Clayton on Daniel Graham

[MagicMarker]

John Clayton has a local radio show here in Seattle on Saturday mornings, and the topic of Daniel Graham came up -- mostly in the context of the Seahawks getting a replacement for Jeremy Stevens.

Claytons believes Graham is GONE from the Patriots. We've read his article about the Patriots won't pay anybody, but he thinks he won't return.

Next question: Is it a wise financial move to give Graham a big contract. He's 28 years old, and players get injured more often as he gets older. In five season he's missed 17 games -- almost a complete season.

I'd love to have him back, but I can't see how it makes sense to throw too much money at him.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

John Clayton has a local radio show here in Seattle on Saturday mornings, and the topic of Daniel Graham came up -- mostly in the context of the Seahawks getting a replacement for Jeremy Stevens.

Claytons believes Graham is GONE from the Patriots. We've read his article about the Patriots won't pay anybody, but he thinks he won't return.

Next question: Is it a wise financial move to give Graham a big contract. He's 28 years old, and players get injured more often as he gets older. In five season he's missed 17 games -- almost a complete season.

I'd love to have him back, but I can't see how it makes sense to throw too much money at him.

The Seattle media will want "the big upgrade" this off-season. With no 1st round pick , Seattle will have to do so in FA.

 

[BradyManny]

No one is going to happy about Graham leaving, but with the Founder of Wendys in the wings, it's not like we haven't planned for the scenario.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Exactly. The Seahawks have lots of problems brewing, but with no first round pick and the one problem that continues to dog them and jump right out at even their casual fans - the dropsies - they will want to add a player they think can help kill two birds with one stone, blocking for Hasselback before he's killed and catching the dam ball when it's thrown right at him.
If they don't right the ship this season Paul Allen will be in the market for an upgrade at HC/GM, which is the time most FO's make their most ill advised decisions.

 

[pats1]

John Clayton has a local radio show here in Seattle on Saturday mornings, and the topic of Daniel Graham came up -- mostly in the context of the Seahawks getting a replacement for Jeremy Stevens.

Claytons believes Graham is GONE from the Patriots. We've read his article about the Patriots won't pay anybody, but he thinks he won't return.

Next question: Is it a wise financial move to give Graham a big contract. He's 28 years old, and players get injured more often as he gets older. In five season he's missed 17 games -- almost a complete season.

I'd love to have him back, but I can't see how it makes sense to throw too much money at him.

17 games is almost a complete season?

 

[F0nSY]

17 games is almost a complete season?

Play-offs....:snob: :snob: :snob:

 

[LloydBraun]

I love Graham's game as much as the next guy, but the TE position is one place where we have depth. We need to put resources into the LB position and the secondary.

With Thomas, Watson and Mills we have good quality pass catchers at the TE position. If we brought in a cheap, veteran blocking TE would could survive.

What Graham is looking for in a contract would go a long way towards signing a free agent LB or re-upping w/ Asante.

Plus, Graham is a warrior, but the reason he is such a warrior is that he plays hurt. There was talk during last season how his shoulders would affect career in the next few seasons.

We have the depth to move on and address other needs.

 

[PATSNUTme]

This is hardly breaking news that Mr.Peepers is saying.

It was reported in the Sporting News several weeks ago that Seattle was unhappy with Stevens both on and off the field. Seattle has targeted Graham as a relacement for Stevens.

 

[wdkantro2]

Can't wait to see Seattle overpay another ex-Patriot

 

[MoLewisrocks]

17 games is almost a complete season?

For us, um, yeah...

We have averaged 18.3 games per season for the last 6 years. But we are a little unique in that respect.

For us do the last two seasons feel like anything other than incomplete? It's those damn .3's when we sucked that have killed us or our average would have topped 19 and we'd have a couple of more of those silver trophies with the football on top. <sigh>

 

[Seymour93]

Can't wait to see Seattle overpay another ex-Patriot

Unlike Meion, Grahambo may actually be worth all of the money. WR was not a need position for the Seahawks, so trading for Deion and then giving him that contract was a major reach. However Stevens has never proved himself, so you get rid of him and bring in someone who's outstanding at blocking and good in the red zone as well. The franchise RB will be happy if they pull in Graham.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

For us, um, yeah...

We have averaged 18.3 games per season for the last 6 years. But we are a little unique in that respect.

For us do the last two seasons feel like anything other than incomplete? It's those damn .3's when we sucked that have killed us or our average would have topped 19 and we'd have a couple of more of those silver trophies with the football on top. <sigh>

With three super bowl wins this decade, you would have to be deemed guilty of one of the seven deadly sins, but so am I. As a 49er fan also, even after Joe had four packed away, I was lusting (another deadly sin) after that fifth one with Steve Young. Dallas made it awfully hard. I hope we (Pats) come right back against Indy and call them one and done.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

So, we Franchise Graham and trade him for Seattle's 2nd round pick...

 

[pats1]

So, we Franchise Graham and trade him for Seattle's 2nd round pick...

How do we go about franchising him?

 

[Seneschal2]

17 games is almost a complete season?

Look at the bright side. His post was well written and without any grammatical errors. You can't have everything.

 

[PATSNUTme]

How do we go about franchising him?

I think he meant Transition tag him.

We also need a countdown to Training Camp.:rocker:

 

[pats1]

I think he meant Transition tag him.

Can't. Only 1 tag per year, unless they withdraw the franchise tender.

We also need a countdown to Training Camp.:rocker:

They haven't released the date yet.

Look at the bright side. His post was well written and without any grammatical errors. You can't have everything.

PWP never has problems with that - only a select few do!

 

[Kdo5]

Unfortunate that Graham will problably have to go but placing the tag on Samuel was the better decision. Samuel has turned into one of the top 5 CB's in the NFL in 1 year. I remember after the Jets game in September a few people were saying how Samuel was a nickle back at best and how Hobbs was the better CB. How wrong they were...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Unfortunate that Graham will problably have to go but placing the tag on Samuel was the better decision. Samuel has turned into one of the top 5 CB's in the NFL in 1 year. I remember after the Jets game in September a few people were saying how Samuel was a nickle back at best and how Hobbs was the better CB. How wrong they were...

The jury is still out on that assessment. Asante has been hyped into one of the top 5 by some, until you ask them to actually list them. And Hobbs played as well as Asante in his second (and for him first full) season even wearing a cast and nursing a fractured scaphoid (how many teams see three of those in one camp). Hobbs is the more athletic and while a hair shorter and hampered somewhat by the cast he is also versatile enough to be an explosive returner. If I could have two of either, I'd still take Hobbs for slightly more upside by year 4. And I still think if Asante stayed he was destined to patrol the RCB slot as the opportunistic ballhawk while Hobbs healthy is the LCB who takes on and shuts down the #1. That's the way BB had them graded coming into last year until Hobbs got hurt.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I like Graham as a player, but I never like the offense that was focused on the tightends. The Pats never really used that as a strength where they could run out of it or develop good mismatches. Now maybe they need more time to develop this scheme and they also had injuries. Frankly I'd like to see Dave Thomas get more time. If Graham comes back he's been and will continue to be a solid Patriot. If he goes then they have Watson, Thomas, and I'm sure they'll find someone in addition to Mills.