Rod Gardner

Rod Gardner

No. 87, 82, 85
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth:	October 26, 1977
Place of birth:	Jacksonville, Florida
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:	Jacksonville (FL) Raines
College:	Clemson
NFL draft:	2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15
Career history
Washington Redskins (2001–2004) Carolina Panthers (2005) Green Bay Packers (2005) Kansas City Chiefs (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 242 Receiving yards: 3,165 Touchdowns: 23 Player stats at NFL.com

Roderick F. Gardner (born October 26, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons.

College career

Gardner played college football at Clemson University, where he started as a quarterback and safety on the practice squad (as a true redshirt freshman) before switching to wide receiver his sophomore year. He was selected as a second team All-ACC during his junior year after setting the school record for catches, yards, and receptions per game.^[1] His senior year, he not only made first team All-ACC, but was a first team All-American as well. In 2000, he was one of the ten finalists for the Biletnikoff Award after posting six touchdowns on 51 receptions and 956 yards.^[2]

Professional career

Washington Redskins

Gardner was chosen by the Washington Redskins with the 15th overall selection in the first-round draft pick of the 2001 NFL Draft. During his rookie year, he was selected as NFC Offensive Player of the Week after a 208-yard, one touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers. His history at quarterback would lead the Redskins to utilize him on trick plays during games; during the 2003 NFL season he was 2-for-3 for 46 yards and two passing touchdowns (to Chad Morton and Trung Canidate).

Carolina Panthers

After four seasons in Washington, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers during the 2005 offseason for a sixth-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.^[3] He spent most of the season fourth on the Panthers' depth chart, behind Steve Smith, Keary Colbert, and Ricky Proehl.

Green Bay Packers

Gardner was waived by the Panthers on December 16, 2005, and he was then signed by the Green Bay Packers on December 19, 2005.^[4] He re-signed with Green Bay on March 21, 2006. On September 2, 2006, Gardner was waived by the Packers.^[5]

Kansas City Chiefs

In September 2006 he signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.^[5] In 2006 with the Chiefs, he only had 2 receptions for 17 yards. He was released before the 2007 season.^[6]

NFL stats

Year	Team	Games	Receptions	Yards	Yards per Reception	Longest Reception	Touchdowns	First Downs	Fumbles	Fumbles Lost
2001	WSH	16	46	741	16.1	85	4	28	1	1
2002	WSH	16	71	1,006	14.2	43	8	51	1	0
2003	WSH	16	59	600	10.2	35	5	30	1	0
2004	WSH	16	51	650	12.7	51	5	30	0	0
2005	GB	2	4	67	16.8	33	0	4	0	0
2005	CAR	11	9	84	9.3	15	1	4	0	0
2006	KC	14	2	17	8.5	13	0	1	0	0
Career		91	242	3,165	13.1	85	23	148	3	1

^[7]

References

1. "Rod Gardner: Clemson's Mr. Confidence - Clemson Football News - TigerNet". www.tigernet.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
2. "Gardner Hauls In Semifinalist Nod For Biletnikoff Award". Clemson Tigers. Oct 26, 2000. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
3. Pasquarelli, Len (July 28, 2005). "Redskins deal Gardner to Carolina for future pick". ESPN. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
4. Pasquarelli, Len (December 19, 2005). "Packers claim Gardner from Panthers". ESPN. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
5. Pasquarelli, Len (September 11, 2006). "Chiefs add Gardner after receivers net 69 yards in loss". ESPN. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
6. "Chiefs Announce 14 Transactions". Kansas City Chiefs. Aug 28, 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
7. "Rob Gardner Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 9 June 2014.