PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Rams’ Slater, 41, Says He’s Retiring

St. Louis Ram offensive lineman Jackie Slater, one of only four players to play 20 seasons in the NFL, told a Meridian, Miss., television station that he was retiring.

WTOK-TV reported that the 41-year-old Slater, the league’s oldest player, was making official his plans to retire. Slater played his entire NFL career with the Rams.

Because of injuries, Slater played in only one game during the 1995 season.

Slater, a former Jackson State standout whose wife is from Meridian, told WTOK that he had been offered a job as offensive line coach for the Rams, but he was more interested in pursing a career in broadcasting. Slater did fill-in work on L.A.’s KMPC when it was an all-sports station.

An announcement regarding his retirement was expected to be made by the Rams today, Slater told the station.

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Defensive back Mark Collins, denied a chance at a third Super Bowl when the Kansas City Chiefs lost to Indianapolis in the AFC playoffs, has retired.

Collins, who will be 32 on Jan. 16, said he had decided in May that this would be his last season, and that Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Colts had nothing to do with his decision.

He played two seasons for the Chiefs after playing on two New York Giant Super Bowl champions.

“As of now, I’m done,” Collins said while clearing out his locker at Arrowhead Stadium as the Chiefs held final meetings with Coach Marty Schottenheimer before dispersing.

Collins was a second draft choice of the Giants in 1986 out of Cal State Fullerton. He was a three-sport star at Pacific High in San Bernardino.

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Three-time Super Bowl most valuable player Joe Montana will handle the coin toss for the Super Bowl on Jan. 28.

Joining Montana for the pregame ceremony at Sun Devil Stadium will be the 25 MVPs from the other Super Bowls, including two-time winner Bart Starr.