It was believed the decision for tight end Jimmy Graham came down to the Green Bay Packers and his former team, the New Orleans Saints. And perhaps those were the two finalists.
The Packers, who paid Graham an average of $10 million per season, reportedly outbid the Saints.
However, if you believe Graham, they didn’t outbid everyone. Graham cited his desire to play with Rodgers on Tuesday, when asked why he chose to sign with the Packers.
“There was a lot of teams out there who were really pulling on me and I turned down quite a significant amount of money to come here because I believe in not only Mike (McCarthy) but, I mean, ‘12’s’ hungry,” Graham said. “I know how he is and I know how competitive he is and I want to ride that wave and try to help him as best I can.”
Graham was highly-productive when he played with the Saints. He twice surpassed 1,000 yards and topped the 800-yard mark four times.
In 2015, Graham was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. He would top 900 yards only once (2016) while in Seattle. It seems fairly obvious Graham didn’t want to keep playing there. He more or less said as much on Tuesday.
“Seattle, defensive based,” Graham said. “Run, run, run and take care of the ball. We won a lot of games that way, and I did everything to the best of my ability, and unfortunately when I first got there I did have that knee injury which kind of slowed me down a bit.
“I was able to come back nine months later and haven’t missed a game since then.”
Graham still thinks he can produce at a high level. The Packers obviously do, as well. They haven’t had big-time production at tight end since Jermichael Finley got injured.
The key here is how the Packers utilize Graham. When he was at his best in New Orleans, the Saints typically split him out wide. In Seattle, Graham was used as a more traditional end-of-the-line tight end.
The former direction makes a lot of sense, not only in terms of past production, but because the Packers no longer have Jordy Nelson. Most people believe Graham was essentially brought on with the Packers looking at him more as a receiver than a tight end.
The two things we’re interested in seeing is, 1. will McCarthy utilize Graham properly, and 2. will Rodgers trust him enough to throw him the ball?
Yea ok….lol
Ha. Me too, ive turned down a hell of a lot dough because it was wasn’t about the money. I wanted to work at a company that had people i liked.
“I turned down a lot of money to be the highest paid tight end in the league.”
Jimmy turned down the Saints reported 7 or 8/mill a year off from the Saints.
Jimmy signed for 10/mill a year with the Packers.
Jimmy ain’t in it for the money.
Answer to question no. 1 – No McCarthy will not utilize Graham properly. The answer to question no. 2 is irrelevant due to the answer for question no.1.
If you turn down 8 million to get 10 million… did you really turn down the money? No.
If you take 10 million and Aaron Rodgers… and turned down 8 million and Drew Brees… is that headline then correct that he took Aaron Rodgers “OVER” money? No.
Brees and Payton are much more hungry than Rodgers and Mike. Per winning that is. Put a bucket of mashed potatoes and hot gravy in front of McCarthy and, hey, you got me, no contest there on hunger.
What is it with these free agent TEs sucking up to Rodgers? Just selling their soul hoping for acceptance. Will this TE then work out as great as the last one?
Wow….so what you are saying is, Graham turned down 8 million to sign with the Packers for 10 million, therefore didn’t turn down more money?
So……pretty much what i posted before you earlier?
I wait for the day you don’t copy my thoughts and post them as your own.
Put your big boy pants on and do your own thinking for a change (at least try).
Thank you for understanding.
Let’s face it. He turned down less money from a coach, team, city and qb he thrived with ….
to be underutilized and maybe expected to play a different position he is not as good at…. probably tackle