Graham V. Gore

GRAHAM WANTS GORE MONEY

Posted by Mike Florio on April 9, 2008, 4:32 p.m.

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, rusing 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.

This story circulated around the past few days, and the St. Pete Times lapped right up on it, being the Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden haters they are. Looking to stir up another Simeon Rice, Keenan McCardell controversy, they hit their blog site ramping up the controversy.

Sure, as a longtime Bucs fan, it's easy to feel tentative here. Another former Florida Gator star, makes waves running the football for the Bucs, and is represented by Drew Rosenpimp, er... Rosenhaus. Similar running backs, similar sizes, running styles, now potential holdout threats. I admit, upon reading this, I was brought right back to Errict Rhett and his situation, which ultimately cost him an NFL career on behalf of his loving agent.

Returning home tonight, I was watching the NFL Network, (thank you Dish TV) and Graham has missed the first OTA for the Bucs because of family issues. Leave it to the National media to get to be bottom of the story instead of the slanted coverage of the Bucs by Florida's Best Newspaper, the Slant Pete Times, (cough, cough, gag, cough)

The possibility of a holdout though, does bring up some interesting issues for the upcoming draft, and perhaps sheds some light on why Warrick Dunn was resigned. I believe Carnell Williams' career in the NFL is over. With Graham a possible holdout, Bennett was resigned almost right after the Super Bowl ( a personal reccomendation by yours truely) Dunn was signed in free agency to come back home, Pittman could still resign as he's not getting alot of interest from other teams, Shawn Alexander from Seattle is supposedly going to released from Seattle and will garner some interest. And, this years draft looks really deep at wide receiver and running back.

Graham and also Jeff Garcia have voiced some concerns about getting a deal re-done before the start of the season. Right now, the front office has got to be focused on the draft, and I'm sure, these two players which contributed greatly to the division title last year, will be rewarded. Need I remind anyone, IT"S APRIL!

So the beat writers from the Times are trying to stir the pot with the anti Gruden/Allen mindset they always have. Look at the past few weeks with the slants on the stories about Simms, Garcia and now Graham, remember the newspaper motto, if it bleeds, it leads. Newspaper readership is way down and advertising revenue is even lower, they are desperate my friends.

When the Bucs line up on opening day, Garcia will be taking the snaps and Earnest Graham will be in the mix running the ball. Garcia is a gamer and Graham did not endure everything he's gone through in his life to throw it all away like Rhett. They are both Bucs and will be ready to go to war of the field of battle next season. Fire the Cannons!!!!!!!!