Apparently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do believe Earnest Graham is a No. 1 back, as the club has given him a three-year, $10.5 million extension good through the 2011 season.
Once Cadillac Williams went down with a career-threatening injury early last season, Graham exploded, rushing for 898 yards on 222 carries with 10 TDs, all career-bests. He also caught 49 passes for 324 yards and left many in Tampa wondering why Jon Gruden didn’t let this former Florida Gator off the bench sooner.
He could have had well over 1,000 yards rushing, but he did not play in the final game of the regular season and had only nine carries the week before. The Buccaneers chose to rest Graham after winning the NFC South. Graham also did not enter the starting lineup until Week 6 of the season.
The 28-year-old did not participate in voluntary workouts or the offseason workout program because he wanted a contract extension. He did take part in mandatory minicamp. He was entering the final year of his contract that would have paid him a base salary of about $600,000.
Tampa Bay opens training camp in less than a month and Williams is not ready for contact. As a result, Williams likely will begin this season on the physically unable to perform list. He would sit out the first six weeks and become eligible to play again in Week 7, a home game against Seattle on Oct. 19.That means Graham will shoulder the load, with Warrick Dunn as his main backup, and the Bucs are happy with Michael Bennett as a change of pace back. Graham’s contract is quite cap-friendly for a No. 1 back and could signal the end of Cadillac’s time in Tampa but almost certainly as the starter.
Next up for the Bucs may be addressing QB Jeff Garcia’s wishes. Garcia, who earned more than $5 million in salary and bonuses for his part in resurrecting the Bucs, wants to be paid like the Pro Bowler he was in 2007.
Talks aimed at accommodating him have been held but have dragged, according to Garcia. Unlike Graham, Garcia participated regularly in the Bucs' offseason workout program. He has, however, hinted at the possibility of a training camp holdout.
The Bucs are +3500 to win the Super Bowl at WagerWeb.com.
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