Eric Ghiaciuc
Encyclopedia
Eric M. Ghiaciuc [GUY-check] (born May 28, 1981 in Oxford, Michigan
) is an American football
offensive lineman of Romanian descent who is currently a Free Agent
in the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Central Michigan
.
Ghiaciuc has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs
, San Diego Chargers
, Cleveland Browns
, Florida Tuskers, New England Patriots
and Miami Dolphins
.
, Ghiaciuc was a three-sport standout in football
, wrestling
, and track and field
. In football, he won All-League, All-County, All-Metro, All-State honors, and he was ranked No.37 prospect by The Detroit News
, and No.47 by the Detroit Free Press
. In wrestling, he was the state heavyweight
champion.
in Mount Pleasant, Michigan
, Ghiaciuc was part of an offensive line which generated 105 touchdowns in a three-year stint. He was redshirted
in 2000, saw limited action in 2001, then took over as starting center in 2002, starting for the next 37 games for the Chippewas. He was an Industrial Education major who graduated with a 3.30 GPA.
in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft
. Ghiaciuc's college teammate, Adam Kieft
, was drafted in the fifth round. Paul Alexander, the Bengals' offensive line coach and assistant head coach, had also attended Central Michigan University
. He made his NFL playing debut on October 9, 2005 at the Jacksonville Jaguars
, getting the start. He played on to play in four more games in his rookie season as a reserve. In 2006
, Ghiaciuc started 12 of the final 13 games of the season at center, following an injury to Rich Braham
in Week 2. He played in 12 games, all starts, in 2007
. He then started all 16 games for the Bengals in 2008
.
on April 30. He was waived on September 4, 2009.
on December 22, 2009 after center
Scott Mruczkowski
was placed on injured reserve
. He was inactive for the final two games of the Chargers' regular season, as well as their playoff
game against the New York Jets
. He became a restricted free agent
after the season but was not offered a tender by the Chargers.
on April 8, 2010. He was released on June 16, 2010.
on August 4, 2010. He was released on September 3, during final cuts.
on November 22, 2010 after placing Cory Procter
On IR. Ghiaciuc was released on December 28, 2010.
Oxford, Michigan
Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Charter Township. The village occupies one square mile and is both politically and geographically a part of the township. The village calls itself...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman of Romanian descent who is currently a Free Agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Central Michigan
Central Michigan Chippewas football
The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...
.
Ghiaciuc has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Florida Tuskers, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
While attending Oxford High SchoolOxford High School (Michigan)
Oxford High School is a coed public secondary institution located in Oxford, Michigan within the Oxford Community Schools district. The school draws from an area of The Village of Oxford and Oxford Township, as well as portions of Oakland Township, Dryden Township, and Metamora Township...
, Ghiaciuc was a three-sport standout in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football, he won All-League, All-County, All-Metro, All-State honors, and he was ranked No.37 prospect by The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
, and No.47 by the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
. In wrestling, he was the state heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
champion.
College career
At Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Isabella County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,946. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 26,675....
, Ghiaciuc was part of an offensive line which generated 105 touchdowns in a three-year stint. He was redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
in 2000, saw limited action in 2001, then took over as starting center in 2002, starting for the next 37 games for the Chippewas. He was an Industrial Education major who graduated with a 3.30 GPA.
Cincinnati Bengals
Ghiaciuc was selected by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. Ghiaciuc's college teammate, Adam Kieft
Adam Kieft
Adam Kieft is a former American football offensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Kieft attended Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan. He was selected with the 17th pick of the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan University...
, was drafted in the fifth round. Paul Alexander, the Bengals' offensive line coach and assistant head coach, had also attended Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
. He made his NFL playing debut on October 9, 2005 at the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, getting the start. He played on to play in four more games in his rookie season as a reserve. In 2006
2006 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 2006 Cincinnati Bengals season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 2005, defending their AFC North Division Championship title, and progress further through the playoffs than they made in the 2005 season having lost to Pittsburgh in the 1st round after losing star...
, Ghiaciuc started 12 of the final 13 games of the season at center, following an injury to Rich Braham
Rich Braham
Rich Braham is a former National Football League center who played for the Cincinnati Bengals.-High school career:Braham attended University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he lettered in both football and basketball...
in Week 2. He played in 12 games, all starts, in 2007
2007 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 2007 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League and their 40th overall season. The team attempted to improve upon their 8–8 record in 2006 and were looking to return to the playoffs after narrowly missing them...
. He then started all 16 games for the Bengals in 2008
2008 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 2008 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and their 41st overall season. The team finished the season with 4 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie, and did not qualify for the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year.-Coaching changes:This season marked...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
An unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season, Ghiaciuc signed with the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on April 30. He was waived on September 4, 2009.
San Diego Chargers
Ghiaciuc was signed by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 22, 2009 after center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
Scott Mruczkowski
Scott Mruczkowski
Scott Allen Mruczkowski [merch-COW-ski] is an American football center for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Bowling Green.-External links:*...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was inactive for the final two games of the Chargers' regular season, as well as their playoff
2009–10 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2009 season began on January 9, 2010 and led up to Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida...
game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He became a restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
after the season but was not offered a tender by the Chargers.
Cleveland Browns
Ghiaciuc was signed by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 8, 2010. He was released on June 16, 2010.
Florida Tuskers
Ghiaciuc was a member of the Florida Tuskers' (United Football League) minicamp roster in June 2010.New England Patriots
Ghiaciuc was signed by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on August 4, 2010. He was released on September 3, during final cuts.
Miami Dolphins
Ghiaciuc was signed by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 22, 2010 after placing Cory Procter
Cory Procter
Cory Procter is an American football guard who is currently a member of the Miami Dolphins. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
On IR. Ghiaciuc was released on December 28, 2010.