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With Bucs running back Earnest Graham skipping the first two days of the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, a league source tells us that Graham has gone missing because he wants a new contract.
Per the source, Graham wants to be paid on par with 49ers tailback Frank Gore. We’re told that the Buccaneers don’t plan to comply.
Graham, by the way, is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, who also represents Gore. In March 2007, Gore signed an extension through 2011, with a five-year contract value at $28 million.
The former backup has spent four years in Tampa. He emerged as the go-to back after injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman, rushing for 898 yards and ten touchdowns, and starting ten games.
Williams is rehabbing a torn patellar tendon amid rumors that he’ll never play again. Pittman is a free agent, and unsigned. The Bucs also have Michael Bennett, Warrick Dunn, and Kenneth Darby under contract.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
wow, 898 yards and 10 tds. yea, im sold, sign him guys! give him LT money.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
What is that agent’s name again? Yeah, thought so!
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April 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Graham has been respected by Bucs fans, but if he keeps that attitude up he’s gonna lose everything but his name and the words “has been.”
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April 9th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Graham is just wishing here I think he was almost cut at one time too. One halfway good year and he wants to break the bank. Com on!
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April 9th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
From what I understand Cadillac will be rolling again, so I know they aren’t going to throw that kind of money his way.
He was a nice waiver wire pick up for me last year in FFB though!
Q-Man has it right……… The “R” word is the agent! LOL!
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April 9th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
How dare Earnest Graham compare himself to a proven entity such as Al Gore. Surely doesn’t recognize who he is comparing himself to.
–Sincerely,
Bryant Gumbel
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Bad career move…brings to mind another former Buc (who ironically also played at Florida)…Errict Rhett.
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April 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I want Frank Gore money too. I’d say our odds are about the same.
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Rating: 4.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
LOL Frank Gore money for Earnest Graham?
Hey guys I ran 800 yards can you give me 8 million up front and a new contract? I’m proven!!11
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April 9th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I once scored four touchdowns in a highschool football game. but now i’m stuck selling womens shoes. should have hired drew.
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Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
You posters are wrong on this one. Did you guys see how sick Earnest Graham was (for fantasy too)? He is coming into his alone and will continue to be great. Without a doubt, he demands more money.
No, not Frank Gore money, but it’s always good to start negotiating for more than you will receive so when you compromise, the $ will be higher than if you started negotiating at a lower price. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be smart to make Graham happy.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
BeaverThomasInSC I think you may be somewhat delusional about Cataract Williams. Even if he miraculously is back to 100%, he’s only scored 10 TDs in his whole career, while Graham did it while starting only 10 games.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
The negotiating point is well taken. Graham is a solid back who is at this point underpaid. I agree with the Rhett comparison but I think that he will stay in Tampa if they play it right. The running backs on the Buc roster are underwhelming to say the least.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 9th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
He’s a pretty good running back. I like the way his feet never stop moving, even in the pile. And he breaks tackles. That said, he will never be a breakaway threat–I’m 37 and I could probably run faster than him–and he has absolutely no moves. He is not a big bowling ball back like an Alstott or Bettis, he doesn’t destroy would-be tacklers, he just sheds arm tackles. I would not spend good money on him. I think Drew Rosenhaus knows that Graham really doesn’t have much potential to have bigger seasons and is trying to get a big payday now.
Hmm…a slow UF running back with Rosenhaus for an agent trying to get an undeserved big money contract. I think I am having an Errict Rhett flashback.
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
While he certainly doesn’t need to be given “Gore” money, he has earned a bigger pay day. He rotted on the pine for 3 years without a single complaint - and did everything that was expected of him (and a little more) when his number was finally called. It would be smart money for the Bucs to throw some of that huge salary cap room at Graham and a few other in-house work horses. No reason why Allen can’t work out another in a recent series of frugal deals that gives Graham a more fair compensation than what he has now.
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Earnest Graham is nothing more than this generation’s Errict Rhett. A moderately successful, now holdout, straight-ahead undersized power runner who gained nearly 1,000 yards and now thinks he’s going to hold the Bucs hostage for more money. Earnie, after you call Errict in between shifts as the doorman at the Mons Venus, call Keenan McCardell. Ask him how much he got from the Bucs when he held out.
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
skipping some involuntary voluntary workouts is miles away from holding out well into the regular season as McCardell did. I highly doubt it gets close to that with Graham - not only would he not get paid - he runs the risk of never getting another shot. McCardell was proven enough to know he’d get picked up, and used, by another team. While I don’t like the posturing and skipping - Graham is one Buc I wouldn’t really mind much them reworking a deal for. Better than paying Simms & Griese to hold clipboards….
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April 9th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
ModHairKen, who the hell is Errict Rhett.
(OK, back from Wikipedia).
I guarantee that Earnest Graham will have a much better career than rushing for 4,143 yards with a 3.5 avg and 29 touchdowns.
So, no, Graham will not be this generations Rhett. I think he is extremely talented with a bunch of bright years ahead of him.
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April 10th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Graham deserves more money. While I like Allen, he sometimes reminds me of the proverbial ,constipated mathemetician.”He worked it out with a pencil”. While that may work fine for an anal retentive accountant, when your sitting on a bunch of cap money, pay your key guys some money they deserve to keep them happy.It’s good business Bruce.
Not Gore money, but definately more .
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 10th, 2008 at 1:16 am
I notice somebody actually commented that he was a nice fantasy wavier wire pickup…you had to know this was coming…makes me feel confident the most popular sport in the world is in good hands for the X-Box generation…
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April 10th, 2008 at 3:51 am
Hey they need to pay someone to get above the salary minimum.
And he’s clearly the no1 back for now.
Why not give Graham some?
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)