Michael Gaines
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Gaines is an American football
tight end
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers
in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Central Florida.
Gaines has also played for the Buffalo Bills
, Detroit Lions
, Chicago Bears
and Cleveland Browns
.
which is a developmental school associated with Florida State University
As a football standout, he played six different positions, including backup quarterback
and finished his high school career
with 56 receptions, 1,715 receiving yards and 20 touchdown
s. He earned first-team all-state recognition as a junior and senior and registered 20 receptions for 535 yards and nine touchdowns in addition to collecting 110 tackle
s on defense as a senior. Gaines was rated the number one tight end in Florida. He was the first player from his school to participate in the Florida
-Georgia
High School All-Star Game.
During Gaines Junior season at UCF, he had a stellar breakout game against Toledo, (Ohio). During the game, Gaines caught what was to have been a short yard gain for a first down, but he displayed balance and athleticism that caught the eye of NFL scouts. Gaines proved to be virtually unstoppable against the Toledo defense.
draft choices to start a game for Carolina in 2004
, along with Keary Colbert
, Chris Gamble
, and Travelle Wharton
.
. He was released on April 29, 2009.
on May 11, 2009. He was released on October 17 after the Bears acquired Gaines Adams
from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
on April 23, 2010, but was released in the preseason.
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
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 drafted by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. 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 Central Florida.
Gaines has also played for 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...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and 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...
.
Early years
Gaines attended Florida High SchoolFlorida State University School
Florida State University School is a laboratory school affiliated with Florida State University. Despite its common moniker, "Florida High", it actually serves grades kindergarten through 12th grade. FSUS is a charter school located within the Southwood community in the southeast part of...
which is a developmental school associated with Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
As a football standout, he played six different positions, including backup quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and finished his high school career
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
with 56 receptions, 1,715 receiving yards and 20 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He earned first-team all-state recognition as a junior and senior and registered 20 receptions for 535 yards and nine touchdowns in addition to collecting 110 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s on defense as a senior. Gaines was rated the number one tight end in Florida. He was the first player from his school to participate in the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
High School All-Star Game.
College career
Gaines played in 23 games with four starts for the University of Central Florida. He recorded 22 receptions for 306 yards and three touchdowns. In 2003, he was selected to play in the Blue-Gray Game.During Gaines Junior season at UCF, he had a stellar breakout game against Toledo, (Ohio). During the game, Gaines caught what was to have been a short yard gain for a first down, but he displayed balance and athleticism that caught the eye of NFL scouts. Gaines proved to be virtually unstoppable against the Toledo defense.
Professional career
At 6'4 and close to 280 pounds, Gaines has the reputation of a blocking tight end, often lining up in double tight end or goal line formations. Through the 2007 NFL season, Gaines has started 35 of the 57 games he has played in. In 2007 with the Bills, Gaines set career highs in receptions (25) and reception yardage (215). He tied a career high with 2 touchdown receptions.Carolina Panthers
One of four rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
draft choices to start a game for Carolina in 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...
, along with Keary Colbert
Keary Colbert
Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, Chris Gamble
Chris Gamble
Chris Lee Gamble is an American football player with the Carolina Panthers. During his NFL career Gamble has only played cornerback, but was briefly a wide receiver at the Ohio State University. He was converted into a cornerback during his sophomore year...
, and Travelle Wharton
Travelle Wharton
Glenn Travelle Wharton is an American football player who currently plays offensive guard for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL...
.
Buffalo Bills
On 10 September 2007 he signed with the Buffalo Bills. His first touchdown catch as a Buffalo Bill came on October 28 on a fourth and goal situation.Detroit Lions
Michael Gaines DE On March 3, 2008 he signed with the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. He was released on April 29, 2009.
Chicago Bears
Gaines signed a 1 year deal with the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on May 11, 2009. He was released on October 17 after the Bears acquired Gaines Adams
Gaines Adams
Gaines Adams was an American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round in the 2007 NFL Draft and in 2009 was traded to the Chicago Bears...
from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Houston Texans
Gaines signed with the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 23, 2010, but was released in the preseason.