Carl Pickens

Infobox NFLretired


|caption=
position=Wide Receiver
number=80, 81, 86
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|3|23
Murphy, North Carolina
debutyear=1992
finalyear=2000
draftyear=1992
draftround=2
draftpick=31
college=Tennessee
teams=
* Cincinnati Bengals (1992-1999)
* Tennessee Titans (2000)
stat1label=Receptions
stat1value=540
stat2label=Receiving Yards
stat2value=7,129
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=63
nfl=PIC571956
highlights=
* 2x Pro Bowl selection (1995, 1996)
* 1992 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Carl McNally Pickens (born March 23, 1970 in Murphy, North Carolina) is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL who played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.

Before his NFL career, Pickens played college football for the University of Tennessee from 1989-1991, where he caught 109 passes for 1,875 yards and 13 touchdowns, and made the College Football All-America Team as a senior.

In 1992 Pickens was named The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. In 1995, he set a Bengals record for receptions in a single season with 99, and touchdown catches with 17. Pickens later surpassed his own record by recording 100 receptions in 1996. In his 9 NFL seasons, Pickens recorded 540 receptions for 7,129 yards and 63 touchdowns, while also gaining another 307 yards and 1 touchdown on punt returns. As of 2007, his 530 receptions are the 2nd most (Chad Ocho Cinco) in franchise history, while his 63 touchdown catches are a franchise record.
He is also known for the "Carl Pickens Clause". This was a loyalty clause that the Bengals created and added to Pickens' contract which would cause him to forfeit all or some of his signing bonus if he insulted the organization in public. This clause has since been used in contracts with other players.

Common Nicknames
*Carl 'Easy' Pickens
*Carl 'Slim' Pickens

External links

* [http://www.bengals.com/team/history/receiving_alltime.asp Bengals leading receivers]