Ralph Neely

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

Early years

He 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.

Neely 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.

He 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 would later trade his rights to the Dallas Cowboys.

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 this incident.

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 to send draft choices (a first, second and two fifth round choices in the 1967 NFL Draft) to the Oilers and to start the annual pre-season game the Governor's Cup between the two teams.

A rookie in 1965, Neely joined the Cowboys just as they were beginning their ascent in the NFL and started right away as a right tackle, and remained there for 5 seasons.

With great quickness for a big man, he became a dominant player on the Cowboys offensive line for 13 seasons. After being named to the NFL all-rookie team, he went on to earn first- or- second team All-NFL the next four years.

Neely was an All-Pro four times 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 tackle, where he manned that 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 leg in an off-road, in-season motorcycle accident; and missed the rest of the year.

In 1977, Neely retired after the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos.

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.

External links

• Profootball profile
• Dallas Cowboys Top 50 players