| Cam Cleeland has the ability to be a very good receiving tight-end, but injuries have robbed him of playing time. Sporting solid receiving skills, with sufficient speed and quickness to achieve at the professional level, he has not been a consistent presence when healthy, mainly due to his absence on the field which leads to dependability and familarity in the offensive scheme. Despite the injury history, Cleeland is a better than average blocker in the passing game and rushing aspects, as well as a very strong route-runner, knowing how to read and recognize defensive coverage and scheme sets.
Great all-around athlete…can be one of the elite receivers in the league…soft hands…good run after the catch…should add a lot of spice to Rams offense....signed by Rams 4/9/03 after being released by New England…signed by Patriots 3/28/02…placed on injured reserve 12/26/01…placed on injured reserve 8/22/00 after undergoing surgery for ruptured Achilles’ tendon…originally drafted in second round (40th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft by New Orleans Saints. 2002: Played in 12 games for Patriots, starting one…made 16 receptions for 112 yards with one touchdown…tied for team lead with six receptions for 40 yards in Patriots debut on Monday Night Football against Pittsburgh 9/9…hauled in three receptions for 11 yards with a one-yard touchdown reception from QB Tom Brady in the second quarter at New York Jets 9/15…made two receptions, including season-long 22-yarder at Oakland 11/17. 2001: Started seven of nine games and totaled 13 receptions for 138 yards with four touchdowns for Saints…led tight ends and finished third on team with four touchdown receptions…caught three passes for 38 yards with career-high two touchdowns at Carolina 10/14…hauled in a season-high 19-yard touchdown pass vs. Atlanta 10/21…recorded season-highs with four catches for 43 yards at St. Louis 10/28. 2000: Spent season on injured reserve after suffering a ruptured Achilles’ tendon injury in the first preseason game against New York Jets 7/29. 1999: Played in 11 games, with eight starts and caught 26 passes for 325 yards (12.5 average) with one touchdown…caught a season-long 31-yard reception, totaling five catches for 69 yards against Atlanta 10/10…established a season-high with seven catches for 84 yards against Tennessee 10/17…snared lone touchdown reception of season on two-yard reception vs. St. Louis 12/12…scored a two-point conversion and also grabbed 11-yard pass at Baltimore 12/19. 1998: Turned in one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in Saints history with a team-leading 54 receptions for 684 yards and six touchdowns…voted a second alternate to NFC Pro Bowl team…54 receptions tied team’s rookie record, and were second-most in team history by a tight end (Wesley Walls, 57, 1995)…six receiving scores as rookie tied wide receiver Danny Abramowicz (1967) for the most touchdown receptions by Saints rookie…it also tied him for second in touchdown receptions by a tight end (Toby Brenner, 1984; Henry Childs, 1980) in team history…named to all-Rookie teams by Pro Football Weekly, College & Pro Football Weekly, Football News and Football Digest…made four catches for 82 yards in NFL debut at St. Louis 9/6…caught first NFL touchdown, a 33-yarder, in overtime at Indianapolis 9/27…led all receivers with eight catches for 64 yards, including a one-yard touchdown reception against New England 10/4…tied for team-high with seven catches for 71 yards with 13-yard sc |
