Ralph Neely

Ralph Eugene Neely (born September 12, 1943) is a former American football offensive tackle who played 13 seasons and 172 games for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1977.

Ralph Neely
No. 73
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1943-09-12) September 12, 1943
Little Rock, Arkansas
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Farmington (NM)
College:Oklahoma
NFL Draft:1965 / Round: 2 / Pick: 28
AFL draft:1965 / Round: 2 / Pick: 15
(by the Houston Oilers)[1]
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games:172
Kick Returns:7
Kickoff yards:48
Games Started:168
Fumble Recoveries:5
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Neely attended Farmington High School (New Mexico), where he was an All-State tackle for two years in football, and a standout center for the basketball team.

He was recruited by the University of Oklahoma, where he played college football under coaches Bud Wilkinson and Gomer Jones. He was a 261-pound tackle who played both ways, as a dominant performer on defense and an excellent blocker on offense. He was named the Big Eight sophomore lineman of the year and was a two-time All-American and an all-conference selection in both 1963 and '64.

Neely was one of three Sooners stars who missed the 1965 Gator Bowl game against Florida State University. Neely, fullback Jim Grisham and halfback Lance Rentzel signed with professional teams before the game, and were ruled ineligible for the contest, which Florida State University won 36–19 on the strength of four touchdown catches by Fred Biletnikoff.

Professional career

In 1965, he was drafted in the second round of both the 1965 NFL Draft (by the Baltimore Colts) and the 1965 AFL Draft (by the Houston Oilers). The Colts traded his NFL contractual rights to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Billy Lothridge and a fourth-round selection in the 1966 NFL Draft on August 29, 1965.[2]

Neely accepted the Oilers contract offer (which also included rights to own a Houston gas station), but requested it be kept secret to remain eligible to play in the Gator Bowl. When he learned that the Colts traded his rights to the Cowboys, he began negotiating with Dallas, and returned his check to the Oilers. Litigation ensued between the Oilers and Cowboys in regards to his rights.[3][4]

A rookie in 1965, he joined the Cowboys just as they were beginning their ascent in the NFL, became an immediate starter at right offensive tackle and was named to the NFL all-rookie team. With great quickness for his size, he became a dominant player on the Cowboys offensive line for 13 seasons.

One of the terms of the merger agreement between the NFL and the AFL was that the Neely contract dispute be resolved. In 1966, the Cowboys finally agreed with the Oilers to send draft choices (a first, second and two fifth round choices in the 1967 NFL Draft), pay all of the court costs and to start the annual pre-season game the Governor's Cup between the two teams.[5]

Neely was a four-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler in 1967 and 1969. In 1970, Neely started the season at right guard, but soon took over for Tony Liscio at left offensive tackle, where he manned the position until 1977, while continuing to be one of the NFL’s premier offensive linemen.

He was injured halfway into the Cowboys victorious 1971 Super Bowl season, when he fractured his left leg in an off-road motorcycle accident; and missed the rest of the year.[6]

In 1977, Neely retired after the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos.[7] He was selected to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, though Neely has yet to join his bookend partner Rayfield Wright, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or in the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.

In 2018, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Neely to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018 [8]

gollark: Really? I thought someone did at some point.
gollark: Macron is bad?
gollark: Anyway, I've already generated my entry for the next round, so get fearing.
gollark: I did. It was obviously you.
gollark: It is VERY annoying that the last one has just four (4) integers in it and not five (5).

References
  1. "1965 AFL Draft". Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  2. "Cowboys Trade Lothridge To Baltimore Colts," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, August 30, 1965. Retrieved February 15, 2014
  3. Houston Oilers, Inc., Appellant, v. Ralph Neely, Appellee, 361 F.2d 36 (10th Cir. 1966) – Justia.com. Retrieved May 25, 2020
  4. "Oilers' Suit Against Neely Upheld By Supreme Court," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, October 11, 1966. Retrieved February 15, 2014
  5. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19661118&id=YaVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zRAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4402,4746513
  6. "Cowboys Lose Neely," United Press International (UPI), Tuesday, November 2, 1971. Retrieved February 15, 2014
  7. "Cowboys' Neely to Retire," Thr Associated Press (AP), Friday, December 23, 1977. Retrieved February 15, 2014
  8. "PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
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