Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

A position-focused contract negotiation and a new NFL rule making his favorite post-touchdown celebration a penalty ignited much discussion about the two-time Pro Bowler.

The 27-week long offseason hoopla over Graham’s contract situation ended Tuesday morning, the final day to reach a long-term contract before the season, when the All-Pro and Saints agreed to terms on a multi-year deal.

“I’m beyond excited,” Graham said Tuesday night. “I didn’t get into to football to learn litigation. I got into football to win games with my teammates, friends and coaches. I am extremely happy to get back to what it’s really about.”

It’s well-documented how the wide receiver-tight end debate played out. Even though it didn’t fall in favor of Graham’s side, it’s impossible for the 27-year old not to feel blessed with where he is at in his career after the journey he has taken to get here.

Graham was just a third-round draft pick in 2010 after having only 13 collegiate football games under his belt which left many draft analysts questioning whether he was tough enough to play at the pro level.

As a child in North Carolina, he grew up under a number of different roofs, dropped off at social services and signed away to a group home at 11 years old.

Although his path was turned in the right direction after a family he met in his bible study group took him in, he hasn’t forgotten the roller coaster of a childhood he endured.

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Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Well Jimmy,if you wanna help then you know what you gotta do....get focused and kick some a$$! Show the critics and opposing teams your physical side!

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Does that mean he is now dedicated to learn how to block and not disappear in big games against top competition?

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

This year, when I see somebody try to hit JG coming off the line, I want to see them on their arse on the ground. Take em completely out of the play.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Read the story and find out yourself.

:rolleyes:

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

I've always noticed, actions speak louder than words.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Well so much for all that nonsense about him being bitter at the Saints.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

This seems to be the JG mantra. I believe that some stats have been posted showing that Graham is an adequate blocker for both the run and the pass game. The main complaint seems to be against the scheme. Payton puts JG on the field to get out into the pattern. So why not ask the OC why does he not keep his best weapon in to block?

Any NFL defense can be configured to take a player out of the game. Smart DCs in the NFL (who would be coaching top competition) will scheme exactly to do that. So my question is since it always opens up another area in the defense to accomplish that, why did the offense not exploit it?

My final item is that a lot of the Saints offense's sluggishness starts right at the OLine. Brees spent quite a bit of time running for his life last year. I think those holes have been plugged with Armstead and Lelito/Goodwin. So this year if defenses load up to stop JG, then the other 10 guys will make them pay.

SFIAH

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Saying his blocking needs work to me is like saying Deion Sanders was a horrible tackler. I'm willing to bet any coach would rather have a TE that hauls in 16TD's as opposed to being a good overall TE.

Look at the Falcons, they tried last season to find and mold a big TE. It didn't work out! Same for many teams. Jimmy is an amazing player. He has faults but his pros far far outweigh them when he's healthy.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

I'm not worried about his blocking. We're not keeping him inline for pass pro very often, because he's our best receiver. If we're in heavy run mode, we go with Watson or a 3rd tackle anyway. And if we're mixing it up, you can put Watson on the line and split JG wide, that's a strategy that worked well late in the season when Ingram/Robinson were having success running the ball.

My only concern with Jimmy is he's got to learn to avoid those big hits. I love watching him run over people, but he takes too many hits to the knees and thighs.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

After giving it a lot of thought Drew Brees was the one trying to force it to Jimmy Graham all the time. A lot of his picks were when he was trying to let Graham make a play. He doesn't spread it like he used to. He just doesn't seem as magical as he once did.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

I did .... and he does not address those concerns in the article, even if some fans don't care about those concerns. It's really about being better and getting better, kinda like Tony Gonzales did. Time will tell, of course.

:popcorn:

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Jimmy

W love you, welcome back!

Focus on blocking, making the defensive backs pass interference more obvious and separation at the line. Maybe Champ Bailey could teach you a thing or two.

If you do go for a td celebration how about running up to the goal post and just touching the ball lightly to the center upright

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Nor should he because I doubt Payton or himself see it as near as much of a liability as do some fans. Gonzo and Graham, while both have similar backgrounds in basketball, have far different body types. Graham may be able to add another 15 pounds of bulk in the lower body to give him better leverage in blocking, but it would most likely hamper his ability to do what makes him such a weapon. It is simply not worth it to try to change him. Graham is long and lean. He does not have the build to be a good run blocker. But, that should not and does not diminish his incredible value as a playmaker.

All I can say is be glad that we have this great talent on our team and it does no good to you or anyone to look for the negatives when the positives far, far outweigh.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

If trying to focus on anything else lessens his ability to make plays I would be forced to disagree.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

He had trouble with drops, worked on it and improved
He had trouble breaking tackles, worked on it and improved

I fully expect he will improve his blocking as well as his breaking jams and holds by physical CB's.

This kid loves to improve his game and hasn't given any reason to anybody that he won't keep improving all aspects of his game.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

I'm down with you Jimmy..........go get it.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

No, he never had trouble with drops when healthy. His drop percentage in 2011 was only 3.4% with five total drops. In 2013 it was 2.1% with three drops.

The perception that he had drop problems were based upon the 2012 season when he played with the bad wrist. That year he dropped one out of every ten opportunities (over 10%), yet he was tough enough to keep playing through the injury.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

If you attribute the drops to the wrist injury, then sure.

And I might add staying healthy to the list of things I expect him to improve on.;)

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

The drops were clearly a part of the wrist injury, but I agree, staying healthy would be great.

:cool:

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Nah, he had plenty of trouble with drops if you watched him in college at Miami. He dropped 3 straight passes in the end zone in a game I watched. That's why I was pissed we drafted him. He worked on it. He's better about it. So yeah, he had a problem, he fixed it like Ole boy said.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

we have a winner. :ubl:

shame there is no I in team.

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

He is signed... fans are feeling better in Saintsville.

:-)

Re: Jimmy Graham: "I want to help bring another Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans"
 

Jimmy is an ALL PRO......why are we even concerned about him? To echo what was said earlier....if our OL can do a better job blocking up front we won't even have to worry about it. I prefer touchdowns to blocking....lol