Graham wants to catch, too

Tight end aims to to escape blocking shadow in Denver

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 8, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

ENGLEWOOD - There is no circled date, no Post-It note, gold star or anything else to mark the occasion.

So, sure, Daniel Graham can flip through the pages of his NFL career calendar, but he can't find the date. He just knows there was one. The date, exactly, when the New England Patriots decided he was far more a blocker than a receiver.

"I just don't think you'd take a blocking tight end in the first round," Graham said. "And I don't think when they took me in the first round (in 2002) they thought I was a blocking tight end. I just don't. But I think they believed I did (blocking) well, so that's all they wanted me to do.

"Oh, yeah, they said it - they said, 'You're a blocking tight end.' That's it. There was no mystery there."

Which is why Graham, a Thomas Jefferson High graduate who played at Colorado, finds himself back in his hometown, having crossed the greener financial pastures of free agency to find an offense that expects a little more from him.

"And he's impressive," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said. "We got what we wanted out of him, a great blocker, better-than-average receiver. I think people kind of downplayed that part of his game, but he has really stepped that part of it up. . . . He's been on championship teams, he can bring a lot to what we do.

"I would think he's glad to be here."

The wins came in piles in New England, a total that included two Super Bowl championships, but Graham caught fewer than 22 passes in three of his seasons with the Patriots and never more than 38.

In the early going of training camp, though, Graham has been everything the Broncos had hoped he could be. He has been fluid in the passing game and devastating as a blocker in the run game.

"No surprise there," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "He's exactly what we saw on the tape."

Still, in March, when Graham eventually turned away strong overtures from the Seattle Seahawks to sign a five-year, $30 million deal to play for the Broncos, the decision turned out to be a family affair.

"There was a lot to think about," Graham said. "Change is like that, though. You have to look at everything. Part of me didn't want to move, but that's the business you're in. That's free agency. So you look at everything around the opportunities to see what's best for you."

And there are those in the league, personnel executives and players alike, who openly have wondered if playing professional football in your hometown can turn out to be too big of a distraction.

Before the draft, it can be something scouts mark down as a concern if they believe a player's circle of friends and family could be a problem.

But football, even professional football, certainly is not a riddle for Graham's family.

Graham's father, Tom, was a Broncos linebacker for three seasons (1972 to 1974). Graham's twin, Josh, played for North Carolina. And his older brother played for Colorado State.

"So, initially, it was kind of a strange thing, just getting ready to move," Graham said. "I'd been in New England five years and enjoyed being there - I mean, my father never played in the playoffs, and my first three years in the league I went to two Super Bowls and I get two rings - and you do want to make sure wherever you go is the best thing because your career is kind of a narrow window.

"But in the end, being around my family, with what the team had on the field, was the big thing, especially my little girl."

Graham said the prospect of being so close to his 2-year-old daughter, Jaida, ultimately tipped the scales all the way toward returning to Denver.

He also has narrowed the avalanche of potential ticket requests by leasing a suite at Invesco Field at Mile High for game days.

"So that's a limited number of seats per game right there," Graham said with a laugh. "That's it, so I think really that will keep the distractions to a minimum. Everybody knows 20 is probably as high as I go, so maybe I can have a lottery or something.

"But everyone's excited - my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews. And I'm excited to show them all of my skills. The Patriots, they just wanted to use one of my skills, not the other one. I think the Broncos believe I have both. I think so, too."

Looking for more

Broncos tight end Daniel Graham believes he has more to offer in a passing game than the Patriots thought.

Year Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs

2002 15 150 10.0 1

2003 38 409 10.8 4

2004 30 364 12.1 7

2005 16 235 14.7 3

2006 21 235 11.2 2

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News