Hank Fraley
Encyclopedia
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. Louis Rams
.
and as a senior in 1995, he helped them to the Maryland state championship game.
near Pittsburgh
. He is listed as the second athlete to ever have his number, 75, retired from Robert Morris University
. Fraley holds a degree in social science.
in 2000.
after being released by the Steelers. He was inactive for the entire 2000 season
. In his first ever NFL game (vs St. Louis Rams
on September 9, 2001), Fraley was fined for an illegal downfield block. He started in 15 games in 2001
.
Fraley started in all 16 regular season games along with two postseason games during the 2002 season
. He was part of an offensive line that helped the Eagles offense to 25.9 points per game, the fourth highest in the NFL.
Fraley started in all 16 regular season games in 2003
and 2004
. In 2004, he was an important part of the offensive line that helped the Eagles to 4,208 passing yards, a team record and 386 points, the third most in team history.
He started the first eight games of the 2005 season
, but suffered a shoulder injury at the Washington Redskins
on November 6 which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
in exchange for a draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
after losing his starting job to Jamaal Jackson
. He made his Browns debut versus the New Orleans Saints
on September 10 and started in all 16 games.
It was said by teammate wide receiver
Joe Jurevicius
that Fraley should have been considered the offensive MVP
in the 2006 season
, due to his line calling and blue-collar work ethic.
Prior to the start of free agency in 2007, the Browns re-signed Fraley to a four-year contract for an undisclosed amount. He made his 100th NFL career start versus the Buffalo Bills
on December 16.
He was released by the Browns on March 3, 2010.
. He was released on September 4, 2011, after just one season with the Rams.
with their four sons, Trent Alexander (from another marriage), Mason, Travis and Beau, two chocolate labs
, Coconut and Brandy, a German shepherd, Jager, and a pug
, Rodeo. In 2006, Fraley and his brother David started Fraley Brothers, a landscaping and snow plowing business in South Jersey
.
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...
offensive lineman 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 Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. 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 Robert Morris
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
.
Fraley has also played for 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...
, 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...
, and St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Early years
Fraley attended Gaithersburg High SchoolGaithersburg High School
Gaithersburg High School is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States. Part of Montgomery County Public Schools, the school was founded in 1904 as "Gaithersburg School" and offered grades K-12. Since 1951, the school resides at 314 South Frederick Avenue and currently offers education for...
and as a senior in 1995, he helped them to the Maryland state championship game.
College career
Fraley's career began as a non-scholarship player at Division I-AA Robert Morris UniversityRobert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
near Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. He is listed as the second athlete to ever have his number, 75, retired from Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
. Fraley holds a degree in social science.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Fraley was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in 2000.
Philadelphia Eagles
Fraley was claimed off waivers in 2000 by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia 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...
after being released by the Steelers. He was inactive for the entire 2000 season
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
. In his first ever NFL game (vs St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on September 9, 2001), Fraley was fined for an illegal downfield block. He started in 15 games in 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
.
Fraley started in all 16 regular season games along with two postseason games during the 2002 season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
. He was part of an offensive line that helped the Eagles offense to 25.9 points per game, the fourth highest in the NFL.
Fraley started in all 16 regular season games in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
and 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
. In 2004, he was an important part of the offensive line that helped the Eagles to 4,208 passing yards, a team record and 386 points, the third most in team history.
He started the first eight games of the 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, but suffered a shoulder injury at the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on November 6 which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Cleveland Browns
On September 2, 2006, Fraley was traded to the Cleveland BrownsCleveland 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...
in exchange for a draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
after losing his starting job to 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...
. He made his Browns debut versus the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on September 10 and started in all 16 games.
It was said by teammate wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Joe Jurevicius
Joe Jurevicius
Joseph Michael Jurevicius is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State....
that Fraley should have been considered the offensive MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in 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...
, due to his line calling and blue-collar work ethic.
Prior to the start of free agency in 2007, the Browns re-signed Fraley to a four-year contract for an undisclosed amount. He made his 100th NFL career start versus the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 16.
He was released by the Browns on March 3, 2010.
St. Louis Rams
On March 14, 2010, Fraley signed with the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He was released on September 4, 2011, after just one season with the Rams.
Personal
Prior to starting his NFL career, Fraley had planned on teaching history and coaching football. He is married to Danielle (May 26, 2006) and the couple resides in Woolwich Township, New JerseyWoolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
with their four sons, Trent Alexander (from another marriage), Mason, Travis and Beau, two chocolate labs
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
, Coconut and Brandy, a German shepherd, Jager, and a pug
Pug
The pug is a "toy" breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo , referring to the pug's personality and...
, Rodeo. In 2006, Fraley and his brother David started Fraley Brothers, a landscaping and snow plowing business in South Jersey
South Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
.