New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Even Tampa Recognizes THE BEAST Jimmy Graham

<H1 class="story_headline entry-title">Saints TE Graham emerges as new threat

</H1>By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

The New Orleans Saints entered this season with several obvious offensive options.
Receiver Marques Colston is the main target of quarterback Drew Brees. Receivers Devery Henderson, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem are interchangeable. In the offseason, New Orleans signed free agent running back Darren Sproles and drafted Mark Ingram. Sproles and Ingram joined Pierre Thomas, who had been the Saints' most consistent running back.
Tight end Jimmy Graham, however, has emerged as New Orleans' biggest offensive weapon.
Graham leads New Orleans with 32 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns. He enters Sunday's game against Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium with three consecutive games of 100 or more receiving yards.

"At the latter part of last season, he started really gaining confidence and coming on," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "This year, it's really carried over. He's a young player with a lot of great skills and someone who is eager and willing to work at it. He's very smart. All the other things that go into becoming a real good player, he has those qualities."
Graham, a third-round draft pick by New Orleans in 2010, played basketball at the University of Miami before becoming a football player. He has more receptions than any tight end this season.

"He's a great young player," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "He's a guy who is extremely hungry to be a great player. He works extremely hard. He tries to do all the right things. He aims to please. I love his attitude.

"I love the way he approaches the game. He's extremely smart. He's tough … We're very much on the same page. I have a lot of trust and confidence in him. He's a guy I'm excited about watching to progress as the season goes on."