S Nate Salley (official thread)

[TheStoicPaisano]

Nate was called up to the active roster yesterday. He'll be the 5th safety this weekend.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Nate Salley has roots too


By DENEZ JONES, NG Sports Reporter

[email protected]

When Devard Darling was drafted into the National Football League (NFL) in 2003 he was just the second Bahamian to achieve that honour. These days, Bahamians, or those with roots, are popping up all around the NFL.
The Nassau Guardian recently learned that Carolina Panthers' rookie safety, Nate Salley Jr., is one of those NFL players with Bahamian roots. He wasn't able to be contacted before press time, but The Nassau Guardian spoke with his uncle, Lloyd Sands, who lives right here on New Providence.
Uncle Sands was asked just how close his nephew is with his Bahamian family. Responding with his Androsian drawl, Uncle Sands said, "man, look here, the guy comes home every time when he get a chance. He go home to see his grammy, and get some of her bread, and she gotta send bread over there to him. Whenever somebody go over, they carry bread over there, or we would send bread for him, and his daddy, and his mommy - all of them."
Salley was selected by the Panthers with the 121st pick in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft back in April. He then went through a number of ups and downs, in terms of job security with the Panthers. Salley was waived on September 2, then signed to the practice squad the next day on September 3. Carolina finally signed Salley as a free agent on September 22.
Back here in New Providence, Uncle Sands and the rest of the family are very proud of Nate Jr. "Man, look here - it makes me feel like I'm the greatest," said Uncle Sands. "It tells me that you could come from any beginning, you could be born into anything. You could be born low, but that doesn't mean you have to stay there. Everybody has an equal opportunity, that's really what this means to me. To see him (Nate Jr.) out there in the world really brings recognition to all of The Bahamas , and we're just really proud of him because of that, man," said Uncle Sands.
Born January 5,1984 in Fort Lauderdale,Florida,after his mother Wilma moved to the United States from Fresh Creek,Andros,Nate Salley just missed being born in The Bahamas. After graduating from St.Thomas Aquinas high school,Salley attended Ohio State University,where he first played as a cornerback for the Buckeyes. In fact, Salley started at safety in the last 33 games for the current number one team in college football. The Buckeyes also recruited Salley for basketball,and he played 10 games in his freshman year at Ohio State.

 

[Buckskin86]

Salley sees his chance to seize starting spot
Can safety convince coaches he can start?
PAT YASINSKAS
[email protected]


http://www.charlotte.com/141/story/111786.html

 

[Cornerback6]

I personally would love to see Nate starting this year for the Panthers. Good luck to him.

 

[Buckskin86]

Salley out to impress
By Steve Reed

Salley worked as the first-team strong safety during the team?s three-day minicamp, hoping to play well enough to convince coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney they don?t need to breakout the checkbook and add a veteran from outside the organization to fill that role.

?It?s a great opportunity for me ? an opportunity of a lifetime,? Salley said.

Salley did nothing to hurt himself during the five practices over the past three days, which is to say he didn?t make any glaring errors.

http://www.gastongazette.com/onset?id=4505&template=article.html

 

[jwinslow]

Scout Free

No news is great news for Carolina Panthers safety Nate Salley.

Salley, a fourth-round draft pick in 2006, worked as the first-team strong safety alongside during the team's three-day minicamp last month.

He's hoping to play well enough to convince coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney they don't need to breakout the checkbook and add a veteran from outside the organization to fill that role.

So far, the Panthers haven't made any moves.

...Continued

 

[Buckskin86]

To Minter, safety not a weak link
Veteran believes Salley is ready to be a starter
CHARLES CHANDLER
[email protected]

Minter said he believes Salley can do the job and is amused that people would think any remaining free agent would be better.

"I'd be confident opening the year with Nate," Minter said. "Nate is a guy who can play. Nobody knows too much about him, so people get nervous when they don't know about anybody.

"So they say, `Go get that safety. Go bring (in) that safety.' Well, there's a reason that safety is where he is. If he was good, he'd be on somebody's team right now doing something."

Charlotte Observer | 05/31/2007 | To Minter, safety not a weak link

 

[Buckskin86]

July 30, 2007
Starting safties: Salley, Cooper?
SPARTANBURG ? On Monday morning, the Panthers lined up with Nate Salley and Deke Cooper as their first-team safeties as veteran Mike Minter strolled the sidelines.

It was only one practice, but don?t completely rule out the possibility of the Panthers opening the season with Salley and Cooper as their starters. As much as fans might not want to hear it, the popular Minter could end up spending his final NFL season as a backup.

Inside the Panthers: Starting safties: Salley, Cooper?

 

[Buckskin86]

Salley tackles bigger role
July 31, 2007
Brett Borden
Panthers.com

For most of the Carolina Panthers players, coaches and staff at training camp in Spartanburg, SC, this year isn?t much different than the one before. Or the one before that. Or the one before THAT.

But for Nate Salley, this year couldn?t be much more different than last year.

A fourth-round draft choice from Ohio State, Salley?s head was swimming in a pool full of X?s and O?s and checkoffs and coverages as a rookie last year. This year he feels a little more like the pool lifeguard, which is as a safety is what he needs to be.

?I?m picking up the plays,? he said. ?Things are slowing up for me and I?m out there having fun playing ball, so I think things are going pretty well for me right now. You kind of know what to expect a little bit more your second time through. Last year I came in not knowing anything. I?m not saying I know it all now, but I have a better feel for what to expect.?

Panthers.com

 

[NFBuck]

Would be great to see Nate join Gamble in that Panthers defensive backfield.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Would be great to see Nate join Gamble in that Panthers defensive backfield.

Go gettem Buckeyes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[O'Rourke]

I'm glad Nate was able to hang on, I remember they put him on the practice squad after he was drafted and I was fearing the worst.

I love watching former Buckeyes in the NFL.

 

[Buckskin86]

Panthers hold Salley out of practice
STAN OLSON
[email protected]

SPARTANBURG --, S.C. -- Carolina Panthers first-team safety Nate Salley, injured in today's morning practice at Wofford College, was held out of the afternoon session as well. The Panthers had not yet announced what Salley's injury is.

Charlotte Observer | 08/01/2007 | Panthers hold Salley out of practice

"I think they're checking out Nate Salley too," said coach John Fox following practice. "He landed funny." Fox said at that point he had no further information. If the injury is serious, that's a blow to the Panthers' secondary, where Salley was starting at safety next to veteran Mike Minter.

Charlotte Observer | 08/01/2007 | Panthers go full contact<br> in morning practice

 

[Buckskin86]

Panthers Send Fifth Round Draft Pick to Bears for Harris
The Carolina Panthers added much-needed help at safety Thursday when they acquired Chris Harris from the Chicago Bears for a fifth-round draft pick.

Harris will likely step in right away as the starter at strong safety next to veteran Mike Minter. Nate Salley, who has never played safety in an NFL game, had been working with the first team until he suffered a right knee injury in practice Wednesday. Salley sat out practice Thursday and is listed as day-to-day.

Sports::Panthers Send Fifth Round Draft Pick to Bears for Harris

Safety Nate Salley sat out a second consecutive workout after he landed funny on his right knee Wednesday morning. "I just landed on it awkward, kind of hard on the ground," Salley said. "But I'll be fine. It's nothing major."

Panthers G Bridges to plead not guilty in assault case | StarNewsOnline.com | Star-News | Wilmington, NC

 

[Buckskin86]

Published on Monday, August 06, 2007
Carolina Panthers' veteran Minter to announce retirement
The Associated Press
SPARTANBURG, S.C.

Minter's decision to retire leaves Carolina thin at safety. Carolina acquired Chris Harris from the Chicago Bears last week who will likely start with either Nate Salley, who has never played a down at safety in an NFL game, or Deke Cooper, who started 12 games at strong safety for Jacksonville in 2005.

Nate Salley (knee) and Derrick Strait (hamstring) also did not practice.

FayObserver.com - AP Article Page