Carl Nicks
No. 77
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1985-05-14) May 14, 1985
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:343 lb (156 kg)
Career information
High school:North Salinas (Salinas, California)
College:
NFL Draft:2008 / Round: 5 / Pick: 164
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:73
Games started:70
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Carl Nicks, Jr. (born May 14, 1985[1]) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.[2] He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

College career

Nicks graduated from North Salinas High School in Salinas, California in 2003. Before transferring to Nebraska, Nicks played at New Mexico State and then at Hartnell College, a community college in Salinas.[3] Following the 2005 season at Hartnell, Nicks was rated the No. 7 junior college prospect from the state of California by JCGridiron.com. During his time at Nebraska, Nicks was known for his problems on and off the field, but in 2010, Nicks returned to Lincoln to apologize to head coach Bo Pelini for his behavior during his time at Nebraska.[4]

Professional career

New Orleans Saints

In his rookie season, he replaced Jamar Nesbit in the starting lineup after Nesbit violated the league substance abuse policy. His play exceeded expectations and Nicks finished his rookie year playing in all 16 games and starting 13. After starting all 16 games in 2009 and the Saints three post-season games, he went into the 2010 season as the starting left guard.[5] He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2011 and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2011.[6]

Nicks gave a profanity-laced radio interview after the Saints win in Super Bowl XLIV in which he excitedly shouted "I'm going to mother-fucking Disneyland!" as the Saints left the field after winning the game.[7][8]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nicks signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 14, 2012.[9] On October 30, 2012, Nicks was placed on injured reserve with a toe problem requiring surgery. He had not missed a game since joining the NFL.[10]

Before the season began in 2013, Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes were diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, causing him to miss week one of the season.

On July 25, 2014 the Buccaneers and Nicks mutually agreed to part ways, ending his tenure with the team. After signing as an unrestricted free agent during the 2012 offseason, Nicks played in nine games for the Buccaneers over the past two seasons.[11][12]

Health issues, including a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection,[13] forced his early retirement. He was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame on October 29, 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "Carl Nicks - Huskers.com". huskers.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ "2008 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. ↑ "George Watkins: Nicks' intro a crowd pleaser" Archived January 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, The Salinas Californian, January 13, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Apologetic Nicks says he let down Nebraska". sportingnews.com. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Carl Nicks - NFL Profile". nfl.com. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  6. ↑ Bradley Handwerger, "Saints players hope Nicks, Colston, other free agents return" Archived January 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, WWL-TV, January 17, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Carl Nicks Disneyland Comment: Audio". zimbo.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  8. ↑ Kristian Garic, "Kristian - SB 44...It seems like yesterday", WWL (AM), n.d. (accessed January 19, 2012).
  9. ↑ Bucs sign Carl Nicks, Eric Wright
  10. ↑ "All-Pro guard Nicks goes on IR". Yahoo! Sports. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  11. ↑ Hanzus, Dan (July 25, 2014). "Carl Nicks, Buccaneers mutually agree to part ways". NFL.com. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Buccaneers release Guard Carl Nicks". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Yahoo Sports NFL".
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