The Philadelphia Eagles finalized a five-year contract tonight for rookie first-round defensive end Brandon Graham.
Drafted 13th overall, the former Michigan star is projected to start immediately for the Eagles.
"It feels good because I really wanted to get to training camp and coach [Andy] Reed really wanted me in camp," Graham said in a statement. "And now it's time to show them why they picked me. I have a lot of work to do, but I'm ready to go."
Graham was the scourge of the Big Ten Conference, barreling into quarterbacks by dominating offensive tackles with his combination of leverage, speed and aggressiveness.
That nasty streak and skills were on full display from the University of Michigan pass rusher at the Senior Bowl all-star game earlier this year.
Watching the hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end was akin to witnessing a virtual clone of former Michigan standout LaMarr Woodley, who now plies his trade for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"It's an honor to have everybody saying that because LaMarr is a great football player," Graham told National Football Post at the time. "I've learned most of my moves from him, so I agree and like the comparison."
At 6-foot-1, 268 pounds, Graham is shorter than the prototype. And he has shorter arms than normal at 30 ½ inches.
However, neither appears to be an obstacle to him getting to the quarterback.
“All he does is change games,” said Russ Lande, a former Cleveland Browns scout who covers the draft for the Sporting News. “He’s a really good pass rusher who’s surprisingly good against the run. Everything you want is there. I think he’s better than Woodley coming out of school, so how is he not going to be a good pro?”
Graham recorded 10 ½ sacks last season for the Wolverines, leading the nation with 26 tackles for losses.
For his career, he registered 29 ½ sacks and 56 tackles for losses.
“Brandon Graham has one of the best motors in this draft,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “He reminds me a lot of LaMarr Woodley. From an initial cosmetic overview, he fits what the Patriots doe from a rush linebacker perspective, but he doesn’t fit the prototype.”
"If you play fast and you have a motor, you're going to be on the field and you're going to be making plays," Graham said. "You need to be relentless out there and play hard until the whistle blows."
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I wish him only the best. Get well, young man.
This stuff happens, didn't cause Terrell Davis to retire, as that actually was the knee injury he sustained while tackling a Jet on an INT - that being said he was always and the donkeys cognizant of this issue with Daivs as well...migraines and nuerological problems are real for damn sure and don't make an NFL players life any easier - and seriously "karma" - give it a rest already - Favre's not the devil, hasn't been sighted hanging with Lucifer or sacrificying any virgins - well lately anyway - that was the "before PG Favre" that's marketed for mass consumption...
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Says N.Y. needs to keep line together
Jul 30, 2010
08:23 AM
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