NFL CAREER – The Saints’ left guard, Carl Nicks is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, whose career has continued to blossom along the New Orleans offensive line. A powerful run blocker who also has the wide wingspan and quick feet needed for pass protection, Nicks has been a key factor for a Saints offensive line that has surrendered only 83 sacks over the past four seasons, the third-lowest total in the NFL, blocking for a unit that has finished in the top 10 each campaign, culminating with a 2011 season where the offense set the NFL record for total net yards. The Saints selected Nicks in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and the choice paid almost immediate dividends, as he was inserted into the starting lineup in the third game of the season and has started 61 consecutive games since and the offense has been ranked first in the NFL three of the past four campaigns.
NFL CAREER – The Saints’ left guard, Carl Nicks is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, whose career has continued to blossom along the New Orleans offensive line. A powerful run blocker who also has the wide wingspan and quick feet needed for pass protection, Nicks has been a key factor for a Saints offensive line that has surrendered only 83 sacks over the past four seasons, the third-lowest total in the NFL, blocking for a unit that has finished in the top 10 each campaign, culminating with a 2011 season where the offense set the NFL record for total net yards. The Saints selected Nicks in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and the choice paid almost immediate dividends, as he was inserted into the starting lineup in the third game of the season and has started 61 consecutive games since and the offense has been ranked first in the NFL three of the past four campaigns.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms, 8/1/11; Signed to a three-year contract, 7/23/08; Drafted in the fifth-round (164th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2011: Pro Bowl (starter), Associated Press first team All-Pro; PFWA/Pro Football Weekly All-NFL, All-NFC; The Sporting News All-Pro; Sports Illustrated (Peter King) All-Pro; Madden Most Valuable Protectors of the Year (Offensive Line Award); Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award (Week Nine, Offensive Line); 2010: Pro Bowl, Associated Press second team All-Pro; 2009: Madden Most Valuable Protectors of the Year (Offensive Line Award);2008: Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie, The Sporting News All-Rookie.
2011 – Started at LG in all 16 games, running his consecutive starts streak to 61 games…Also started both postseason contests…First-team All-Pro, and voted to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year, for the first time as a starter…Part of a Saints offensive line that relinquished only 24 sacks during the 2011 season, tied for second fewest in the NFL, giving up only five in the last eight games…Blocked for an offense that finished 2011 ranked first in the NFL in offense as they set a league record with 7,474 yards, winning the 2011 Madden Protectors Award for the second time in three years, in recognition of the line’s performance. 2010 – Started at LG in all 16 games…Also started NFC Wild Card Playoff at Seattle, 1/8/11…Part of an offensive attack that finished ranked third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL, averaging 372.5 yards per game…Voted to Pro Bowl for the first time…Part of a line in which all five players have started 22 consecutive regular season games together (dating back to 2009) and four postseason games, the longest current streak in the NFL…Key to Saints’ ground game that produced a season-high 212 rushing yards and 475 total net yards at Tampa Bay, Oct. 17…Helped rookie RB Chris Ivory rush for 155 yards…Cleared the way for an offense that posted 436 total yards, including Ivory’s second 100-yard game of the year, including a season-long 55-yard run at Cincinnati, Dec. 5…Part of a line that helped the Saints score 31 points, gain 345 yards on 70 offensive plays (4.9 avg.), including 132 on the ground and maintain possession for 33:01 vs. St. Louis, Dec. 12....Part of a line that blocked for a playoff franchise-record 474 yards in postseason contest. 2009 – Started at LG in all 16 games…Played a key role in the club’s top-ranked offense, helping to improve a rushing game to rank sixth in the league to go along with the NFL’s fourth-ranked passing attack that allowed just 20 sacks…Part of a line that captured the Madden Protector’s Award, awarded by John Madden to the NFL’s top offensive line…In season opener vs. Detroit, Sept. 13, helped lead the way for 515 yards of total offense, including 157 rushing yards and allowing zero sacks…Helped pace the team’s 493-yard offensive attack that produced 48 points in the victory over NY Giants, Oct. 18…Started at LG in all three of the Saints’ postseason victories. 2008 –After serving as a backup and goal-line TE for the first three games, Nicks opened the final 13 at LG and was a key component of an offense that was ranked first in the NFL in yards per game and scoring, while setting club record with only 13 sacks surrendered…After entering starting lineup in the fourth game, vs. San Francisco, the Saints gave up only nine sacks in the final 13 contests.
COLLEGE – Appeared in 23 games at Nebraska, starting 13 contests, including 11 at LT in 2007 and two at RT in 2006…During his two seasons with the Cornhuskers, he allowed just one sack…As a senior, he was named second-team All-Big 12 while registering 76 knockdowns…Appeared in all 11 games as a junior in 2006, serving as the top backup at RT, where he started the final two games…Attended Hartnell (Salinas, Calif.) JC in 2005…Played as a reserve DT as a freshman at New Mexico State in 2003, recording three tackles and a fumble recovery…Majored in sociology.
PERSONAL –Attended Salinas (Calif.) HS, where he was a standout DT and named Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2002 in his region…While at Hartnell Junior College, also competed on the track team in shot put and discus…Along with his offensive line teammates organized a holiday bike drive in 2009 and 2010…He and his wife, Bridget, have a daughter, Serena…Born in San Francisco, Calif.
