Austin Collie has suffered multiple concussions that cost him almost an entire season. He suffered from tendonitis in his right knee. And he was released by the Indianapolis Colts last week.

However, he told the Indianapolis Star recently that he is not ready to give up on his pro football career.

“I’m playing,” he said Saturday afternoon in an interview with The Star. “Right now, it would take a doctor to tell me, ‘You can’t play anymore.’

“I feel like this is a gift that I’ve been given, and personally I feel I should still be doing it. That’s just me.”

As for his history of concussions, Collie said he doesn’t think that’s a reason to quit. He said he is getting inspiration from his former coach Chuck Pagano, who came back to coach the Colts after going through chemotherapy for leukemia last season.

“Just to see him come back and overcome that gave me hope,” Collie said. “He was an inspiration to me.

“I can’t say my wife and I and my family aren’t sad (about leaving the Colts). We love the organization, the people. But it’s time for a change. There’s a little bit of excitement of a new adventure, of going with a clean slate.

“I’m looking forward to that new beginning.”

– Bill Bradley, contributing editor