Kyle Turley Kyle John Turley ( born September 24 , 1975 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League ( NFL ) for ten seasons . He played college football at San Diego State , and was recognized as an All - American . He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft , and played professionally for the Saints , St . Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL . He was an All - Pro selection in 2000 . Turley currently works as a country music recording artist and is a prominent voice in debate over the effects of concussion s on the post - career health of NFL players . Early years . Turley was born in Provo , Utah . He attended Valley View High School in Moreno Valley , California , where he played high school football for the Valley View Eagles . College career . Turley accepted an athletic scholarship to attend San Diego State University , where he played for the San Diego State Aztecs football team from 1994 to 1997 . As a senior in 1997 , he was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American . Professional football career . New Orleans Saints . Turley is widely remembered for what 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 opposition territory . After a scramble , quarterback Aaron Brooks was tackled at the four - yard line where Jets defender Damien Robinson viciously grabbed his facemask and started to bend Brooks backwards . Turley proceeded to grab Robinson ' s hands and forced him to let go of Brooks , before picking him up by the facemask and tackling him to the ground as referees and players from both teams tried to separate them . 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 assessed 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 Saints head coach Jim Haslett said he considered cutting Turley following the game but later rescinded his statement after discussing the incident with him and reviewing the game tape .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 . St . Louis Rams . 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 vehemently denied by Turley . 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 to tight end . Kansas City Chiefs . On June 11 , 2006 , it was announced that Turley signed a two - year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs . Turley had regained his previous weight and had been so impressive in training camp that he had been expected to be the opening - day starting right tackle . As the 2006 Chiefs season ended , Turley had missed more than half of the season due to recurring injuries . Turley was released on March 21 , 2007 and reportedly considered retirement . However , Turley was re - signed by Kansas City prior to its training camp in July 2007 . Life after football . After retiring from football , Turley moved to Nashville , Tennessee , where he set his sights on a music career . Turley started Gridiron Records with Tim Pickett . Other acts signed to Gridiron Records include Invitro , Unset , and The Hairbrain Scheme . Turley was influenced by Heavy Metal music . He loved Pantera and Slayer while growing up . Other musical influences are Johnny Cash and Hank III . His debut album , " Anger Management " , was released by Gridiron Records in 2010 . It was co - produced by Turley and Brandon Epps , and includes songs about his football career . He explains that the style of music " power country " is a mix of all rock sub genres and country genres . The track titled , " Anger Management , " includes references to the helmet - throwing incident . " Anger Management " received critical praise since debuting in the top 200 Country albums on iTunes . Part of the proceeds from the album go to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund a non - profit , 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) corporation , established to provide financial assistance and coordinate social services to dire need retired NFL players who are pioneers of the game and have greatly contributed to the NFL ' s status as the most popular sport in America . In addition to music , Turley has been a participant in several journalistic inquiries into the NFL ' s treatment of concussions and overall health of its players . His experiences dealing with the ramifications of his football - related injuries , specifically concussions , were featured prominently in Malcolm Gladwell ' s October 2009 article in " The New Yorker " . As a result of concussions sustained through his career , Turley has a seizure disorder . Turley was also a participant in ESPN ' s investigation into the misuse of painkillers by former NFL players . Turley has criticized former San Diego State coach Brady Hoke for leaving after two seasons to accept the head coaching job at Michigan . Soon after Hoke left in January 2011 , Turley sent him a text message saying , " I hope you lose every damn game . " The week of San Diego State ' s game at Michigan on September 24 , Turley said that he was still angry at Hoke and hoped that San Diego State would beat Michigan so that " karma plays its role . " Music touring and appearances . Turley toured with Hank III in early Spring of 2010 to support the album " Anger Management . " Turley has also appeared on Field and Stream ' s video series , " The Wild Life with Hank III . " After signing with booking agency , Creative Artists Agency , Turley planned a 2010 Fall tour set . As of July 15 , 2013 Turley ' s music was being used for Hollywood super manager / producer Barry Katz ' s Podcast ; Industry Standard . Songs include " Free " and " Fortune and Pain . " 2011 . In September 2011 Turley launched his Gridiron Tail Gate Tour . Playing tail gates and local venues at numerous NFL and college football games , Turley is dedicating his tour to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund . Gridiron Records announced that one hundred percent of online sales for his sophomore album single " Fortune and Pain " will go to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund . Turley is also working with Chicago - based , charity - minded public relations strategist Christopher Foltz to raise awareness of both the Gridiron Greats and NFL injuries and post - career struggles for retirees .