Nick Cole
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Darnell "Nick" Cole (born July 28, 1984) is an American football
guard
and center
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
at New Mexico State
.
at New Mexico State
.
, Cole signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
as a free agent
. He was named the third-string center behind Jamaal Jackson
and Hank Fraley
. He was later promoted to second string when Fraley was traded to the Cleveland Browns
. He was also inserted as a fullback
on short yardage and goal line situations. Besides being listed as a center, Cole is used as the primary backup at both guard
positions. He was the lead blocker on many plays that went for touchdowns during the 2006 season
. Cole started in place of Max Jean-Gilles
when he was placed on injured reserve
in 2008
.
During the 2009 offseason, he signed his one-year restricted free agent
tender to remain with the Eagles. Cole has started in all 14 games for the Eagles in 2009
, with six starts coming at left guard due to a foot injury to Todd Herremans
, and eight starts coming at right guard. After a knee injury knocked starting center Jamaal Jackson
out of the week 16 game against the Denver Broncos
, Cole shifted over to center where he played the rest of the game. Jackson's injury was later revealed to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament
and Cole stayed at center for the remainder of the year.
On April 7, 2010, Cole signed his one-year restricted free agent tender to remain with the Eagles.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
and center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at New Mexico State
New Mexico State Aggies football
The New Mexico State Aggies football team represents New Mexico State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Western Athletic Conference ....
.
College career
Cole played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at New Mexico State
New Mexico State Aggies football
The New Mexico State Aggies football team represents New Mexico State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Western Athletic Conference ....
.
Philadelphia Eagles
After going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
, Cole signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was named the third-string center behind Jamaal Jackson
Jamaal Jackson
Jamaal Jackson is an American football offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
and Hank Fraley
Hank Fraley
Henry "Hank" F. Fraley is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Robert Morris.Fraley has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and St...
. He was later promoted to second string when Fraley was traded to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was also inserted as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
on short yardage and goal line situations. Besides being listed as a center, Cole is used as the primary backup at both guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
positions. He was the lead blocker on many plays that went for touchdowns during the 2006 season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. Cole started in place of Max Jean-Gilles
Max Jean-Gilles
Max Jean-Gilles is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
when he was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
in 2008
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
.
During the 2009 offseason, he signed his one-year restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
tender to remain with the Eagles. Cole has started in all 14 games for the Eagles in 2009
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, with six starts coming at left guard due to a foot injury to Todd Herremans
Todd Herremans
Not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, Herremans worked out for more than 24 NFL teams prior to the 2005 NFL Draft. He was projected to be drafted in the fifth- or sixth-round by NFLDraftScout.com. Herremans was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the draft...
, and eight starts coming at right guard. After a knee injury knocked starting center Jamaal Jackson
Jamaal Jackson
Jamaal Jackson is an American football offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
out of the week 16 game against the Denver Broncos
2009 Denver Broncos season
The 2009 Denver Broncos season was their 40th season in the NFL and 50th season overall. The Broncos matched their 8–8 regular season record from 2008 but did not make the playoffs. The Broncos welcomed many new defensive players signed during free agency, including veteran Eagles safety Brian...
, Cole shifted over to center where he played the rest of the game. Jackson's injury was later revealed to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
and Cole stayed at center for the remainder of the year.
On April 7, 2010, Cole signed his one-year restricted free agent tender to remain with the Eagles.