Kyle Turley

Kyle Turley (born September 24, 1975 in Provo, UT) is an American football offensive lineman who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has played for the New Orleans Saints and the St. Louis Rams. He played college football at San Diego State University. Resident of Southern California and an avid surfer.

New Orleans Saints: The helmet incident

Turley is widely remembered for 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 oppositon 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 accessed 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 Saints head coach Jim Haslett said he considered cutting Turley following the game but later rescinded his statement after discussing the incident with Turley and reviewing the game tape.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".

In 2002, Turley was shifted from right tackle to left tackle following the trade of longtime left tackle Willie Roaf to the Kansas City Chiefs and stretched his consecutive games started streak to 69.

St. Louis Rams: Further controversy

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 vehmently 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: The comeback

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 he is expected to be the opening-day starting left tackle.[1]