Jimmy Graham already turning heads

When the New Orleans Saints selected Miami tight end Jimmy Graham with the last pick of the third round last month, the general consensus was the Super Bowl champions had grabbed an unpolished gem.

But on Saturday, midway through the Saints' rookie camp, Coach Sean Payton said some of the glitter already is there.

"If you were just watching, he's been a guy who has stood out, " Payton said. "He has things to learn, but he's willing to do that and he's smart."
Graham, 6 feet 6, 260 pounds, has the relaxed demeanor of an experienced public speaker and stands out immediately. A four-year basketball player at Miami who finished as captain of the team his senior year, Graham played just one year of football in Coral Gables.

But he made quite an impression there, too.

Early in his college career he wanted to return to his first love, football, but the basketball program didn't want to lose one its top bruisers -- so he stayed off the gridiron. But with his basketball eligibility exhausted, his football chances got a huge boost when former Hurricanes quarterback Bernie Kosar took him under his wing and threw passes to him three days a week.

Kosar wasn't the only high-end Miami figure drawn to Graham. When he graduated, Miami President Donna Shalala singled him out for special praise.

Graham caught just 17 passes that one year with the Hurricanes, although five of those went for touchdowns. Now he's translating his athletic skills to the NFL, trying to match the hoops-player-turned-tight-end bar set by Tony Gonazalez and Antonio Gates.

"Those guys are Hall of Famers, " Graham said. "I'm just trying to be Jimmy Graham today."

He agreed with Payton that there is a learning curve all rookies have to master, although some of what he learned on the hardwood -- where he finished his career with more fouls than field goals -- serve him well.

"The hand-to-eye coordination, the footwork, and going up and getting the ball, it's kind of like a rebound, " he said.

Then again, he has Miami to draw on.

"I was told by a lot of veterans who come back to the U what to expect and how to prepare for it, " Graham said, explaining how camp has thus far matched his expectations. "But it's all a wonderful opportunity, and I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis predicted fans would marvel at Graham's athletic ability when they get a chance to see him. That won't come until minicamp is held, and the Saints full roster takes the field, but it's obvious the work Graham has done in helmets and shorts has matched Loomis' prediction.

Graham's not afraid of effort -- a lot of what Kosar first told him has come true, he said, "but not without a lot of hard work."

That circles back to what Payton praised in Graham.

One of the things coaches look for in players early, Payton said, is an ability to grasp the system, to be coached. While that might not be the clearest definition, it's clear Graham has it -- and he has no intention of letting it get away, either.

Not many NFL rookies come to camp with a ringing endorsement from their college president, but Graham said it still echoes in his ears.

"That's one of the things I think about, to prove to her that she made the right decision, " he said. . . . . . . . James Varney can be reached at jvarney@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3386.



(timespicayune.com)