Comments on: Ominous Sign For Earnest Graham

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:17:18 +0000

earnest dodge ram graham has to be one of the most under appreciated yet valuable bucs ever. hopefully his playing career continues but if not I know hes got interest outside football and will still be heard from

By: Hawaiian Buc

Hawaiian Buc — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:47:39 +0000

@funkymunkey,

Obviously his attitude of team first influences us to like him. I see nothing wrong with that. I’ll take an Earnest Graham over a selfish player with a little more talent anyday. He has been tremendously loyal to the Bucs, and especially helpful towards the other RB’s on the team. Off the field, you have to read his story and what he does for his family and community. I’m sorry, but I appreciate stuff like that.

Plain and simple, the guy didn’t get a fair shake throughout his career (probably as a result of his great attitude). He always played good when given playing time, yet was rarely given much of an opportunity. He will never be confused with Barry Sanders, but he has at worst been a solid running back for us.

Lastly, I couldn’t disagree more that the the type of person he is has no effect on a football team. That’s complete garbage. Having a guy in the locker room like EG is incredibly beneficial to a team. Look no further than what happened last year after EG went down (obviously I’m not saying that we went on a 10 game streak because he got injured, but it absolutely was one of many factors).

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:29:54 +0000

Funkeymonkey……shut up already. Graham would’ve had a pro bowl career had he been with a team that had used him properly and given him a real chance. Every opportunity he got to run the ball he was very good!

By: funkymunkey

funkymunkey — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:08:14 +0000

IF EG was as good as you people make him out to be…don’t you think he would have much better numbers than that??? 477 carries in 8 seasons tells me something was wrong with him. I am not hating on him as a person at all. He is a true top notch human being whom more people should strive to be. But that has zero effect on the football field. I like to talk about reality and not what ifs and all that other mumbo jumbo!!

By: funkymunkey

funkymunkey — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:03:23 +0000

You people are in love with him because he did what he was asked and didn’t question it. I don’t know what games you watched. But like many players he had 1 good year and did very little after or before that. I have watched almost every Bucs game the last 12 or 13 seasons and only missed maybe 1 or 2 a season and never got peoples infatuation with him. He is slow, has only one move, which is straight ahead, he did block well I will give him that. But what else has he done in his career??? Nothing!!! He has a total of 2,047 career yards and 15 TDs, and 10 came in 2007. He also has less than 500 career carries but has 6 fumbles and 5 of them were lost??? Please tell me how he is so great?? Besides being the “teachers pet”????

And if you want to talk about misusing a RB you only have to look back to last season. Blount had several games where he basically wasn’t there. I know he has fumbling issues but I’m just glad we have a real RB in Doug Martin and a good #2 in Blount. Be happy we finally have a talented team in most of the positions now for the first time in 10 years almost!! Quit talking about 2007 and all the what ifs and focus on the new Tampa Bay Bucs team!!!

By: JonBuc

JonBuc — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:34:31 +0000

Spunkymonkey:

Graham was not only good, he flashed brilliance at times. He will be missed( not by you) and never got a true opportunity after his breakout year in 2007.

By: Have A Nice Day

Have A Nice Day — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:13:49 +0000

Hopefully now we can have an “insurance” policy that is always effective instead of always injured.

By: rrsrq

rrsrq — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:07:18 +0000

Hate to use a rah quote, but he was spot on with insurance Graham, look back over the years when he was actually gven a chance to play, he always produced, not sure what games funkeymunkey was watching.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:53:51 +0000

I’ll miss Graham. Nice guy. It’s a tragedy how we never properly used a great player like him.

By: funkymunkey

funkymunkey — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:04:21 +0000

And I’m not trying to be bash the guy. Just typing the truth. But he was never a favorite in my eyes and I have always been shocked to read the support he gets from fans. The only reason he was here for so long is, we haven’t had a real RB since Warrick Dunn in his 1st stint here. Alstott was a FB that ran short yardage plays ala EG. We have Blount for that. Martin is our RB for everything else. And the new guy will hopefully get 5 plays a game at best. Unless he out performs Blount in OTAs and training camp.

By: funkymunkey

funkymunkey — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:00:54 +0000

EG is a great human being! That said, it does not make him a great football player. He has never been very good and only because the majority of fans liked him because he did what he was asked without complaining. I’ve been saying for atleast 3 years that he should be cut. I’m glad to hear someone else has his #. Especially a speedster that will compliment Martin and Blount. Hopefully we can hire him as an assistant coach or even in the FO at some point. But I have to say, I am SOOO glad to see him go. His performance on the field never showed anything more than a subpar player. We have some talent at the RB position to finally give him the boot! Can’t wait til training camp and preseason to see what we actually have going on here!

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:22:06 +0000

Too bad,

One of the best undrafted free agents ever signed by the bucs.