| No. 51 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1949-08-01)August 1, 1949 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | September 29, 2009(2009-09-29) (aged 60) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tennessee |
| NFL draft | 1972: 6th round, 155th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| 1972–1976 | BC Lions |
| 1977 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 1978 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 1979 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1980 | Calgary Stampeders |
| Awards and highlights | |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2005) | |
Ray Nettles (August 1, 1949 – September 29, 2009) was a footballlinebacker at theUniversity of Tennessee who played professionalCanadian football from 1972 to 1980. He was a five-timeCanadian Football League (FL) All-Star and Hall of Famer.
Nettles was born inJacksonville, Florida and graduated fromEnglewood High School in 1968. In his senior year, he wasDuval County defensive player of the year and third team All-State.[2]
Nettles accepted a scholarship to theUniversity of Tennessee but spent his first two years as backup to two-timePro BowlerJack Reynolds. In the two seasons that Nettles started as linebacker, Tennessee's record was 21–3 and he was named to theAll-SEC team in 1971.
TheMiami Dolphins drafted him in 1972, but he chose the CFL because they offered twice as much money and the opportunity to play immediately. At Miami, he would have competed for a starting job againstAll-Pro linebackerNick Buoniconti. Nettles was quoted in a 1999Florida Times-Union article, "It's not like I was afraid to play in the NFL. I could have had success there, but I already waited my turn behind Jack Reynolds at Tennessee, and I didn't want to do that again. I wanted to prove myself right away."[2]
Nettles started his pro career for theBC Lions in 1972 and was named to the All-Star team his first year. In his second year, he won the 1973CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award and was again named to the All-Star team. He remained with the Lions through the 1976 season, then played for theToronto Argonauts in 1977, theHamilton Tiger-Cats in 1978, theOttawa Rough Riders in 1979, and theCalgary Stampeders in 1980. He was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
While playing football, Nettles was known as a tough guy with long hair who partied hard and drove fast motorcycles.[2] His profile on the Canadian Football Hall of Fame website states: "He became known as much for his colourful off field personality as for his on field feistiness."[3]Nettles struggled throughout much of his adult life with alcohol and cocaine additions, which contributed to three divorces and multiple attempts at rehabilitation. He was finally successful in November 2008 after a six-week stay atWillingway Hospital.[2] He explained his attitude in a July 2009 interview:
In my mind, I wasn't suppose [sic] to live past 50, so I didn't take rehabilitation seriously the first few times I tried it. I was always standing on the edge, looking over a cliff, but stepping backwards. A few times, I slipped and saw a couple of the rocks fall and God spared me many times. I just never could figure out why until this past year.[2]
As part of his sobriety, Nettles became a Christian and regained self-respect and dignity, which allowed him to live his final months at peace.[2]
Nettles died at a hospice inJacksonville, Florida on September 29, 2009, after a long battle with liver and lung cancer.[4][5][6]