University of Maine's Jerron McMillian is Collins' replacement

GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers drafted some big guys to help their defense last month, but one of their later picks could play a main role in his first season.

Three-time Pro Bowler Nick Collins had some of the biggest games of his career against the Chicago Bears before being released by the Green Bay Packers because of a neck injury. Collins' potential successor is a former Bear - a University of Maine "black bear" that is - rookie fourth-round draft choice Jerron McMillian.

"I really don't want to put too much pressure on myself. I just want to feel comfortable. It's going pretty well, and I'm starting to feel real comfortable right now," McMillian said.

Maine is not a big time football factory, but McMillian is not big time concerned about how he'll fare against the tough quarterbacks who reside in the NFC North Division, and who he'll have to meet twice every season.

"I don't think it's that big of a jump. There's always some jumps that you have to make and you just have to do it," McMillian said.

Collins came out of a small school and took a little while to adjust to the pro game, and even life off the field in Green Bay before flourishing, and now it's McMillian's turn.

When you get all of one offer to play college football, you take it, even if it means the self-described city kid was moving to Orono, Maine.

"Orono is so different. Coming from Jersey it was a big change, but like my mom says, change is always good, so I just had to get used to it. I think (Green Bay) is kind of similar, and it should be good. I think I'll do pretty fine," McMillian said.

If he does, McMillian will prove to be a pretty fine draft choice for a defense that needs help in general, and a safety in particular.