Mike Anderson

Michael Moschello Anderson (born September 21, 1973) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. He played five seasons with the Broncos, being named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2000. After being waived by the Broncos in 2006, Anderson signed a four-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens; however, he played just two seasons with the Ravens before his contract was terminated in 2008, effectively ending his NFL career.

Prior to his football career, Anderson served four years in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting out of high school. He was assigned to the artillery battery of the 11th Marine Regiment and deployed overseas to Somalia and Kenya on peacekeeping missions. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1996 as a lance corporal.

High school Anderson is a graduate of Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina, where he did not compete in sports.

Military service Anderson spent four years in the United States Marine Corps upon completion of high school in order to earn educational benefits and in consideration of a possible military career. While in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, he played on the 11th Marines contact football team, where he was seen by an assistant coach for Mt. San Jacinto Junior College. He was plagued by injuries in the following years, not even playing in 2004, the result of tearing both groin muscles while blocking on a punt return in the waning moments of a preseason game. The 2005 NFL season was a return to form. He rushed for 1,014 yards in 15 games. In reaching his second 1,000-yard rushing season, Anderson set several modern-day NFL records (longest stretch between seasons leading a team in rushing, longest stretch between a player's first and second 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and greatest number of seasons passed between 1,000-yard rushing seasons with no intervening seasons rushing for that distance). On March 1, 2006, Anderson was waived by the Broncos to avoid exceeding the salary cap.

's NFL off-season, Anderson held at least 11 Broncos franchise records, including: Rush Attempts: rookie season (297 in 2000), rookie game (37 on 2000-12-03 @NOR; with Olandis Gary) Rush Yards: game and rookie game (251 on 2000-12-03 @NOR) Rushing TDs: rookie season (15 in 2000; with Clinton Portis), rookie game (4 on 2000-12-03 @NOR) Total TDs: rookie game (4 on 2000-12-03 @NOR; with Clinton Portis) Yds from Scrimmage: game and rookie game (256 on 2000-12-03 @NOR) Games with 2+ TD scored: rookie season (5; with Clinton Portis) Games with 3+ TD scored: rookie season (1; with Jon Keyworth, Terrell Davis, and Clinton Portis)

Baltimore Ravens On March 12, 2006, Anderson and the Ravens agreed on a contract. During the 2006 season, he was third string behind Jamal Lewis and Musa Smith. He finished 2006 with 39 carries for 143 yards and 1 touchdown, as well as 9 receptions for 54 yards. On February 27, 2008, the Ravens released him, ending his NFL career.

NFL career statistics Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 2000 DEN 16 12 297 1,487 5.0 80 15 23 169 7.3 18 0 2001 DEN 16 7 175 678 3.9 62 4 8 46 5.8 16 0 2002 DEN 15 12 84 386 4.6 32 2 18 167 9.3 52 2 2003 DEN 12 5 70 257 3.7 44 3 12 53 4.4 18 2 2004 DEN 0 0 Did not play due to injury 2005 DEN 15 15 239 1,014 4.2 44 12 18 212 11.8 66 1 2006 BAL 16 0 39 183 4.7 34 1 9 54 6.0 13 0 2007 BAL 8 0 15 62 4.1 16 0 4 26 6.5 10 0 Career 98 51 919 4,067 4.4 80 37 92 727 7.9 66 5