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Benjamin Gay
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Benjamin Stevenson Gay Jr. (February 28, 1980 – July 29, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) in 2001.
Key Information
Born in Houston,[1] Gay was a running back at Spring High School in Spring, Texas. As a senior in 1997, he was a USA Today first-team All-American.[2][3][4] He chose Baylor over Florida, Florida State, and Miami. However, five weeks into his freshman season in 1998, he was dismissed from the team for rules violations. He eventually enrolled at Garden City Community College. Playing nine games in 1999, he rushed for 1,442 yards and 17 touchdowns but was again dismissed from the team due to academic issues and rules violations.[2][5] He took a job as a bouncer at a bar in Garden City, Kansas.[5]
In 2000, he was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos, but was released after the first preseason game. On July 20, 2001, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns.[6] He spent the 2001 season as a third-string running back behind James Jackson and Jamel White. On November 18, during a 27–17 Browns win at Baltimore, he recorded 18 NFL carries for 56 yards, including one touchdown.[7][8][9]
On April 24, 2002, the Browns waived Gay, and he signed with the Indianapolis Colts five days later.[10] The Colts released Gay on August 19.[11]
Gay died in a traffic collision on July 29, 2024, at the age of 44.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ben Gay". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "Benjamin Gay: Player Bio". Cleveland Browns. Archived from the original on August 27, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ McClain, John (August 8, 2001). "Things finally going Gay's way with Browns". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 21, 2001. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Borges, Ron. "Glory daze". The Boston Globe. p. C1. Archived from the original on July 12, 2001. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ a b Cabot, Mary Kay (November 20, 2001). "Legend's on the map". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Archived from the original on November 26, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "Benjamin Gay". Cleveland Browns. Archived from the original on December 14, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "Ben Gay 2001 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Boyer, Mary Schmitt (November 20, 2001). "Gay makes huge impression in first extended playing time". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Archived from the original on November 26, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Grossi, Tony (November 19, 2001). "A victory to crow about". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Archived from the original on November 21, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "NFL waivers by month". NFL.com. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ Oehser, Josh (August 19, 2002). "Bringing in the backs". Indianapolis Colts. Archived from the original on December 25, 2002.
- ^ Easterling, Chris (August 3, 2024). "Former Cleveland Browns running back Ben Gay dies in Colorado car accident". The Alliance Review. Alliance, Ohio. Retrieved August 4, 2024.