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A third-round draft pick in 2003, he is coming off his first season as a full-time starter at middle linebacker and led the team in ’06 with 111 tackles.
Despite missing the final two games of the ’06 season with a rib injury, still led the team in tackles (111) and went over the century mark in that category for the first time in his career. His previous high was 30 as a rookie in 2003.
His standout play during the 2006 season earned him a five-year contract extension which he signed on 11/6/06.
Suffered a left knee injury in the preseason and was deactivated for the first four games of 2005 before being placed on injured reserve on 10/6/05.
Grew up in the same Paterson, NJ neighborhood as Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp.
Pro Career:
The Cardinals third-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft (70th overall), Hayes’ involvement in the defense rose dramatically towards the conclusion of the 2004 season. He was poised to be the Cardinals starter at middle linebacker before a knee injury suffered in the preseason opener sidelined him for the entire 2005 season. A restricted free agent, he signed a one-year qualifying offer with the Cardinals on 4/18/06. Came back in a big way in 2006, leading the team in tackles (111) despite missing the final two games. Signed a five-year extension on 11/6/06 that will keep him under contract with the team through 2011.
2006: Made an impressive return to action after missing the entire 2005 regular season with a knee injury, starting all 14 games he appeared in and eclipsing the 100-tackle mark despite missing the final two games due to injury (rib) recorded six tackles, two tackles for loss, his first career sack and a fumble recovery while starting at MLB in the season opener vs. SF (9/10) continued his strong play collecting five tackles, one pass defensed and his first career interception on a Matt Hasselbeck pass deep in Cardinals territory in the second quarter @ Sea (9/17) recorded 12 tackles, one for a loss, and also recovered his second fumble in three games vs. StL (9/24) … for the second week in a row, led the team in tackles with eight; also collected a tackle for a loss and pass defensed @ Atl (10/1) …turned in another strong performance, this one on Monday Night vs. Chi (10/16), collecting seven tackles and an interception off of Rex Grossman for the second time of the season, established a game and new career high when he accumulated 13 total tackles @ Oak (10/22) reached double-digit tackles for the third time this season when he recorded 11 tackles, with one for loss vs. Dal (11/12) led all linebackers with six tackles and his first quarter pass deflection in the Cardinals red zone was intercepted by FS Aaron Francisco at the three yard line and kept the Lions off the scoreboard vs. Det (11/19) tied for a team high nine tackles and also intercepted a Marc Bulger pass to end the game after the Rams had just recovered an onside kick @ StL (12/3) went over 100 tackles (102) for the first time in his career when he collected seven tackles vs. Sea (12/10) inactive (rib) for the final two games of the season.
2005: Was inactive for the first four games of the season with a left knee injury suffered during the preseason placed on injured reserve on 10/6.
2004: Saw action in every game of 2004 for the Cardinals recovered an Aaron Brooks fumble for his first career fumble recovery in the Arizona end zone to end New Orleans’ first drive of the game; recorded one tackle on special teams vs. NO (10/3) blocked a Donnie Jones punt vs. Sea (10/24) which went out of the back of the end zone causing a safety and putting the Cardinals ahead 18-17 with 8:50 remaining in the game broke into the starting lineup and recorded a team-high nine tackles in his first extended defensive action; forced a Shaun Alexander fumble @ Sea (12/26) recorded two tackles on defense and one on special teams in the season finale vs. TB (1/2)
2003: Early-season action came primarily on special teams with two tackles vs. GB (9/21) and @ Dal (10/5) inactive for four games with a shoulder injury recorded a season best five solo tackles, seven overall @ SF (12/7) first NFL start at outside linebacker resulted in four solo tackles, two assists vs. Car (12/14) reserve action @ Sea (12/21) resulted in seven tackles from scrimmage and two tackles on kick coverage units starting role at outside linebacker vs. Min (12/28) produced four solo tackles, two assists, two hurries and season-best three solo tackles on special teams in 18-17 victory.
College:
Three-time first-team all-Big East Conference selection at Pittsburgh first Panther defender to record three consecutive 100-tackle seasons since all-America linebacker Jerry Olsavsky accomplished the feat from 1986-88 career statistics include 387 total tackles (243 solos), 13.5 quarterback sacks, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions with starts in 36 of 44 games only Tom Tumulty (413, 1991-95), Hugh Green (441, 1977-80) and Arnie Weatherington (477, 1973-76) recorded more tackles in their Panther careers.
Personal:
Full name Gerald Benjamin Hayes close friend and former high school teammate of Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp at Passaic (NJ) County Technical Institute college teammate of Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as an artist in high school, won numerous awards for his pencil drawings which traveled to numerous galleries throughout New Jersey administration of justice major. | 