Make Or Break Year for Brandon Graham
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Make Or Break Year for Brandon Graham
BETHLEHEM -- Monte Taylor is a rookie free agent defensive end out of the University of Cincinnati who was signed by the Eagles in mid-June after he was released by Seattle.
Brandon Graham was the 13th overall pick in the 2010 draft.
As far as Graham is concerned, though, there’s no difference between he and Taylor right now.
"I’m coming from the ground up," said Graham, who played just 56 snaps last season after tearing his ACL late in his rookie season and needing career-threatening microfracture surgery. "I’m just like a free agent. Somebody that just got picked up by the Eagles this year and is facing a make-or-break year. You’re either going to get it done or you’re going to get cut."
Actually, that may not be all that far from the truth. Despite his first-round pedigree, Graham’s first-round grace period is up. He is no lock to make the Eagles’ season-opening roster. He needs to play his way onto the team in camp and the preseason.
Right now, they’ve got seven defensive ends in camp. With tackles Cullen Jenkins and Fletcher Cox both able to also play outside, there’s a good possibility the Eagles will only keep four ends on their 53-man roster. Starters Jason Babin and Trent Cole obviously will be two of them. Rookie second-round pick Vinny Curry almost certainly will be the third. That leaves Graham, Darryl Tapp and Phillip Hunt battling for that fourth job.
Graham reported to camp in the best shape of his life. Asked to compare his strength, quickness and conditioning now to his rookie year, he said, "It’s times three. Times three from before the injury. I’ve been putting in a lot of work. The hours I’ve put in, it’s paying off right now because I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been in. Now I just need to work on my technique and give what (defensive line) coach (Jim) Washburn is trying to get out of us."
Graham had Lasik eye surgery during the offseason, which he feels will help him see the snap better and enable him to get out of his stance quicker.
"It’s easier for me to see the ball now," he said. "I used to squint a lot and get a lot of migraines. Now, I’m feeling good."
Get off this guy's back. He got HURT! It can happen to any player. He was having a solid rookie season before getting hurt.— soulman386- I still believe in Brandon i think he'll be outstanding this year— wcm65
- What's this, two positive comments in a row? Hard to believe, Harry.— Paul SoTX
- He makes the roster. Andy Loves his fastballs so they could easily keep 5 ends, which will be Tapp or Hunt. I am guessing Hunt beats out Tapp— dmanphilly
- not really. He was doing OK but definetely not anything spectacular. The problem is he didnt have a normal ACL surgery but micro-fracture surgery. Which is usually only in older players with shot-knees with no cartiledge left and is like a last-ditch effort to try to regenerate cartiledge in old worn down knees. For a rookie to need micro-fracture surgery is REALLY BAD. A lot of guys that get it never come back, and are near the end of thier careers. Thats why its not looking good, maybe he lasts a year or two before re-injuring it. I hope he does well, but why do you think they drafted Curry. Another wasted draft pick by Howie and Andy, one stop closer to them both getting FIRED.— CharlieGarner25
- In his rookie season, he was often just a step away from a sack, which is why he was second in hurries until his injury. JPP didn't break out big until his second season, let's hope the same will be said for Graham (last year was a wash, as it often is for serious ACL tears). His speed, which was the big reason he was drafted, should be an asset under Coach Washburn's system. I'd love to see him succeed.— chesapeake
- Don't know why I even bother, but Charlie, you're showing your stupidity again. You say "for a rookie to need micro-fracture surgery is REALLY BAD" as if there's someone to blame in there for that. The injury happened, couldn't have been predicted. There was nothing that the FO did or didn't do that would have prevented the injury, or even, as you imply, somehow magically prevent a normal ACL tear from becoming a micro-fracture surgery deal. There was no lack of due diligence that led to this, nothing that "slipped by" the front office. There was no history of injury on that leg. To call Graham a "wasted pick" shows a complete disregard for logic and sanity. But please, keep it up. The world needs more unknowledgeable people gloating with the benefit of hindsight.— laeagle2k10
- lol, uh no. who ever said that ? Not me. The issue with him was not an injury risk and thats not the problem. The issue with that pick was sacrificing multiple picks to move up high in the first round to take an undrsized DE that wasnt supposed to go nearly that high. Thats why its a bad pick. Some injuries can be predicted, but not all, some picks are just flat out bad regardless of if the guy is becomes injured or not. Even WITHOUT the injury IT WASNT A GOOD PICK. AND WITH THE INJURY IT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE. I even like Graham and want him to do well, but its not looking good.
- I dont even understand why the city is on this kids back. I really dont! His rookie season was nothing spectacular but it mirrored the rookie seasons of zillions of players that went on to have fabulous careers. Not to mention his rookie season he had terrible coaching in Mcdermott who was often lining him up at tackle. I mean if the guy is a small fastball type end, y would anyone think its a good idea for him to become a tackle? if this kid stays healthy I believe he will become a PLayer. How great will he become remains to be seen. But i like the young mans attitude and he handled the critisism extremely well, and i believe that it will fuel him, not burry him! I hearf he was tghe best player on the field on saturday! He will be fine!— johnGiam
- Btw, the comment about microfracture surgery is inaccurate; it is done on young adults, and athletes, as well as older ones. Many studies show that complete recovery is actually helped if the patient is younger and the cartilage tear is fresh; as with many serious procedures, the end results will be based on a variety of factors including the original structure of the knee, from a genetic standpoint. Hard to fault a team for drafting someone who ends up getting a serious knee injury, it's not like they can predict the future regarding ACL and cartilage issues.— chesapeake
- lol, no it not innacurate "chesapeake". It doesnt matter what the surgery does in the general population, they could do it on aliens, IT DOESNT MATTER. WHERE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES IN THE NFL. and in professional athleres in the NFL, it is RARE for a rookie to need that, it is USUALLY OLDER VETS THAT NEED IT, and MANY DONT COME BACK. THOSE ARE FACTS. So yes its VERY BAD for a rookie to need it. Do some research, please.
- not really. He was doing OK but definetely not anything spectacular. The problem is he didnt have a normal ACL surgery but micro-fracture surgery. Which is usually only in older players with shot-knees with no cartiledge left and is like a last-ditch effort to try to regenerate cartiledge in old worn down knees. For a rookie to need micro-fracture surgery is REALLY BAD. A lot of guys that get it never come back, and are near the end of thier careers. Thats why its not looking good, maybe he lasts a year or two before re-injuring it. I hope he does well, but why do you think they drafted Curry. Another wasted draft pick by Howie and Andy, one stop closer to them both getting FIRED.— CharlieGarner25
- chesapeake & laeagle the waste has nothing to do with hindsight or Pierre-Paul. They could have had Earl Thomas, a legit attempt to replace Dawkins, picked by Seattle between Graham and Piere-Paul. That was the conventional wisdom when they traded up. But the smarter-than-everyone front office gave us another undersized end with a "high motor." Ugh!— TongueWagger
- This is 100% the reason that people don't like the pick. He was picked way too high and over a replacement for Dawk, who happened to go to the Pro Bowl and make second team All-Pro in his second season.
- My friends and I have something going on kida like a baby pool to predict when Graham will go on the IR, I have August 17th...I have a good feeling about this!
— rvb2321
