2006
(7-0): Before suffering a season-ending knee injury at Oakland, rushed
15 times for 78 yards (5.2 avg.)…used primarily as a third-down back…9/7
vs. Miami: Recorded one carry for three yards…tied a team-high with two
special teams tackles (one solo)…9/18 at Jacksonville: Led the
team with a career-high five receptions for 26 yards (5.2 avg.) and a long of
14…added six yards on two rushes…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Led the
team and tied a career-high with five receptions…those five catches were good
for 33 yards (6.6 avg.) and included a long of 16…rushed five times for 24 yards
(4.8 avg.) with a long of eight…10/8 at San Diego: Had one
carry for 13 yards…caught three passes for seven yards (2.3 avg.) with a long of
nine…10/15 vs. Kansas City: Carried five times for 21 yards
(4.2 avg.) and a long of five…caught two passes for 12 yards and a long of
six…lined up at fullback and helped spring Najeh Davenport on a one-yard score
on fourth-and-goal…10/22 at Atlanta: Rushed once for 11 yards
and caught one pass for two yards…10/29 at Oakland: Caught two
passes for 15 yards…left the game with a knee injury and did not return…added
one solo special teams tackle...kept the Steelers first scoring drive alive
after breaking a few tackles and picking up 11 yards on a screen pass. Placed on
Reserve/Injured List on Oct. 31.
2005 (14-0/4-0): Played in 14 regular-season and
all four playoff games in a reserve role and on special teams…was third on the
team in rushing, finishing with 274 yards on 74 carries (3.7 avg.) with three
touchdowns…caught 11 passes out of the backfield for 113 yards (10.3 avg.),
including a long of 18 yards…had five special teams tackles…9/11
vs. Tennessee: Rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries…scored first career
rushing TD on a five-yard run in the third quarter…9/18
at Houston: Rushed seven times for 24 yards (3.4 avg.) and caught one
pass for eight yards…9/25 vs. New England:Had two rushes for seven yards and had
an 18-yard catch…recorded one special teams tackle…10/10 at San Diego: Saw action as a
reserve running back and on special teams…caught one pass for four
yards…recorded one special teams tackle…10/16 vs. Jacksonville:Caught one pass for 11 yards and
rushed twice for a loss of one yard (-1)…10/23 at Cincinnati:Matched a season high with 11 carries
for 35 yards (3.2 avg.), including a long run of nine yards…10/31 vs. Baltimore:Saw action as a third-down back…had
one rush for seven yards…11/6 at Green Bay:Had three rushes for 10 yards (3.3
avg.) and a long of six…11/13 vs. Cleveland:Rushed nine times for 41 yards (4.6
avg.) with a long of 20…scored on a 10-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-goal
play…also caught two passes for 10 yards and an long of seven…11/20 at Baltimore:Saw action as a reserve running back
and had one carry for zero yards and one reception for 17 yards…also recorded
two special teams tackles (one solo)…11/28 at Indianapolis: Was inactive
for the first game all season (coach's decision)…12/4
vs. Cincinnati:Was
inactive…12/11 vs. Chicago:Rushed four times for eight yards (2.0
avg.) with a long of four...caught two passes for 29 yards (14.5 avg.)...kept a
Steelers' touchdown drive alive by converting a third-and-13 with
a 16-yard screen pass in which he broke a few tackles…12/18 at Minnesota:Ran for 36 yards on nine carries (4.0
avg.) with a long of 10…12/24 at Cleveland:Rushed for 57 yards on 10 carries (5.7
avg.) with a long of 16…scored on a 15-yard touchdown run in the third
quarter…caught one pass for 13 yards…1/1 vs. Detroit: Rushed four times
for 17 yards (4.3 avg.)…caught one pass for three yards…AFC
Wild Card Game 1/8 at Cincinnati: Rushed for 46 yards on three carries
(15.3 avg.), including a 26-yard attempt that was the longest of the game by
either team…caught one pass for 14 yards…AFC
Divisional Game 1/15 at Indianapolis:Rushed twice for eight yards and
caught one pass for no yards…AFC
Championship Game 1/22 at
Denver: Saw
action as a reserve running back…caught one pass for eight yards…Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle:Rushed once for two yards and played
on special teams.
2004 (13-0/2-0):Finished the
regular-season with 272 yards on 55 carries (5.0 avg.)…also had 18 receptions
for 142 yards and two TDs…9/12 vs.
Oakland: Had one carry for two yards…also
was credited one solo special teams tackle...9/19
at Baltimore: Finished with 34 yards on seven
carries (4.9 avg.)…had a long of 12 yards…also had two receptions for six
yards…had three special teams tackles…9/26 at Miami: Was the most
effective running back for the Steelers during a torrential downpour…gained 34
yards on seven carries, including a long of 10 yards...10/3
vs. Cincinnati: Scored his first-career TD as a pro on an 11-yard pass
from Ben Roethlisberger…finished with two carries for 15 yards and four
receptions for 25 yards and a TD…also had a team-high three solo special teams
tackles...10/10 vs. Cleveland: Rushed for six
yards on two carries…had one reception for minus-one yard…also registered a
team-high four special teams tackles (three solo)...10/17 at Dallas:Finished with two solo special
teams tackles...10/31 vs. New
England:Gained 17 yards on three carries, a
5.7-yard average…also had two receptions for 18 yards...11/7 vs. Philadelphia:Had his most productive game
of the season as a result of Duce Staley's absence…finished with a then
career-high 51 yards on 12 carries, a 4.3-yard average, and a long of 12
yards…also had two receptions for 44 yards, including a nifty 26-yard screen
pass on the Steelers' third TD drive...11/14 at Cleveland:Was inactive due to his toe
injury...11/21 at
Cincinnati: Returned to
active duty…finished with six yards on two carries...11/28 vs. Washington:Had one carry for three yards
and two receptions for 24 yards...12/5 at Jacksonville:Was deactivated because of a
knee injury...12/18 at N.Y.
Giants:Returned
to action after missing two weeks and made a huge contribution…had 21 yards on
two carries three receptions for 28 yards, including a 10-yard TD from Antwaan
Randle El...12/26 vs.
Baltimore:Gave
the Steelers a potent one-two punch…finished with a career-high 61 yards on
eight carries for a 7.6-yard average, including a long of 14 yards…also had one
reception for no gain...1/2 at
Buffalo:Finished with 22 yards on eight
carries...AFC Divisional Playoff Game 1/15 vs. N.Y. Jets:Had one carry for eight
yards and one reception for two yards…converted a key first down on the seasons
game-clinching scoring drive with his run...AFC
Championship Game
1/23 vs. New
England:Finished with 28 yards on five carries
(5.6 avg.) and one reception for 14 yards.
2003 (12-0):Had an excellent
preseason and emerged as the team's third running back...had a solid season in
his limited time as a the third running back and on special teams…was placed on
reserved/injured list for the second consecutive year after having season-ending
knee surgery Dec. 10…finished with 63 yards on 20 carries…also had seven
receptions for 57 yards...9/7 vs.
Baltimore:Gained 18 yards on 11 carries…also had one reception for nine yards...9/14 at Kansas City:Had three receptions for 21
yards, including a long of 13…was credited with one solo special teams
tackle...9/21 at
Cincinnati:Was
inactive due to a knee injury...9/28
vs. Tennessee:Returned to action after missing one game with a knee injury…had one
carry for minus-two yards...10/12 at
Denver:Finished
second on the team behind Jerome Bettis with 20 yards on two carries…also had
one reception for three yards...11/9
vs. Arizona:Totaled 15 yards on two rushing attempts, including a long run of 15
yards…also had one reception for 12 yards.
2002 (14-0): Led the team with 18 special teams
tackles…was placed on reserve/injured list on Dec. 17 with fractured fibula...had
10 carries for 51 yards, including a long run of 20 yards...also caught three
passes for 10 yards...9/9 at New
England:Accumulated most of his playing time on special teams in
season-opener...10/6 at New
Orleans:Had a
big game on special teams, recording three special teams tackles (one solo)...10/21 vs. Indianapolis:Recorded two special teams
solo tackles...10/27 at
Baltimore:Contributed on offense and special teams…had a nifty 20-yard run
among the 23 yards he gained on three carries…also had two receptions for 7
yards...11/3 at
Cleveland:Had
four rushing attempts for five yards...12/1 at Jacksonville:Gained 16 yards on a fake
punt…also had a big day covering kicks…finished with three solo special teams
tackles...12/8 vs.
Houston:Was
credited with one solo special teams tackle...12/15 vs. Carolina:Had one reception for three
yards…also was credited with one special teams
assist.
COLLEGE: Was a former walk-on who began his
career at Western
Kentucky
before transferring to Georgia…was given an opportunity to show
his running skills late in his senior year when injuries depleted the Bulldogs'
ground game. 2001:Led team in rushing as a senior with
126 carries for 691 yards (5.5 avg.) and seven touchdowns...gained more than 100
yards in each of his last four games…rushed for 737 yards on 136 carries (5.4
avg.) and eight touchdowns in 21 regular-season games…compiled a 5.15-yards per
carry average, second only to Herschel Walker's school career record of 5.29
yards (1980-82)...was a Super Sleeper Team and All-Southeastern Conference
second-team selection by The National Sports Bureau…was elected by his
teammates as the team captain at the conclusion of the regular season…added 242
yards and a pair of scores on 19 receptions (12.7 avg.)…averaged 93.3
all-purpose yards per game. 2000:Started two games at fullback...played
on special teams in every game in 1999 and 2000...majored in finance.
PERSONAL: Was an All-City, All-Fulton County
and All-Area selection, and named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
North Fulton "Formidable Four" team as a senior at North Springs High School in
Sandy Springs, Ga....played running back and linebacker…selected as a member of
the All-Northside Neighbor Football Team as a running back in 1996...received
the 1996 North Springs High School VIP Award...selected Niketown Athlete of the
Month and Year from four-county metro Atlanta area...won team MVP and
Outstanding Running Back awards...rushed for 1,142 yards with 11 touchdowns and
recorded 95 tackles, four fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in nine games
as a senior…did not begin playing football until his junior year in 1995 when he
rushed for 646 yards and four touchdowns...is the son of Harriett and Steve
Nesbitt...Full name: Verron Ulric Haynes.