Rod Gardner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rod Gardner
Date of birth October 26, 1977 (age 29)
Place of birth Flag of United States Jacksonville, FL
Position(s) Wide receiver
College Clemson
NFL Draft 2001 / Round 1/ Pick 15
Statistics
Team(s)
2001-2004
2005
2005
2006-present
Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs

Roderick F. Gardner (born October 26, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American football wide receiver in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Contents

[edit] College career

Gardner played collegiate football for Clemson University, where he started as a quarterback and safety on the practice squad (as a true freshman redshirt) before switching to wide receiver during his sophomore year. He was selected as a second team All-ACC during his junior year. His senior year, he not only made first team All-ACC, but first team All-American as well. He was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after posting seven touchdowns on 58 receptions and 1,050 yards.

[edit] NFL career

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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. He spent most of the season fourth on the Panthers' depth chart, behind Steve Smith, Keary Colbert, and Ricky Proehl.

[edit] 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. He re-signed with Green Bay on March 21, 2006. On September 2, 2006, Gardner was waived by the Packers. On September 13, 2006 he signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.