Jabar Gaffney
refer to caption
Gaffney during the Redskins training camp in 2011
No. 86, 10
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1980-12-01) December 1, 1980 (age 43)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:William M. Raines (Jacksonville, Florida)
College:Florida (1999–2001)
NFL draft:2002 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:447
Receiving yards:5,690
Receiving touchdowns:24
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Derrick Jabar Gaffney (born December 1, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2001. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and also played in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins.

Early years

Gaffney was born in San Antonio, Texas.[1] He attended William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida,[2] and was a letterman for the Raines Vikings high school football team.[3] In football, he was a two-year starter as a wide receiver, and as a junior in 1997, he caught the game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdown pass in the state championship game.[3]

College career

Gaffney accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators football team in 2000 and 2001.[4] The Gators coaching staff decided to redshirt him as a true freshman in 1999. Gaffney became a prolific pass-catcher as a first-year starter for the Gators in 2000, and made the game-winning touchdown “catch” with fourteen seconds remaining to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers 27–23[3]—a game that ultimately decided the 2000 winner of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Gaffney amassed 1,184 receiving yards and fourteen touchdown receptions in 2000, and another 1,191 and thirteen touchdowns in 2001.[4]

He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2000 and 2001; he was a College Football News first-team All-American after his redshirt freshman season in 2000, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, and Walter Camp Foundation following his 2001 sophomore season.[4][5] In 2001, he was one of the three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, recognizing the best receiver in college football.[3] He finished his two-season college career with 138 receptions for 2,375 yards and twenty-seven touchdowns, and was chosen by his teammates as the Gators' most valuable player.[4] He remains the only receiver in Gators history with two seasons of 1,000 yards or more.[4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in
(1.86 m) 		193 lb
(88 kg) 		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m) 		7+1⁄2 in
(0.19 m)		 4.56 s 4.06 s 6.87 s
All values from NFL Combine[6][7]

Houston Texans

Gaffney was selected with the 1st pick in the 2nd round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.[8] His tenure with the team was marred by his often inconsistent play which led to his benching in favor of veteran receivers, in particular Corey Bradford. After his rookie contract was up, the Texans chose not to re-sign him.

Philadelphia Eagles

On March 16, 2006, the Eagles signed Gaffney to a one-year contract.[9] He was released before the start of the season.

New England Patriots

Gaffney, Randy Moss, and Tom Brady talk on the sidelines in 2007.

Gaffney signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots on October 9, 2006. On March 5, 2008, Gaffney re-signed with the Patriots for one year worth $2 million.

In his first-ever playoff game, on January 7, 2007 against the New York Jets, Gaffney caught eight passes for 104 yards, his second 100-yard performance as a receiver (in ten regular season games, Gaffney caught 11 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.) Gaffney followed that performance a week later against San Diego with another 100-yard game, in which he caught ten passes and scored a touchdown.

Gaffney finished the 2008 season with 44 receptions for 468 yards and two touchdowns.

Denver Broncos

Gaffney during his time with Broncos.

On February 27, 2009, Gaffney signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Denver Broncos. In the Broncos' week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Gaffney caught 14 passes for 213 yards as the Broncos played without Brandon Marshall, who was benched for disciplinary reasons by head coach Josh McDaniels. He finished the 2009 season with 54 receptions for 732 yards and two touchdowns, ranking second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. Gaffney put up 875 yards in 2010.

Washington Redskins

Gaffney was traded to the Washington Redskins for defensive end Jeremy Jarmon on July 27, 2011.[10] In 2011, he led the team with 68 receptions, 947 yards and 5 touchdowns, all career bests.[11][12]

On April 18, 2012, Gaffney announced that he was told not to attend the team's offseason conditioning program and that the Redskins were attempting to trade him.[13] Head coach Mike Shanahan later stated that Gaffney could still remain on the Redskins, but felt obligated to let him explore other options throughout the league.[14]

Gaffney was released by the Redskins on May 1, 2012.[15]

Return to New England Patriots

Gaffney signed a two-year contract to return to the Patriots on May 2, 2012.[16] He was released by the team on August 27.[17]

Miami Dolphins

On October 2, 2012, Gaffney was signed by the Miami Dolphins.[18] On November 20, 2012, Gaffney was waived. Days after his release, the NFL announced that Gaffney would be suspended for two games for failing to report an arrest to the league that occurred in Miami in 2010.[19]

NFL career statistics

Receiving Stats[20]

Year Team GP Rec Tgt Yds Avg Lng TD FD Fum Lost
2002 HOU 16 41 — 483 11.8 27 1 27 0 0
2003 HOU 16 34 — 402 11.8 33 2 21 0 0
2004 HOU 16 41 — 632 15.4 69 2 34 0 0
2005 HOU 16 55 — 492 8.9 29 2 31 0 0
2006 NE 11 11 20 142 12.9 33 1 9 0 0
2007 NE 16 36 50 449 12.5 56 5 21 0 0
2008 NE 16 38 65 468 12.3 37 2 26 0 0
2009 DEN 16 54 88 732 13.6 49 2 36 0 0
2010 DEN 16 65 112 875 13.5 50 2 42 1 0
2011 WAS 16 68 115 947 13.9 45 5 50 1 1
2012 MIA 3 4 11 68 17.0 30 0 3 0 0
Career 158 447 461 5,690 12.7 69 24 300 2 1

Legal Issues

In February 2000, Gaffney was charged with allegedly stealing $245 and a watch from the Florida Field locker room during the high school state championships,[21] but the prosecutor placed him in a pretrial diversion program. After Steve Spurrier kicked him off the team in December 1999, he was eventually allowed to earn his way back onto the squad but forfeited his scholarship for a year.[22]

During the 2001 season, Gaffney and another athlete forcefully detained a 15-year-old boy who was stealing motor scooters from their apartment, and held him until police arrived. The boy's mother later alleged that Gaffney beat, kicked, choked and attempted to drown her son. The police declined to file charges and the state attorney agreed, stating the mother's allegations were inconsistent with the evidence and no jury would convict given the circumstances.[23]

In 2006, Gaffney was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun in New Jersey.[24]

In 2010, Gaffney was charged with non-violent resisting arrest.[25]

In January 2016, he was arrested for marijuana and drug possession.[26]

In October 2017, Gaffney was arrested for domestic battery.[27]

Family

Gaffney and ex-wife Terin have a son, Jackson Tyrel Gaffney, and a daughter, Teagan Danae Gaffney.[28] He is the son of former New York Jets wide receiver Derrick Gaffney, and the first cousin of NFL cornerback Lito Sheppard.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Jabar Gaffney. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  2. ^ databaseFootball.com, Players, Jabar Gaffney Archived May 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e GatorZone.com, Football History, 2001 Roster, Jabar Gaffney Archived October 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 89, 94, 97, 99, 101–103, 158–159, 181 (2011). Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  5. ^ 2012 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 11 & 14 (2012). Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  6. ^ "Jabar Gaffney, Florida, WR, 2002 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jabar Gaffney, Combine Results, WR - Florida". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  9. ^ eagles sign
  10. ^ Jones, Mike (July 27, 2011). "Redskins trade Jeremy Jarmon to Denver for Jabar Gaffney". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  11. ^ Barry Sviruga, "Jabar Gaffney sets career high in receiving yards," The Washington Post (December 24, 2011). Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  12. ^ Brian Tinsman, "Roster Review: Wide Receivers Archived February 9, 2018, at the Wayback Machine," Redskins.com (February 28, 2012). Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  13. ^ Mike Jones, "WR Jabar Gaffney says Redskins are shopping him," The Washington Post (April 18, 2012). Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  14. ^ Mark Maske, "Mike Shanahan says Jabar Gaffney could remain with Redskins," The Washington Post (April 25, 2012). Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  15. ^ "Redskins cut Jabar Gaffney," ESPN.com (May 1, 2012). Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  16. ^ "Patriots bring back WR Gaffney Archived 2012-05-04 at the Wayback Machine," Pro Football Weekly (May 2, 2012). Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  17. ^ Gregg Rosenthal, "Jabar Gafney, Donte Stallworth cut by Patriots," NFL.com (August 27, 2012). Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  18. ^ 'Dolphins sign Jabar Gaffney," ESPN.com (October 2, 2012). Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  19. ^ Garafolo, Mike (November 24, 2012). "Ex-Dolphins WR Gaffney suspended for two games". USAToday.com. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  20. ^ "Jabar Gaffney Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  21. ^ Matt Hayes, "Gaffney facing grand theft charge," The Florida Times-Union (February 20, 2000). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  22. ^ Ray McNulty, "Gaffney to get scholarship," The Florida Times-Union (October 25, 2000). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  23. ^ Eddie Pells, "Florida's Gaffney won't be charged," The Item, p. 3B (July 4, 2001). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  24. ^ espn story
  25. ^ "Ex-Dolphins WR Gaffney suspended for two games". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023.
  26. ^ gafney again
  27. ^ battery
  28. ^ New England Patriots, Players, Jabar Gaffney Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 29, 2011.

Bibliography

External links

2001 College Football All-America Team consensus selections
Houston Texans 2002 NFL draft selections
Houston Texans 2002 inaugural season roster
Categories