Graham Hasn’t Talked To Schiano
March 5th, 2012
Versatile, hard-working and injury-prone Earnest Graham isn’t running yet following his Achilles injury but expects to be ready for a training camp, wherever that may be, so Graham told J.P. Peterson of WQYK-AM 1010 this evening.
Will free agent Graham return to the Bucs? Graham said “without a doubt” he wants to come back but he understands that any team will want to know he’s healthy before signing him.
“I’m just relying on film.” said referrring to his best chance of landing a contract before training camp.
Graham sure sounded to Joe like a guy who didn’t expect to wear Buccaneers red for the ninth consecutive season. Graham said he’s been at One Buc Palace regularly for rehabilitation but has not spoken to Greg Schiano.
Joe would love to see Graham return to the Bucs, but he’s got to be healthy, and that’s going to be a huge question mark for many weeks.
March 5th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Graham had a good year. If healthy, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back.
March 5th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Earnest is a good all purpose back. Would love to see him back for depth.
March 5th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Bless his heart….his career is over
March 5th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Graham is a great guy. But he’s about done. Injury prone and foot slow.
Be a good assistant to Byner on the coaching staff.
To old a brittle to be of any help here. Bring Caddy back!
Or better yet- a vet FA, then draft James( Oregon) in the 3rd
March 5th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
I love EG as a person and player – retain him if he is healthy bc he does it all. Rb, fb, hb.
March 5th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Didn’t think you were capable of love …
March 5th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Replace him with Tolbert, and replace Lumpy with James/Rainey and things look allot better.
March 5th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
I would be ok with Cadillac being a back up again. I can’t believe they let him go after having a good season as a part time runner. But i am guessing he wanted a chance to start again so wanted to move on. I believe i remember hearing him say he wanted to test the FA waters. Then Domink just threw him into the FA pool (deep end first) 🙁
March 5th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Most underused Buc EVER.
It’s a shame really.
March 5th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
I’m with Thomas on this one (man that hurts to say those words). My son has one Buc jersey, and it’s #34. It’s really too bad injuries and other things have gotten in the way of him being a very good player for this franchise.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
He’s not coming back for depth, I would be really surprised if ANY team brings him back to play any position. He’s 30-something coming off an achilles tear, his playing days are done.
That said, he’s hands down one of my favorite players in the entire NFL. Graham is the kind of dude every person should be, not even in the NFL, I think a lot of people have that personal respect for him.
Doesn’t change the fact that he won’t be playing football anymore though =/
March 5th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
he was leading the team in receptions last year before he got hurt and was averaging 5 yds a carry, if caddy can blow two knees and play i think EG could still play. That being said I don’t expect the bucs to have him next year
March 5th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Sad, but apparently unanimous, post.
I also thought Graham was underused in his hayday.
But not really relevant now. Like I said, once he comes to terms with retiring- he should be given an assistants spot with coaching staff.
He’s earned it. And would show a lil love from management- and he could be an asset!
March 5th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
I honestly love the loyalty I’m reading, but he’s old for an athlete and has a major injury to recover from. Need the space on a 53 man roster. Sad but true. As a fan I would shake his hand and well wish whenever I was lucky enough to meet him. And as a fan I would want the Training Camp spot for his replacement. I’m tired of being a place for the T. Brown’s and H. Ward’s to retire. I want to be dangerous again.
March 5th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Great guy. Worst insurance plan ever.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
I’ll miss Graham if he leaves. Nice guy and good man.
But we horribly just wasted his talent in Tampa. He could’ve had a pro bowl career easily if given the chance and not wasted at fullback by dumb Raheem and Olsen.
Maybe if we had given him the damn ball back in ’09 we would not have been 3-13.
Maybe if we had given him a share of the load with Blount in ’10 we would’ve made the extra push for the playoffs.
I’d like to see him go to a team that would utilize his talents.
March 6th, 2012 at 2:08 am
Have to agree, at 30 coming of that kind of injury, his playing days are most likely over. It really was a shame Tampa wasted this Man’s talents.
We had a hint of what he could do when he started running over people, until he got hurt again.
March 6th, 2012 at 7:50 am
I am not writing Graham off yet. If he is healthy to play. Play him. He runs down hill.
March 6th, 2012 at 8:57 am
DO NOT BRING GRAHAM BACK!
Get a true, talented FB.
March 6th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
We need to move on. He was low on talent and getting up there in age before this devastating injury. We can’t take players back based off good-will
March 6th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Once again Earnest is a great guy but he has to be let go of!!! We need young guys at RB, not an old injury prone RB. He has done great things for us in the past but I’ve been saying for now the third straight offseason. Let the guy go! And get someone better. Lumpkin needs to go as well. And Madu hasn’t showed anything except in PreSeason. Time to get 2 new RBs to compliment Blount. And hopefully a coach who will run Blount more than 5 times a game. And Blount also has to work on protecting the ball and being better in pass protection!!