So the assignment this week is to write about Earnest Graham, the 3rd string running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who has recently been thrust into the starting position for the my home town, Bucs.  Honestly, it is Friday night, I have just finished dinner and have had enough tall Sapporos (that's beer for those of you who don't know) and hot Sake to put me in the mood for writing something about the adventures of Mr. Graham.  I am reflecting as to why it is Friday night that I am writing this blog and wonder if it was procrastination that brought me to this strange hour, but no, that is not it.  I knew I would have time to write this tonight.  Why?  Because I am married and really don't have anything interesting to do on a Friday night.  I am actually looking forward to watching "Numbers" on CBS and then getting a good night's sleep . . .  But I digress.

Graham is a quality back.  Not a great back, but a quality back that will fill in admirably in Cadillac Williams' absence.  Williams is really the story here, though.  Cadillac was the first pick for the Bucs 3 years ago and had a very good rookie season and was a lock to be the future of the Tampa Bay franchise.  However, year 2 was not as spectacular as his rookie year and now in year 3 he is going to miss the majority of the season due to injury.  What Cadillac Williams' short career shows is that running backs are just as 'hit or miss' in the draft as Quarterbacks.  When teams rate running backs on their draft chart they must be just as nervous as they are when drafting a QB.  Are we going to get a Ryan Leaf or a Peyton Manning.  Do we try to steal a great QB in the later rounds like Tom Brady or do we grab a veteran in free agency who has a few years left in his arm like the Raiders grabbing Daunte Culpepper.  Is our franchise player going to turn out to be Adrian Peterson or Cedric Benson? Why am I going on and on about high draft picks and their future success or failure of their careers?  Because, it is the failures that allow players like Mr. Graham to have a career in the NFL.  We see it everywhere.  The Journeyman Quarterback usually gets all of the attention, but the more common and more commonly used are the journeyman running backs that occupy the 2nd and 3rd spots in each team's depth chart all over the NFL.  And that is exactly the career that Graham has had.

Since being activated from the Buccaneers' practice squad in 2004, Earnest Graham has been in a reserve position with the team.  This year he has been placed into the starter role because of injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman.  Already, Graham has rushed for his career high in one season and has seen more action than the 3 previous seasons combined.  However his 13 rush, 29 yard performance versus the Titans last week did not inspire much confidence.  In response, the Buccaneers took action and gave up 2 draft picks to acquire Michael Bennett, a proven veteran with a 1000 yard season with the Vikings 5 years ago.  This does not show huge confidence in Earnest Graham's ability to take the Buccaneers to the playoffs.  It follows logically that Bennett will be getting the bulk of the carries before too long and Graham will return to his supporting role.  No one should cry for Earnest Graham, though.  He gets his chance to contribute to his team's success and pull down over half a million a year to do it.  2007 will most likely turn out to be his best year in the NFL.  There may be more ahead of him as well.  Cadillac Williams has proven to be quite fragile in his first few seasons and Pittman is in his 10th season in the league.  Graham could hang around and have a very long career with the Bucs.  He may even move up on the depth chart over the next couple of years.  Most likely, though, is that he will complete a respectable career as the 2nd or 3rd man on the depth chart and, if he is smart, a significant amount of change in the bank.  For now, it seems that his chance in the limelight will be nice, but relatively short lived.  The bright side is that Graham won't take the punishment that your average NFL back takes and can retire with his knees (and other joints) in tact.

Now, back to my beer and sake.  What a Friday night.  I realize this is an NFL blog, but maybe I will get the opportunity to research all of the beautiful athletes that are now populating the WTA and LPGA these days.  Anyone care to comment on who is the best looking Russian female tennis player in 2007?