HE DOESN’T HAVE A LEG TO STAND...

HE DOESN’T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON

Carolina quarterback Kerry Collins re-injured his left knee when he was hit from behind by Atlanta’s Chuck Smith early in the third quarter of a 20-17 loss to the Falcons.

Smith was called for a personal foul, and Collins blasted the defensive end as a well-known cheap shot specialist.

“You saw what he did,” the fuming quarterback said. “He did it to [Dallas quarterback Troy] Aikman, he did it to [Pittsburgh’s Mike] Tomczak. I was not surprised to see it happen.

“He’s trying to end people’s careers. There’s no room for it. It’s cheap, cheap, cheap.”

Collins called on commissioner Paul Tagliabue to fine Smith.

Smith denied that he was trying to hurt the quarterback.

“The game is physical. It’s unfortunate,” he said. “But I’m not backing off. The league can do whatever, Kerry can say whatever. But I’m going to keep coming.”

--Compiled by HOUSTON MITCHELL