Mercury Hayes

Mercury Wayne Hayes (born January 1, 1973) is a former professional American football and Canadian football wide receiver, kickoff returner, and punt returner. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons,[1] and he has played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes.[2] Prior to his professional football experience he was a University of Michigan Wolverines football star. He was drafted with the 136th overall pick in the 5th round of the 1996 National Football League draft.[3]

Mercury Hayes
No. 89, 84
Position:Wide receiver
Kickoff returner
Punt returner
Personal information
Born: (1973-01-01) January 1, 1973
Houston, Texas, United States
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College:Michigan
NFL Draft:1996 / Round: 5 / Pick: 136
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Although he had a modest professional career, he was involved in many of the University of Michigan's most memorable football moments. He is notable for his game-winning catch in the 1995 Pigskin Classic against the University of Virginia. Hayes also once held the Michigan record for consecutive games with a reception (30).[4] Hayes was a member of the 1992 Big Ten Champions who won the 1993 Rose Bowl.[5] He had attended Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Texas.[6]

College career
Hayes played in the 1993 Rose Bowl

After attending Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Hayes, son of Richard Hayes,[6] was recruited by several college football programs. He selected the University of Michigan over several elite football programs, including the Colorado Buffaloes, Florida State Seminoles, Arkansas Razorbacks, and USC Trojans.[7] During Hayes' Michigan Wolverines career, the team's best finish was as 1992 Big Ten Conference Champions, when coached by Gary Moeller. During that year, the team finished ranked fifth nationally in both the Associated Press college football final poll and the CNN/USA Today college football final poll,[5] and the team beat the Washington Huskies 38–31 in the January 1, 1993 Rose Bowl in a game that is memorable for Tyrone Wheatley's MVP performance.[8] Hayes had a 10-yard reception during the game.[9]

Hayes' 179-yard performance against the Virginia Cavaliers was the 1995 single-game high by any of the Wolverines wide receivers, tight ends and running backs, which included Amani Toomer, Jay Riemersma, Chris Howard, Jerame Tuman, Tshimanga Biakabutuka, Tai Streets and Chris Floyd.[10] The effort tied Jack Clancy's 1966 single-game total and Amani Toomer's 1994 single-game total for fourth on the Michigan all-time single game reception yards list.[11][12] It is worth noting that Clancy is the Michigan all-time single-game yardage recordholder at 197 yards.[10] Braylon Edwards and Tai Streets have since surpassed 179 yards, in 2004 and 1998 respectively, to move the trio down to sixth.[13][14] Hayes' 48 receptions and 923 yards also led all Wolverines in receiving for the 1995 season.[10] At the end of his Michigan career, Hayes' 923 yards ranked sixth on the single-season yardage list, but it is now fifteenth. His 2144 career yards ranked fifth and now ranks eleventh. The quarterbacks during his 1995 season were Brian Griese and Scott Dreisbach. Other quarterbacks during his collegiate career were Todd Collins and Elvis Grbac.[10]

In 1995, Hayes established the Michigan football record for most consecutive games with a reception by stringing together thirty such games. His record was broken by Marquise Walker's 32 games in 2001 and later surpassed by Braylon Edwards's 38 games and Jason Avant's 35 games.[4] Hayes ranks tenth in career yards per reception at 17.3 and eleventh in career all-purpose yards. He is listed prominently among Michigan's all-time leaders in kickoff returns and yards as well as total returns (kickoff, punt, fumble and interception) and return yards.[4]

Amani Toomer and Hayes were the fourth pair of Michigan receivers to have played together with 2000 career reception yards.[6] With 2,144 career yards and 124 receptions he ranks 10th and 12th on the All-time Michigan lists 2 yards behind Desmond Howard and 1 reception behind Derrick Alexander respectively.[10]

Notable games

Hayes, who wore #9 for the Michigan Wolverines from 1992 to 1995,[15] was recruited by University of Colorado, Florida State University, University of Arkansas, and University of Southern California. The University of Colorado was so interested in having him in the 1992 incoming class with Koy Detmer and Rashaan Salaam that they reserved their 25th scholarship for him, hoping he would change his mind after having committed to Michigan.[7]

In the September 24, 1994 Miracle at Michigan, #7-ranked Colorado, with former Michigan coaching staff member Bill McCartney as their coach, exacted their revenge on #4-ranked Michigan. Kordell Stewart completed a 64-yard hail mary pass to Detroit native Michael Westbrook against Ty Law and Chuck Winters as time expired to complete a miracle 27–26 comeback.[16] In the game, Hayes had 3 receptions for 62 yards as well as a run for 14 yards. He also returned 3 kickoffs for 54 yards.[10] The ending of this game has been described as one of the two wildest finishes in University of Michigan Football history.[17]

Hayes is notable for his 7-reception 179-yard performance culminating in a game-winning, fourth down, time expired 15-yard touchdown catch on August 26, 1995 from Scott Dreisbach to seal an 18–17 win in Michigan's greatest comeback,[18][19] a record that stood for eight years until 2003, when the Wolverines pulled off a 21-point comeback against Minnesota.[20] The reception was recorded against University of Virginia Cavaliers defensive backs Ronde Barber and Paul London in the Pigskin Classic to complete what was at the time the largest comeback in Michigan Football history in Lloyd Carr's coaching debut.[18][21] The game constituted the other of the two wildest finishes in Michigan Football history.[17]

Hayes is notable as one of the victims of Beaver Stadium attendees' ice and snowball hurling on November 18, 1995.[22] In the game, Hayes caught 6 receptions for 132 yards and had 3 kickoff returns for 48 yards. The game ended as a 27–17 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions.[23]

Hayes also had season highs in reception yards as a freshman and sophomore against his hometown Houston Cougars football team.[10] As a sophomore, he totalled 127 yards on six receptions; three punt returns for 38 yards; and two kickoff returns for 54 yards in a 42–21 win on September 25, 1993.[24] The game included Hayes' longest punt return as a Wolverine (26 yards) and represented Hayes career high in all-purpose yards. The game was also Hayes' third highest receiving yards total and the highest total he would have until his senior season. The freshman game, Michigan's third of the season, marked Hayes' debut as a kickoff returner.[10]

Professional career

The 1996 NFL draft was a quality draft for wide receivers. Among the wide receivers drafted that year were first rounders Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison and Eric Moulds. Additionally, Bobby Engram, Terrell Owens, Muhsin Muhammad, Joe Horn and former Michigan teammate Amani Toomer were also drafted that year. Hayes was the first of three 1996 fifth round picks by the Saints.[25] He was drafted just after Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn, the 135th pick.[26] Mercury Hayes' NFL career longest reception of 50 yards, caught in week 14 of the 1996 National Football League season in a 26–10 loss to the St. Louis Rams, was the first NFL pass by Doug Nussmeier (Nussmeier's second pass was his only touchdown completion).[27] Although Hayes only compiled 4 receptions for 101 yards; 2 rushes for 7 yards and 2 kickoff returns for 30 yards while appearing in 7 games,[1] he earned nearly $39,000 in bonus money over the course of his rookie season.[28] Hayes started the 1997 National Football League season on the New Orleans Saints' roster and appeared in 4 games.[1][29]

Hayes signed with the Atlanta Falcons on October 27, 1997 and appeared in two games for the Falcons.[1][30] He was released by the Falcons in the pre-season of the following year. Hayes was picked up on September 18, 1998 by the Washington Redskins and added to their practice squad, but was released 19 days later.[31] In February 1999, he was drafted by the Barcelona Dragons,[32] but he was released from the team five weeks later.[33]

Mercury Hayes was signed by the Montreal Alouettes in June 1999.[34] They released him in July and re-signed him in August.[35][36] His 2000 season began productively with an impressive pre-season effort (including 67 and 77-yard touchdown runs in the same quarter of one game)[37] followed by effective 65-yard and 68-yard regular season reception totals in early August.[38][39] However, by the end of August, Hayes was on the sidelines nursing an injury.[40] He failed to accumulate 259 yards receiving on the season, which would have placed him among the top 15 Canadian Football League receivers in yardage for the 2000 Canadian Football League season.[41] In September, he was released from the team.[42] In 2002, he attempted comeback with the Norfolk Nighthawks of the af2,[43] and this was his last attempt at professional football.

See also

Notes
  1. "Mercury Hayes". databaseSports.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  2. "All-Time Alouettes Roster" (PDF). Montreal Alouettes Football Club. 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  3. "University of Michigan Football NFL Draft History:1990s". Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  4. "Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan & Host Interactive. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 29, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  5. "1992 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. April 9, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  6. Signora, Michael (November 18, 1995). "Wolverine senior flanker Hayes spices up Michigan's potent aerial assault". Collegian Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  7. "Mercury Hayes commits to Michigan/Colorado recruiting summary". February 11, 1992. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  8. "Michigan's Bowl Game History: 1993 Rose Bowl". Bentley Historical Library. The Regents of the University of Michigan. April 10, 2006. Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  9. "Versus Washington January 1, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  10. "M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  11. "Versus Illinois November 5, 1966". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 26, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  12. "Versus Boston College September 3, 1994". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 2, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  13. "Versus Michigan State October 30, 2004". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  14. "Versus Minnesota October 31, 1998". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  15. "Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters". The Regents of the University of Michigan. August 25, 2003. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  16. Maisel, Ivan (June 11, 2007). "Stewart to Westbrook silenced Big House crowd". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  17. Jones, Todd (2007). "Michigan". In MacCambridge, Michael (ed.). ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Enterprises. p. 62. ISBN 1-933060-49-2.
  18. "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Michigan Finds Miracle of Its Own to Overcome Virginia". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. August 27, 1995. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  19. "Virginia vs. Michigan". USA Today. August 26, 1995. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  20. LaPointe, Joe (October 11, 2003). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Navarre Brings Michigan All the Way Back". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  21. "Versus Virginia August 26, 1995 (box score)". M Go Blue. Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 3, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  22. Longman, Jere (November 19, 1995). "FOOTBALL;Lions Win With Trick And Snowplow Offense". The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  23. "Versus Penn State November 18, 1995". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on May 3, 2005. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  24. "Versus Houston September 25, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on August 26, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  25. "Draft Pick History". NewOrleansProFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  26. Alder, James. "Joe Horn". About, Inc. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  27. Serpas, Frank III. "Saints 10 Rams 26 Summary". Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  28. "NFC salaries". USAToday. May 22, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  29. "1997 New Orleans Saints". CNN/SI. September 18, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  30. "Mercury Hayes". ESPN Internet Ventures. 1999. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  31. "Mercury Hayes". AlumniAtlas.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  32. "NFL Europe Draft List". The Salt Lake Tribune. Newsbank. February 24, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  33. "Monday's Sports Transactions". Charleston Gazette. Newsbank. March 30, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  34. "Transactions". The New York Times Company. June 17, 1999. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  35. "Transactions". The Salt Lake Tribune. Newsbank. July 3, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  36. "Transactions". The Orange County Register. Newsbank. August 31, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  37. "Hayes rallies Als past Ticats". CBC 2007. June 27, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  38. "ALOUETTES 62, Roughriders 7: Riders winless in 14 games". Slam Sports CFL Football. Canoe Inc. August 3, 2000. Archived from the original on September 22, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  39. "ESKIMOS 29, Alouettes 7: Esks end Als undefeated season". Slam Sports CFL Football. Canoe Inc. August 11, 2000. Archived from the original on September 22, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  40. "Als hand Stamps first loss of the season". CBC. November 10, 2000. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  41. "2000 Receiving Statistics". Montreal Alouettes Football Club. 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  42. "Transactions". The Salt Lake Tribune. Newsbank. September 8, 2000. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  43. "NIGHTHAWKS REPORT". The Virginian-Pilot. NewsLibrary.com. April 4, 2002. Retrieved January 25, 2008.

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