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Graham Would Like A New Bucs Contract

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2008

TAMPA - Bucs RB Earnest Graham entered this season fully expecting to be a special teams player, but he proved to be more valuable.

Instead of backing up Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman, injuries to those players thrust Graham into the lineup where he became Tampa Bay's most productive back in several years. He finished this season with 961 yards and 11 TDs (including Sunday's 24-14 playoff loss to the Giants), having three 100-yard rushing games, plus setting a team record for consecutive games with a touchdown (six) along the way.

Graham still has one season left on his contract, but with Williams' uncertain health stemming from a serious knee injury, coupled with the standout's loyalty to the Bucs, he is optimistic Tampa Bay will give him an extension and increase his $512,520 annual contract. Williams reportedly is earning $1.37 million annually.

"Time will tell. Hopefully, I did enough for a new contract," Graham said after Sunday's game. "It's a business and I'm not an expert on it, so we'll see how it goes."

Things went well for Graham when he touched the ball against New York, but he had only eight attempts in the second half. Graham finished with 18 carries for 63 yards and one TD (his first postseason score), while Tampa Bay's running game amassed 69 yards on 22 carries.

NOT A PERFECT LINE: Tampa Bay's offensive line played brilliantly for most of this season, but it struggled down the stretch.

The Bucs had given up 10 sacks in three games prior to facing New York and, though New York recorded only one sack, the Giants had 11 quarterback hurries and seven passes defended while chasing QB Jeff Garcia throughout the game.

"That's a heck of a rush team and there's no question about that," RT Jeremy Trueblood said. "You don't want your quarterback getting it or feeling uneasy, but I know as an offensive lineman I don't like looking back at him and seeing him on the ground. I wish it didn't happen, but it did."

ONE LAST LOOK? For the third straight season, FB Mike Alstott returned to the field with his family to take photos and take everything in on the occasion of the Bucs' final home game. Alstott spent the season on injured reserve after reinjuring his neck during training camp and there is speculation he will announce his retirement in the coming weeks.

KEYSHAWN REVISITED: The Bucs apparently contacted the agent for former WR Keyshawn Johnson the week after Maurice Stovall went down with an injury, further reducing the receiving corps. Even though Johnson left the Bucs under nasty circumstances several seasons ago, the retired receiver turned television football analyst said he would have no problem playing again for Jon Gruden.

"They actually talked to my agent, Jerome Stanley. They never actually talked to me," Johnson said Sunday. "They were in contact with him for about a week and a half to two weeks. That's why I went to the Patriot-Giant game. I knew they were playing the Giants in the playoffs, so I had to see. It's something I seriously considered. ... I always said that if they pick up the phone and want me to help them make that run into the playoffs that same year, I had no problem doing it. I don't have a problem with Jon Gruden. I think we both understand football, we're both competitors and, look at it, George Steinbrenner hired Billy Martin several times."

BUCS BITS: Garcia became the first quarterback since 1966 to win three different division titles and start a playoff game for three different teams. Garcia won division titles with San Francisco, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. ... Tampa Bay had 20 first downs, third-most in franchise history. ... LB Derrick Brooks played in his 11th playoff game, becoming the all-time leader in postseason play in franchise history.

Anwar S. Richardson

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