd Collins started his quest to be the best of the bench at Walpole High School in New England. It is there where, legend has it, he once stiff-armed a teammate during practice so hard, he broke his teammate's shoulder pads into mere pieces.
???Soon after moving on to the University of Michigan, Collins proved that he wasn't just a big fish in a little pond by displaying a football prowess impressive enough to scare opponents out of their uniforms. His friends and family nicknamed him "Shock and Awe."
???And that's just what he did as a redshirt freshmen, dominating during the 1990 Rose Bowl. He completed 50 percent of his passes - an incredible one completion in two attempts.
???It was clutch performances like this that led him to be drafted by our own Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft, leading many Bills fans to nickname him "HeHateMe," partially because opponents disliked his total abandonment of the rules, but also because Rod Smart was still going by the name of Rod.
???Collins wouldn't make his NFL impact until 1997, when he defeated future Hall of Famers Billy Joe Hobert and Alex Van Pelt in one of the most heated competitions for starting quarterback in Bills history.
???When announced as the starting quarterback by then-head coach Marv Levy, Buffalo went into a Collins frenzy most recently seen when the Bills signed superstar Coy Wire onto the roster.
???Embraced by Coke machines in front of K-Marts across Western New York, Collins slowly began reveling in the limelight, power-walking his way to a 6-10 Bills record.
???Realizing Buffalo was the large market hub he needed, Collins switched his attention to the big city lights of Kansas City, where his partying never stopped.
???In fact, it was in Kansas City that he revolutionized the way football was played.
???Remember last year, the only highlights of Dolphins games shown on ESPN were of the patented Wildcat offense? Yep, Collins invented that in 2003.
???Rumor has it, he was out a little too late and was too tired to go to practice, instead opting to dress up one of his pet tigers and sent him to practice instead.
???Head coach Dick Vermeil was shocked at the speed of the new feline Collins, and it wasn't until he attempted to maul Morten Andersen's right leg that coach Vermeil realized Collins wasn't at practice, thus creating the Wildcat offense.
???And anyone remember Dante Hall? He was nothing until he began taking kickoff returns alongside his best friend Collins and his trademark "X" arm symbol became an emblem for the straightedge drug-free lifestyle Collins promoted.
???Frustrated with the Bush presidency so far, Collins decided in 2006 it was time to flee the Chiefs and make a move to the Washington Redskins, where he would be able to get his toes wet in political circles while taking control of an underachieving franchise.
???It was in Washington that they truly realized what a standout quarterback they had.
???Dec. 6, 2007 was the most important day in Washington sports history since Nationals third baseman Vinny Castilla was denied the chance to hit for the cycle, when Diamondbacks reliever Lance Cormier hit him with a pitch in the eighth inning.
???The Redskins were a team in shambles, yet Collins hobbled out onto the field as a replacement for the injured Jason Campbell. He strutted his way to a victory over the Chicago Bears, and eventually led the Redskins to the playoffs.
???It was then that the people of FedEx Field began to realize that change was coming. Collins brought hope to the citizens of Washington, D.C.
???So before Redskins fans get all pumped for Jay Cutler's possible arrival, remember what you have: the greatest NFL backup quarterback who ever lived.
