Collins Says He’s Handcuffed : Football: Increased enforcement of ‘chuck’ rules has Kansas City cornerback frustrated.

After nine seasons in the NFL, Mark Collins figured a cornerback with two Super Bowl rings could catch a break now and then.

Sorry, not this season.

Collins says he and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary will be covering more than just the Rams’ receivers Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

They also will be trying to cover up downfield contact with receivers under the watchful eyes of game officials.

The league has decided this season to enforce more strictly rules regarding illegal “chucks”--contact by a defender against a receiver that does not come within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

That means physical cornerbacks such as Collins, who are often vulnerable covering a wide receiver one on one, must keep their hands to themselves after taking six steps downfield.

“There’s no doubt that’s what the league is trying to do,” said Collins, a former Cal State Fullerton standout. “And there’s nothing the defensive backs can do about it.

“Offense sells tickets, and with the new TV contract, the league wants high-scoring games.”

And the league is getting those high-scoring games after a season-long field goal-kicking contest last year:

--Teams averaged nearly 21 points last week after 23.3 in openers.

--Nine quarterbacks threw for 280 yards or more and seven receivers caught more than 120 yards in passes.

--Ten teams scored 28 or more points last week, compared to five in Week 3 of last season. The Raiders and Minnesota each scored more than 40 points last week compared to none in Week 3 a year ago.

--Arizona is the only team to be shut out this season, losing, 32-0, to Cleveland last week.

Even Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana is sympathetic to the cornerbacks’ plight this season.

Wait a minute. A quarterback feeling sorry for a cornerback?

“This was becoming a defensive league and people weren’t happy with it,” Montana said. “It’s great for the offense, and that was the intention--to get more points scored because that’s what people want to see.

“You would like to see it be fair, but that’s not the case.”

Other defensive players and coaches have echoed Collins’ frustration and Montana’s sympathy. Ram Coach Chuck Knox brought up the issue after the first week of the season. So has Ram nickel back Robert Bailey and cornerback Todd Lyght.

Rules state that a defensive back can use his hands only to defend or protect himself against impending contact caused by a receiver. A defender can’t “chuck” a receiver or extend an arm to cut off or hook him, causing contact that impedes and restricts the receiver.

Example: San Francisco cornerback Deion Sanders bumps Flipper Anderson with his left arm as they were racing down the sideline in last week’s game.

Result: Penalty flag--Pass interference on Sanders. Rams gain 31 yards on the play.

“That’s really frustrating,” Collins said. “But there’s really nothing you can do about it.”

But there is something that can be done, Montana said. Put a heavy rush on the quarterback.

“With the new rules, everybody has a tough time if you don’t get pressure up front,” he said. “I feel for all the cornerbacks around the league.”

Despite changes in the rule interpretations, Collins and the Kansas City secondary haven’t had too many problems this season.

They have intercepted six passes, four more than their opponents, and cornerback Dale Carter, with some help from Collins, shut down Atlanta wide receiver Andre Rison, holding him to three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in a 30-10 Chiefs’ victory last week.

Kansas City lost defensive backs Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross in the off-season, but Coach Marty Schottenheimer thought he upgraded his secondary by signing Collins, an unrestricted free agent.

Collins, 30, had received interest from Seattle, Tampa Bay, Detroit, New England, San Diego and Denver, but when it came time to sign, he placed winning as a priority along with money.

“I shopped around a little,” Collins said. “But it wasn’t a hard decision--Kansas City has an excellent chance of winning the Super Bowl, and I thought that was as important as how much money I could get somewhere else.

“I know I already have two rings, but I want a third.”