Kyle Turley

Infobox NFLretired


|width=
caption=
position=Offensive tackle
number=68, 74
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|9|24
Provo, Utah
deathdate=
debutyear=1998
finalyear=2007
draftyear=1998
draftround=1
draftpick=7
college=San Diego State
teams=
* New Orleans Saints (1998-2002)
* St. Louis Rams (2003-2004)
* Kansas City Chiefs (2006-2007)
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=109
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=107
stat3label=Fumble recoveries
stat3value=8
nfl=TUR099308
highlights=
* All-Pro selection (2000)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Kyle John Turley (born September 24, 1975 in Provo, Utah) is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.

In addition to the Saints, Turley also played for the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs in his career before retiring after the 2007 season. He was an All-Pro selection in 2000.

Professional career

New Orleans Saints

Turley is widely remembered for what occurred on November 4, 2001 in the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints were trailing the New York Jets 16-9 late in the fourth quarter, but were driving deep into opposition territory. After a scramble, quarterback Aaron Brooks was tackled at the six yard line where Jets defender Damien Robinson viciously grabbed his facemask. Turley emerged from the ensuing scrum with Robinson's helmet and proceeded to fling it across the field before giving an obscene gesture. Robinson and Turley received off-setting personal fouls for the initial incident, but Turley was ejected from the game and assessed an additional personal foul penalty for the obscene gesture, costing the Saints any chance at tying the game. Saints head coach Jim Haslett said he considered cutting Turley following the game but later rescinded his statement after discussing the incident with him and reviewing the game tape. Turley was ultimately fined $25,000 by the Saints Organization for conduct detrimental to the team while Robinson was fined $20,000 by the NFL. Turley said in his defense that he thought Robinson was about to break his quarterback's neck.

Kyle Turley was Reggie Bush's favorite NFL player as an adolescent. [ [http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/08/26/reggie-bushs-favorite-player-kyle-turley/ Reggie Bush's Favorite Player: Kyle Turley - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog ] ]

t. Louis Rams

After rejecting a long-term contract extension with the Saints, Turley was traded to the St. Louis Rams on March 21, 2003 in exchange for a 2004 2nd round draft choice. The Rams immediately signed Turley to a 5-year contract extension worth $26.5 million ($10 million signing bonus) in addition to the one year remaining on Turley's deal. With Orlando Pace entrenched as the starting left tackle, Turley returned to the right side and started 16 games for St. Louis.

Turley's stormy and controversial career was interrupted in 2004 by injury woes. After recovering from offseason back surgery, Turley reinjured his back (August 2004) in training camp and ended up on the injured reserve list. Both injuries were considered career-threatening.

On Dec. 13, 2004, Turley reportedly had a heated confrontation with Rams head coach Mike Martz. The incident had to be investigated by league security as Martz contended that Turley 'threatened to kill him', a charge that would later be vehemently denied by Turley.

Injury

On June 6, 2005, Turley was released by the Rams and spent the entire 2005 season out of football due to the effects of sciatic nerve damage that also atrophied his right leg. After initially dropping 65 pounds from his 300-pound frame, Turley had gotten back to around the 265 mark in hopes of switching positions, possibly moving to defensive end, and relieving pressure on his back.

On May 5, 2006, Turley began a 3-day tryout with the Miami Dolphins. Hoping to rejoin the NFL as a tight end, reported to minicamp weighing 260 pounds.

Kansas City Chiefs

On June 11, 2006, it was announced that Turley signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Turley has regained his previous weight and has been so impressive in training camp that had been expected to be the opening-day starting right tackle. [ [http://www.pfcritics.com/news101/KyleTurleyBackinNFLWithChi.php Kyle Turley Back in NFL With Chiefs - NFL - PFCritics ] ]

As the 2006 Chiefs season ended, Turley had missed more than half of the season due to recurring injuries. Turley was released on March 21, 2007 and reportedly considered retirement. [Pasquarelli, Len. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2807501 Kansas City parts ways with veteran safety Knight] "ESPN.com", 21 March 2007.] However, Turley was re-signed by Kansas City prior to its training camp in July 2007.

References