Sam Aiken
Encyclopedia
Samuel Aiken is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at North Carolina
.
He has also played for the New England Patriots
and Cleveland Browns
.
where he was an All-Conference honoree in football
, basketball
, and track and field. In track and field, he placed second at the North Carolina State Meet on the high jump.
. He appeared in all 11 games at wide receiver as a freshman in 1999, earning co-Most Outstanding Freshman honors with defensive end Julius Peppers
. He recorded three catches for 16 yards, returned 13 kickoffs for a 21.2 average, and 12 punts for a 1.9 yard average. As a sophomore in 2000, Aiken again played in all 11 games and ranked third on the team with 29 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns. In 2001, Aiken led his team with 46 catches for 789 yards and eight touchdowns, second best in school history. He also played on all special teams units. As a senior in 2002, Aiken had 68 catches for 990 yards, both school records, as well as four touchdowns.
by the Buffalo Bills
. He was primarily a special teams player in his five seasons for the Bills, covering kicks and punts for a Bobby April
-coached unit that was consistently among the best in the league.
As a rookie in 2003
, Aiken played in five of the team's first 11 games, recording 3 receptions for 35 yards and two special teams tackles before being placed on injured reserve
on November 26. In 2004
, Aiken played in 16 games, recording a Buffalo career-high 11 catches for 148 yards as well as 14 special teams tackles. He started two games for the Bills in 2005
while playing in all 16; he caught four passes for 57 yards on the season while finishing second on the team with 24 special teams tackles. In 2006
, Aiken played in 15 games and picked up 13 special teams tackles. In his final season with the Bills in 2007
, Aiken played in 12 games, recording one catch for 10 yards and six special teams tackles.
as an unrestricted free agent. Aiken was active for 14 games in his first season with the Patriots, making two starts at wide receiver and recording eight receptions for 101 yards. He finished fifth on the team with 10 special teams tackles. In 2009
, Aiken was named a special teams captain following the loss of former special teams ace Larry Izzo
in free agency. He also played in an increased role in the offense following the release of offseason acquisitions Joey Galloway
and Greg Lewis. He started 7 games for the Patriots, making a career-high 20 receptions for 326 yards. He also caught the first two touchdowns of his career, a 54-yarder in Week 7 and an 81-yarder in Week 13, the third longest career completion for quarterback Tom Brady
. He finished the season with 14 games played and 11 special teams tackles. In October 2009, Aiken signed a contract extension through 2011. He was released during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
on September 25, 2010. He was released on October 12, 2010.
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
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 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...
in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. 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 North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
.
He has also played for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
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
Aiken attended James Kenan High School in Warsaw, North CarolinaWarsaw, North Carolina
Warsaw is a town in Duplin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,051 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Warsaw is located at ....
where he was an All-Conference honoree in football
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....
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and track and field. In track and field, he placed second at the North Carolina State Meet on the high jump.
College career
After graduating from high school, Aiken attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. He appeared in all 11 games at wide receiver as a freshman in 1999, earning co-Most Outstanding Freshman honors with defensive end Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers
Julius Frazier Peppers is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Nicknamed The Freak of Nature, he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
. He recorded three catches for 16 yards, returned 13 kickoffs for a 21.2 average, and 12 punts for a 1.9 yard average. As a sophomore in 2000, Aiken again played in all 11 games and ranked third on the team with 29 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns. In 2001, Aiken led his team with 46 catches for 789 yards and eight touchdowns, second best in school history. He also played on all special teams units. As a senior in 2002, Aiken had 68 catches for 990 yards, both school records, as well as four touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills
Aiken was drafted in the fourth round (127th) overall of the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
by 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...
. He was primarily a special teams player in his five seasons for the Bills, covering kicks and punts for a Bobby April
Bobby April
Robert "Bobby" April, Jr. is an American football special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
-coached unit that was consistently among the best in the league.
As a rookie in 2003
2003 Buffalo Bills season
The 2003 Buffalo Bills season was their 44th in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 8–8, instead finishing 6–10...
, Aiken played in five of the team's first 11 games, recording 3 receptions for 35 yards and two special teams tackles before being placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on November 26. In 2004
2004 Buffalo Bills season
The 2004 Buffalo Bills season was their 45th in the league. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 6–10, finishing 9–7. However, this was the fifth straight season in which the team missed the playoffs....
, Aiken played in 16 games, recording a Buffalo career-high 11 catches for 148 yards as well as 14 special teams tackles. He started two games for the Bills in 2005
2005 Buffalo Bills season
The 2005 Buffalo Bills season was their 46th in the National Football League. The team was unable to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7, instead finishing 5–11. This was the sixth consecutive season in which the team missed the playoffs....
while playing in all 16; he caught four passes for 57 yards on the season while finishing second on the team with 24 special teams tackles. In 2006
2006 Buffalo Bills season
The 2006 Buffalo Bills season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–11 record in 2005.-Offseason:General Manager Tom Donahoe was fired shortly after the end of the 2005 season. Marv Levy, who had coached the Bills from 1986–1997, was named as his replacement, with hopes that he would...
, Aiken played in 15 games and picked up 13 special teams tackles. In his final season with the Bills in 2007
2007 Buffalo Bills season
The 2007 Buffalo Bills season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League and their 48th season overall. They finished their 2007 season with a record of 7–9 and tied their 7–9 record in 2006 but failed to qualify for the playoffs, and continues a playoff appearance drought...
, Aiken played in 12 games, recording one catch for 10 yards and six special teams tackles.
New England Patriots
On March 3, 2008, Aiken was signed by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
as an unrestricted free agent. Aiken was active for 14 games in his first season with the Patriots, making two starts at wide receiver and recording eight receptions for 101 yards. He finished fifth on the team with 10 special teams tackles. In 2009
2009 New England Patriots season
The 2009 New England Patriots season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and 50th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and a division title before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs....
, Aiken was named a special teams captain following the loss of former special teams ace Larry Izzo
Larry Izzo
Lawrence Alexander Izzo is a retired American football Linebacker and special teamer and current assistant special teams coach for the New York Giants. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
in free agency. He also played in an increased role in the offense following the release of offseason acquisitions Joey Galloway
Joey Galloway
Joseph Scott Galloway is an American football wide receiver. He most recently played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks eighth overall in the 1995 NFL Draft...
and Greg Lewis. He started 7 games for the Patriots, making a career-high 20 receptions for 326 yards. He also caught the first two touchdowns of his career, a 54-yarder in Week 7 and an 81-yarder in Week 13, the third longest career completion for quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
. He finished the season with 14 games played and 11 special teams tackles. In October 2009, Aiken signed a contract extension through 2011. He was released during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
Cleveland Browns
Aiken was signed by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland 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...
on September 25, 2010. He was released on October 12, 2010.