Chris Gamble #20 Cornerback Carolina Panthers
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200
Born: Mar 11, 1983 - Boston, MA
College: Ohio State
Draft: 2004 - 1st round (28th pick) by the Carolina Panthers
Now that Julius Peppers has signed his one-year tender with the Carolina Panthers the big question is whether the team will be able to sign him to a long-term contract.
Chris Gamble (born March 11, 1983) is an American football player with the Carolina Panthers. During his NFL career Gamble has only played cornerback, but was briefly a wide receiver at Ohio State University. He was converted into a cornerback during his sophomore year. Gamble possessed a 40 inch (101.6 cm) vertical jump, and ran a 4.45 forty yard dash in the NFL Combine.
Gamble was selected in the first round (28th overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
In 2004, Chris became the first rookie defensive player in Carolina Panthers history to start all 16 games, and earned Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie honors after establishing a Panthers rookie record with six interceptions, this placed him in third in the NFL in interceptions.
In 2005, Gamble led the Panthers once again with 7 interceptions. Ranking him fourth in the NFL.
In 2006, Gamble once again led the team in interceptions. He tied fellow teammates Ken Lucas and Richard Marshall with three interceptions each. [1]
In 2007, he finished the year with 50 tackles with only 1 interception.
In 2008 he finished the year with 3 interceptions and he also tied for third in the NFL in passes defended with 19. Through Gamble’s career milestones, the Panthers rewarded him on November 28, 2008 to a six-year $53 million contract with $23 million guaranteed making him one of the highest paid defensive backs in the league.
While Gamble only played three years at Ohio State, he was an integral part of the 2002 National Championship team, which went 14-0. Gamble played both ways at Ohio State, earning 1st Team All-Big Ten honors, and 3rd Team All-America honors for cornerback. Gamble had 4 interceptions for the 2002 season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Gamble was known for his game-breaking ability in all facets of the game, including defense, offense, and kick returning.
In 38 games, he started 18 times on defense and 12 times on offense (started on both offense and defense in five contests in 2002). Recorded 65 tackles (51 solos) with three stops behind the line of scrimmage, seven interceptions and 21 pass deflections. Also caught 40 passes for 609 yards (15.2 avg.), rushed six times for 68 yards (11.3 avg.) with a touchdown, returned 60 punts for 467 yards (7.8 avg.) and had 18 kickoff returns for 384 yards (21.3 avg.).
Gamble majored in sports and leisure studies while at Ohio State.
He attended Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was a First-team All-Florida and All-Broward County pick. He was considered one of the top skilled athletes in the country. As a senior, he hauled in 65 receptions for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns and also returned two kicks and one punt for touchdowns, leading the team to the state championship game in 2000.
The Carolina Panthers have released starting cornerback Ken Lucas in a move that clears about $2.3 million in salary-cap space. The Panthers had been trying to work out a trade for the veteran, but Lucas vetoed a deal to the Detroit Lions last month and the Panthers on Wednesday cut him loose after he struggled late last season.
The New York Jets have restructured Laveranues Coles’ contract, allowing the veteran wide receiver to become an unrestricted free agent when the signing period begins Friday morning. He was just one of several players released Wednesday as teams clear salary cap room off their books.