Graham Talks Tanard, Free Agency & More
July 14th, 2011
Can Tanard Jackson sit out a year and come back to the Bucs ready to play in September?
Absolutely says Earnest Graham, so he told J.P. Peterson on 1010 AM yesterday. Graham was nonchalant about Jackson potentially having adjustment problems to returning to the Bucs. And Graham talked like he expects it to happen.
“He’ll be fine,” Graham said. Tanard’s an “instinctive football player.”
Graham went on to say Jackson’s in top shape and has always been impressive with his instincts and by playing far bigger than his size.
During the extensive interivew, Graham said he expects the Bucs to take a don’t-mess-with-success approach in free agency, especially when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. Graham seemed confident the Bucs would want to keep the offensive line in tact and Cadillac Williams.
However, in the next breath, Graham said he looked for the Bucs to make a few key acquisitions in free agency to improve the team and the locker room. He cited Sean Jones as a great pickup last year.
Graham went on to praise Mark Dominik and staff for the quality of men their administration has drafted. He said Adrian impressed him in Bradenton as a “humble kid” with “an NFL body.”
Joe was pleased to hear Graham, like Joe, is rather disinterested in lockout talk. Graham said he’s simply training hard and enjoying his family and, outside of the occasional lockout update from Maurice Stovall, is just waiting to enter his ninth training camp.
We can only hope.
July 14th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
It’s time for Graham to be cut loose. He’s a non-factor.
July 14th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
I don’t know about that Chris, he has been a pretty good FB. Why not keep him at FB?
July 14th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
agree with mcbuc. the guy is a florida guy he’s going to be cheap to resign and he has willingly taken a lesser role because it was best for the team. he’s a tough back. even though he will never be another #40. i like him on the goal line better than caddy and blount.
July 14th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
I couldn’t disagree with you more Chris FWC. Graham is the opitimy of a team player. He is versatile enough to play RB or FB, and is a great locker room guy. I hope Olsen gets him more involved this year because the guy is a gamer.
July 14th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Cut Graham, his days are past him. Sign Reggie Bush to compliment Blount. That would be a RB combo!!! I’ve never been real big on Reggie, but him as our 3rd down back would be freaky good with our WRs. Also, try pursuing Mike Sims-Walker to go with Williams, Benn, and Briscoe.
On Defense…we need 1 of the 3 Asomugha, Joseph, Cromartie. Two of the three would be even better!!! Slide Barber to the nickle and that problem is fixed. We need to resign Quincy and Ruud. Those two with Foster or Dekoda would give us a great LB core. Our D would be solid on all three lines.
Last, possibly signing Jerious Norwood if we can’t get Bush would be a solid move as well. He is a good 3rd down back and could tell us ATLs playbook. That should get us close to the salary cap minimum along with resigning Davin Joseph. It should be exciting to see what happens once this BS lockout is over. And IF Charles Johnson isn’t a RFA then we should def. look at him as well. Add him with our new DE’s and wow…LOOK OUT!!!!
July 14th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Cant cut Graham hes heart and soul of bucs
July 14th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
He is past him prime and with the speed of our Offense. We don’t need a FB. 1RB and 4WR sets and if its goaline plays. We drafted a freaking beast of a guy from USC to take care of that. Graham has always been team first I will give him that. But heart and soul!!!! hahahaha wow. how many plays did he play last year. We have moved on from this guy and Cadilac. Derrick Brooks was the heart and soul and what happened to him. Exactly!!! Graham is nothing compared to Brooks and we cut him…soooo get over Graham he is gone!!!
July 14th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Brass Monkey! That funky monkey!! Don’t need a FB? You saw where that got Spurrier and his BS spread in DC. That type of offense isn’t bad to mix in occasionally but is meant for college. Chris, he doesn’t need to carry the ball to be a factor. We got spoiled for years with Alstott pounding the rock but that isn’t typically what a FB is used for.
Comparing Earnest Graham to Derrick Brooks? Wow.
As for replacing him at FB? I don’t think we can find anyone better. Lorig isn’t the answer.
July 14th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
“Can Tanard Jackson sit out a year and come back to the Bucs ready to play in September?”
The question should be whether or not he can out perform Cody Grimm. I think so. Unfortunately this isn’t a contest to see who deserves the job. Its a contest to see who will help win for football games. I’m a big fan of Sean Jones and don’t think the majority of you give him enough credit but I’d like to eventually see Grimm move over to the SS spot and start opposite Tanard.
July 14th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
@Espo
That’s what I would assume would happen to begin with. I think Tanard would more be battling with Sean Jones for his spot if anyone.
July 15th, 2011 at 5:09 am
If we cut Graham, it will be a very sad day for me as a Bucs fan. This guy has been nothing short of an amazing Buccaneer on and off the field. He has sacrificed personal glory like no other player I can ever remember (year in and year out), and he has never complained once. I can’t imagine any Buc fan wanting to get rid of him, especially for Reggie “I’m going to run out of bounds as fast as I can so I don’t get hit, even though i’ll spend half the year injured anyway” Bush. I’m not usually one for keeping guys just because they are good character guys, but with EG I make an exception. I do believe he is still a very valuable player for our team on the field, but I want him on this team even if he isn’t.
I will also remind you that he only carried the ball a handful of times last year (20 times with 1 TD), one of which was a 61 yard run (our longest run of the year from any back) when we were pinned back on our own one yard line. But nah, let’s replace him with someone that 99% of us (including myself) had never heard of until the day of the draft! He’s going to be a beast!
July 15th, 2011 at 7:23 am
Lumpkin, Graham, Lorig, and Williams, we dont all 4. I would be willing to let go of two of them in favor of udfa’s Henry Hyonoski and Chad Spann
July 15th, 2011 at 7:53 am
I love Earnest too, a lot. He is a class act all the way, and I’d hate to see him go. He’s a smart guy though and knows he could be on the bubble. When he is done, I hope he becomes the Bucs RB Coach. As for a comparison of Brooks and Graham, you probably can’t on the field, but as a person and a leader, I think they are in the same class, but there will never be another Derrick Brooks. He is the one and only, and we were damn lucky to have him here.