UMaine’s Gaine signs contract with NFL’s Jets

Brian Gaine, the career reception leader for tight ends at the University of Maine, had a rough finish to his college football career, but his future brightened Tuesday when he signed a rookie free-agent contract with the New York Jets of the National Football League.

“He flew in this morning and practiced this afternoon,” said Doug Miller, director of public relations for the Jets. The Jets hold their preseason camp at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

Gaine, of Pearl River, N.Y., was signed after free agents Brian Lojka and Rickey Brady were waived.

“Based on his size, what the scouts had seen earlier, and the level of competition he had faced, he was brought in,” said Miller.

Gaine will be battling a trio of young tight ends in starter Kyle Brady, last year’s No. 1 draft pick; backup Fred Baxter, in his fourth year out of Auburn; and Tyrone Davis, a second-year player out of Virginia who Miller said is being converted from wide receiver to tight end, for a spot on the Jets, who finished with the worst record in the NFL last year, 3-13.

Gaine was not available for comment because, said Miller, “He’s trying to catch up with a week and a half of practice. I won’t even be able to talk to him until [Wednesday] morning.”

Gaine, a 6-foot-5, 260-pounder, was a tri-captain last fall in his final season for the Div. I-AA Black Bears, who finished 3-8 overall and 1-7 in the Yankee Conference.

It was a tough year for Gaine, the Bears’ Rookie of the Year in 1992, as he battled hamstring and knee injuries and played in only five games, catching two passes for a total of 33 yards.

He pulled a hamstring in preseason last fall, according to Maine coach Jack Cosgrove, came back to play in the second game, but his college career ended with a midseason knee injury.

The two catches gave him 74 for his career, two better than the previous tight end best set by Tony Lanza. The 33 yards gave him a four-year total of 719, matching Lanza’s mark for tight ends.

Cosgrove said Gaine was a technically sound blocker and decent pass receiver.

“He had high aspirations,” said Cosgrove Tuesday. “He was working toward the NFL draft. He kept at it in the offseason, looking for an opportunity and it paid off.”

“He’s a hard worker. He let’s his actions speak for themselves,” said Cosgrove. “He’s a guy who obviously wanted to take this game as far as he could.”