Profiles In Sportage: Earnest Graham

    Earnest Graham represents the anti-thesis of an NFL star in the current state of professional football. The little known fullback in Tampa Bay has never rushed for 1,000 yards, but he is one of the most respected running backs in the NFC. 

His career began with little fanfare and outside of the 2007 season, he has worked away in relative obscurity. From his all star- like beginnings in high school to his undrafted NFL start, Graham has hit the grass, or turf, with the same enthusiasm and desire as a kid on a Pop Warner team.

Graham began his college career in Florida in 1998 after being named Mr. Football for the state of Florida in 1997. He elected to stay in state and played his college ball at the University of Florida under Steve Spurrier. Graham would play behind Robert Gillespie for three years at Florida earning second team ALL SEC honors his sophomore year. But, it was Graham's senior year that would define him. 

After an injury marred junior season Graham went into Gainseville with low expectation for his senior season. But, at the end of the season Graham had rushed for over 1,000 yards, scored 11 touchdowns, and was ranked in the top ten for every major Florida rushing record. Graham went to the NFL combine sure of his star status in the NFL.


But, after a slow 40 yard dash time and an injury-prone label, Graham would not hear his name called during the 2003 NFL draft. 


Graham would sign with the Cleveland Browns during the 2003 off-season only to be cut a week later. During the 2003 season he would sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, only to be cut a week later, as well. That off-season the Bucs would give Graham another shot, but this time Graham would do whatever it took to stay on. 


He started out on special teams. Graham had not played special teams before, but he was willing to do anything to play football. He would act as a gunner on punts, block during field goals and block during punt returns. There was an opening on the depth chart for fullbacks, so Graham became a full back. Then things started to pay off.

In 2006, Graham led the Bucs in special team tackles. in 2007, the call finally came for Earnest Graham. Injuries to Michael Pittman, Carnell Williams, and Mike Alstott forced the Bucs to start Graham for 10 games, at tailback. He rushed for over 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. Mr. Florida football was back. 


The 2008 season began with high expectations for the scrappy runner. He was expected to share the load with veteran Warrick Dunn. But, injuries can change the course of careers and so Graham's odyssey continued. 


Several fullbacks went down during 2008 and the Bucs 2007 leading rusher answered the call. Rather, than bring in a new fullback and work him into the system, Graham suggested he move to fullback. He renounced his rushing leader crown and took to opening up running lanes for Dunn. The selfless player, Graham knew what it meant to win as a team and not just for oneself. The Bucs were 7-3 with him at full back when he went down with an ankle injury in week 11.


Injuries have now caught up to man who once saw opportunity when other players went on the Injured Reserve. He started 6 games in 2009 and went down with a ligament tear in his toe. Carnell Williams return in 2009 and 2010 has meant a permanent movement for Graham back to fullback. 

However, his career has never been brighter. Far removed from the days of hanging onto the practice squad. He is Tampa Bay's starting fullback. He no longer runs as the gunner on punts and kickoffs. He has returned to the backfield where he meant to go 9 years ago in the NFL draft. Now he blocks for the position that made him famous during high school. But, Earnest Graham found a way to make it in the NFL, as a teammate. 

Profiles in Sportage: Shaun Hill

(Profiles In Sportage will become part of Personally Foul's weekly look at some of the top underdogs in professional sports. These men and women are personal favorites of the writing staff and are more likely to show up on your doorstep selling insurance than in All Star games, but deserve recognition in some small way. These athletes play their sport the way they were meant to be played. Our first edition covers one of my personal favorite quarterbacks: Shaun Hill.)

 
Shaun Hill may never go to the Pro-Bowl, lead a team to a Super Bowl, or even start 16 games. But, his style of play and gutsy leadership has given Hill a career no NFL draft guru could have predicted. He is one of the NFL's top backup quarterbacks over the past decade and has enjoyed relative success starting for cellar dweller teams; even jump starting a dormant franchise.  


 Since high school Shaun Hill routinely was overlooked as a quarterback. Not highly recruited out of Parsons High School in Kansas, Hill spent two years at community college where he caught the eye of Maryland Terrapins then coach, Ron Vanderlin.


In 2001, Hill's senior year at Maryland, he led the underdog Terrapins to the Orange Bowl and their first ACC Championship since 1985. (Losing to Florida.) But, during the season Hill out-dueled Philip Rivers to beat the future top 5 pick with 40 seconds left in the game. Still, his lack of arm strength led to Hill going un-drafted and was written off as a product of the Ralph Friedgin system.

15 Quarterbacks' names were called during the 2002 NFL draft, but not Shaun Hill. Of those 15, only one quarterback from that draft currently starts in the NFL; David Garrard. Hill would get the casual look by NFL teams for camp bodies, but luck was on his side. Hill was  picked up by then Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice; a former Maryland Terrapin as well. 


Hill would play in NFL Europe and take practice reps on the Vikings practice squad to stay on an NFL roster. Given the chance to play in the NFL, Hill spent 6 years on the bench before getting his first start in San Francisco under coach Mike Nolan. Hill took the opportunity and ran with it.


In 3 starts in 2007, Hill passed for 500 yards and 5 touchdowns, but only 1 interception. Hill won two of three games, but returned to the bench for 2008. But when Alex Smith failed in 2008, Hill returned to a starters role at the halfway point in the season. 


2008 became arguably Hill's best season. In 8 games Hill won 5, passed for 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns; salvaging the 49ers season from complete disaster. In week 10 of 2008, against eventual Super Bowl contenders Arizona,  Hill led a 49ers comeback with gutsy play and smart quarterbacking. The game was lost by the poor play calling of Mike Martz in the final seconds, but Hill proved his worth. Forcing the 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary to give him a fair shake in the next years training camp. 

 But 2009 brought Jimmy Raye's new offense and  Shaun Hill's 3rd offense in 3 years. While Hill enjoyed relative success, the team went back to give former top pick Alex Smith a chance. But, in 2009 Hill revitalized the career of Vernon Davis (also a former Terrapin) leading to Davis' best season in the NFL and one of the best seasons ever for a tight end. With Hill at the helm the 49ers found ways to win. 


The resurgence of Alex Smith under Jimmy Raye's offense, sent Hill out into the great NFL wasteland for NFL backups. But after shopping himself around the league, Hill found a place in Detroit where he could become the back up and play with some of the NFL top receiving talents. 


Detroit began as another clipboard-holding job for Hill, but after a Matthew Stafford shoulder injury, Hill finds himself back in the mix as an NFL starter. Despite a 1-3 record, as a starter, this year, Hill has thrown for 1,200 yards and 8 touchdowns so far and led two near comebacks before blowing out the St. Louis Rams this week. 


Hill's effect on the locker room brought veteran leadership and hard work to the Lions for the first time in, well, forever. The Lions fell short against division opponents  3 times on the road, but twice just missed the win. Something that cannot be said for the usual play by the Lions against division opponents. Huge steps for a team that has won 3 games in two years. The Lions also have already inked a 1 year extension for Hill next year.  Matthew Stafford may return in week 8, but Shaun Hill has a full tank of experience ready to lead the Lions to their first season of "improvement" since 2007. 


Whatever the NFL throws at Shaun Hill, he will continue to prove that leadership, intelligence, and hard work  can still win in the NFL, despite lacking the physical attributes of a prototypical Quarterback. The ability to win cannot be taught; luckily Shaun Hill was born with it.


-Matt
                                                    Shaun Hill Clinches the ACC Championship  2001

 

Quick Picks! The answer to procrastinating

The Rest of the Best:

After much procrastination, I realized how late I was delivering the picks for Division winners in the rest of the NFL. To prove I premeditated on these decisions prior to the NFL season, I will say off the bat I had the San Francisco 49ers winning the NFC West. Without further adieu here they are:


NFC West: 49ers
Analysis: How could I not? One of the most improved teams of 2009, Alex Smith finally on track and a tough Singletary defense led by Patrick Willis? Cardinals finishing a lackluster 2nd. Seahawks edging out the Rams for 3rd and 4th respectively. 


NFC East: Washington Redskins
Analysis: Call me crazy, but I love Donovan McNabb and the 'Skins defense. With Shanahan at the helm look for a wild turnaround this year and a letdown next year. The Eagles spend a down year with Kevin Kolb, finishing 4th. The Cowboys edge out the Giants for 2nd place and a wild card.


AFC South: Houston Texans
Analysis: Despite losing their top cornerback, the Texans return one of the top defensive lines and offenses. In fact, I love almost everything about the Texans defense and offense. The Titans respond with an up year finishing 2nd ahead of the Colts; who suffer the usual Super Bowl runner up downfall. Jaguars continue to look for fans and possibly a new city.


AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
Analysis: The sexy pick is the Ravens, they look like the most complete team. Having said that I wouldn't be surprised if the Bengals finish ahead of the Ravens. The Steelers are truly a complete team with a decent pass and run attack and an underrated, over explosive defense. The Ravens finish 2nd because I can't see the Bengals dominating any teams other than the Ravens. The Browns, well, next year might be a better year, but seriously, its the Browns.


Wild Card Picks AFC: Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots
Wild Card Picks NFC: Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons


AFC Champion: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC Champion: Green Bay Packers


Super Bowl Champion: Green Bay Packers


(Keep in mind this was all planned before the season so I realize how ridiculous this is currently. But I am a man of integrity so I must post my actual predictions before the season. And on that note go Lions!)


-Matt
 

AFC West: Repeat Offenders

The Pick: San Diego Chargers. again.
Why?!!?: Heres why, since 2006 only one team has won the AFC West. Regardless of the coach, the Chargers come out on top. I'd like to say that this was thanks to LaDanian Tomlinson, but thats not the case. Since 2006, the man making the constant difference in San Diego is Billy Volek...'s starter Philip Rivers. River's continues to lead the Chargers even in the absence of LT and Vincent Jackson. So they lost to the Chiefs and so what if Marcus McNeil is holding out. Rivers will continue to operate at a high level and lets be fair, which team has the fire power to compete with the Chargers down the stretch? None. A resurgent defense and the powerful Antonio Gates, yeah they'll be fine. Winners of the AFC though? Nah...keep looking. Chargers win the division, but not the conference.
Runner up: Kansas City Chiefs; in a surprise move the Patriots Mid West start to resemble their blue print.
Not in the Basement: Broncos. Tebow era can't come soon enough.
Cellar Dwellar: Surprise Al Davis continues to rent from the basement.

Al Being Al...

NFC South: Saints still on top, Bucs still on bottom

                                     

                                                      NFC South

I will spare everyone a long drawn out explanation for the NFC South. The Saints are just better.  Coming off a super bowl win, Brees is the second best quarterback in the league and may be about to become the best.  I don’t think he or Sean- “look at me I do look kind of weird which pairs me well with my quarterback who has a birthmark that look more like a phantom of the opera mask than a birthmark”-Payton will let them do that....  

 I do think that their defense is a little bit weaker but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them rough shot through most of the league again.  On a side note, I think Reggie Bush is motivated

Publish Post

and will do some big things this year, hence my over-acquiring him in my fantasy league.  For the order that they finish, Saints, Falcons, Panthers ( I think they would have better luck if they were named the Carolina Cougars, but then they would probably have to make a "Real Housewives of Charlottesville), and then the Bucs (does anyone realize they got rid of Tony Dungy who went onto win a super bowl, then ruined John Gruden’s career (who is one of the most knowledgeable football minds right now) and rid of him only to hire…Raheem Morris. That is more perplexing to me, than the Norv Turner hire in San Diego.

-Gordo

Saints waiting room, remember those days?

'Packin' the NFC North: Sorry Brett Favuruh...

            Ok, lets make this easy...

First of all lets get rid of the animal mascots and we can chalk it up to global warming.  Here is what I know: the Lions have gotten better, they are closing the gap, AND they still aren’t great and still won’t win.  The Bears are the Bears and even if you put the Packers or the Vikings in Bears Jerseys they would lose, because they are the Bears and that’s how it works. 

Simply put, Jay Cutler, big arm quarterbacks don’t succeed in the NFL (see: JRussel, Kyle SuperBoller, Rex Grossman) especially if they have a bad attitude (see: the above list). 

            Now that the obvious is out of the way, the question turns to can Favre repeat and have his former Packers improved enough on defense and the offensive line?  

Towards the end of the year the Packers showed that the O line was improving and with a healthy group coming back...wooooooo.  Logic dictates that Favre is going to decline. If he came back on his own they would be better, but the fact that his team mates came to get him will make him feel like he has Cart’e Blanche to be himself and throw picks.  In addition the loss of Chester Taylor is going to cost them more than they know, All Day can’t do that in the NFL the way he plays. 

My prediction: Packers, Vikings, Lions (what the hell), and Da Bears (may Ditka have mercy on my soul)

-Gordo

Bone Pickin' with Gordo: Big Ben's VY Problem

  

I know I am supposed to write division pics, but I heard about this today and I couldn't stand it, I had to write something:

                                           Ben Roethlisberger

           

            Ok, I want to settle this ABSURD debate.  I have had enough of putting Ben Roethlisberger in the realm of elite quarterback.  There are three elite quarterbacks, Peyton Manning, Tom “pretty boy”/ half man/ half model/ half quarterback, and Drew Brees (who may be on the verge becoming the best in the game right now). That’s it, if you try and put another name in, you deserve to be punched in the mouth and shit out teeth for a week. 

You know who is the same as Roethlisberger… Vince Young.    Lets draw some comparisons: as far as their pure passing numbers and ability go, they can throw the ball well, but they are never going to put up numbers consistently that blow you away.  Second, they are both super immature but apparently “trying really hard.” Whether they don’t understand that no means no, or that when you are depressed and you run off with a gun and don’t tell anyone people are going to think that you are going to kill yourself, they both don’t get it.   

Third, they both win, the reason why is simple: they have great running games and keep plays alive.  The only difference is that when Young keeps a play alive its because he scrambles and when Roethlisberger does it, its because he is fat. 

  He is simply Dante Culpeper but with better teams (tell me how my UFL tastes).  Here is the deal: if you want to tell me that Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback because at the end of the day he wins, then u have to put Vince Young in that category to, he wins 2/3s of his games.  So if you want to put VY that category you first need to have your brain examined, and then get a second opinion.  If they can’t find anything wrong, throw yourself down the stairs so that you have an excuse so then I won’t blame you.

-Gordo

Gordo is one of our frequent contributors. Known for his rantings that seem (and often are illogical) so in our benevolence we decided to give him a column so he didn't kill someone

also his ravings are generally angry and hilarious. Bone Pickin' with Gordo will be featured whenever he feels the urge.