Feb. 2, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. - With 15 players suiting up for various teams in the National Football League, UCF led all other Conference USA schools in 2008. Today, we look at former tight end Michael Gaines of the Detroit Lions.
Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, Gaines spent three seasons in Charlotte, appearing in 42 games with 21 starts. His most productive years for the Panthers came in 2005 (12 receptions, 155 yards, two touchdowns) and 2006 (15 catches, 146 yards). The 2005 season saw the Panthers advance to the NFC Championship Game before falling to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Panthers cut Gaines at the end of their 2007 training camp and he immediately caught on with the Buffalo Bills, starting 14 of 15 games for the Bills and setting career highs with his 25 catches and 215 yards while matching his best total with two touchdown catches. Gaines had a reception in all 15 games that he played for Buffalo, including a touchdown catch against the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Gaines signed as a free agent with Detroit on March 3, 2008 and played in all 16 games for the Lions this past fall, starting five contests. He caught 23 passes on the year for a career-high 260 yards, including a touchdown grab against Tennessee on Thanksgiving Day. Gaines set a career-high with six receptions on Nov. 2 when the Lions took on the Chicago Bears.
The Tallahassee native and graduate of Florida High School first saw action for the Knights in 2001, playing in all 11 games with one start. He would catch 11 passes on the year for 115 yards and a touchdown catch at Virginia Tech. The 2002 campaign saw Gaines play in all 12 contests with a trio of starts. Gaines gained 191 yards on his 11 catches, an impressive average of 17.4 yards per reception for the tight end.
Tomorrow, we look at former tight end Darcy Johnson of the New York Giants.