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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2485406&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
Updated: June 15, 2006, 11:23 AM ET
Belichick: Pats will not trade Daniel Graham
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Bill Belichick has heard all of the rumors of a trade involving tight end Daniel Graham, and read the reams of copy written about an alleged deal with the Denver Broncos, and has finally grown weary of mounting speculation surrounding the short-term future of the four-year veteran.
So just before the New England Patriots began their final day of minicamp on Thursday, their head coach offered a final word on the trade rumors.
Emphatically.
"We have not had a single discussion about trading Daniel Graham," Belichick told ESPN.com Thursday morning. "We will not trade Daniel Graham this year. End of story."
The rumors of a Graham deal surfaced shortly after a broadcast report that the Broncos were working on a three-team trade that would send disgruntled wide receiver Ashley Lelie elsewhere, and bring them a tight end as part of the package. Graham, who grew up in Denver, where his father once played for the Broncos, was never cited in the initial report. Somehow, though, his name became linked to the rumors, which have escalated in recent days.
Denver may well deal away Lelie, who has refused to report for any offseason activities, and who may be rendered superfluous on the Broncos' depth chart with the acquisition of Javon Walker from Green Bay. And the Broncos might trade Lelie in an arrangement that brings them a tight end, certainly an area of need. But that tight end, Belichick insisted, will not be Graham.
Belichick is the second head coach in the past week to insist that he is not trading a tight end to the Broncos. San Francisco coach Mike Nolan last week denied that veteran Eric Johnson, who missed the entire 2005 season with injuries, was part of trade discussions.
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