Allen on Graham: "I'm sure it's going to work out"

Bucs general manager Bruce Allen appeared optimistic Friday when discussing the current contract saga involving running back Earnest Graham, who skipped the team's series of voluntary workouts as hopes for an extension.

Allen, speaking in front of about 200 fans at a breakfast for the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce in Palm Harbor, responded to a question about Graham by saying that both sides have made offers, while later adding, "I'm sure it's going to work out."

Graham is expected to attend next week's mandatory minicamp, Tuesday through Thursday.

"Earnest Graham performed very well for us last year," Allen said. "We had addressed Earnest's situation two years ago because we loved the kind of leadership he provided for us in special teams and his work ethic. As with any negotiation, we made an offer, they made an offer, and we haven’t agreed. But I think Earnest is looking forward to this season, and no matter what happens, (he) will give us his best effort..

When asked if he expects as training camp - and the season - grow closer, if it will impact the talks, Allen responded:

"Right now in the league, it's not a unique situation for people to discuss these type of things in the offseason. And that’s fine. Earnest is a great young man and I’m sure it’s going to work out."

Allen, coach Jon Gruden, along with three players - Barrett Ruud, WR Maurice Stovall and CB Aqib Talib - attended the breakfast at Innisbrook, which featured Q&A with fans.

As for the other elephant in the room - the status of quarterback Chris Simms, who made his frustrations with Gruden and the Bucs public this week - his name wasn't mentioned once. Though Gruden did talk about the rest of the quarterbacks, including draft pick Josh Johnson, whom Gruden labeled a "project" with "a long way to go."

Though Jeff Garcia is the unquestioned starter, Gruden raved about Brian Griese and Luke McCown, who went 1-2 as a starter for the Bucs.

"We’ve got three quarterback that have won for us," Gruden said. "And we’ve got one guy (Johnson) in the laboratory right now."

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Arun]

I don't get how people hate on Gruden? I don't always get his game plan, but who would you agree with all of the time? Plus his quotes are priceless, here is what's in our lab right now;

In college JJ completed 724-of-1,065 passes (.680) for 9,699 yards and 113 touchdowns (with just 15 picks)...Finished with 1,864 yards rushing on 307 attempts (6.1 avg.) with 19 career rushing scores.

Could care less about what conference he was in, 15 picks his entire career! Bring him up right and I'll be looking forward to seeing him battle for a spot in a couple of years.

[brian]

Gruden is the Man, puts it all on the line for this team. All you crybabies can go watch another sport.

[Duane]

Gruden became unpopular when he cut old players like John Lynch, Warren Sapp, and Simeon Rice. Also because he refused to give the ball to Alstot 25 times a game like the fans, sportswriters and opposing defenses wanted. Only cutting Lynch was a mistake. Over time, I believe all of Gruden's personel decisions in regards to rostered players have proven to be sound.

[Tony]

Even not re-signing Lynch was based on sound business philosphy, Lynch admitted that himself. I am not sure who Joe Smith is, but kudos to him for reporting the facts without bias. Allen was quoted earlier saying that Earnest has never been a regular at OTA's, Allen does not let the media or the fans influence his negotiations nor should he. He will get Graham signed and happy, same with Garcia, not so much for Simms.

[skp]

Duane, people also throw Gruden under the bus due to wrongly assuming he has the last word in the organization...monte kiffin's 12-year tenure and the selection of defensive players with our last 2 first rounders clearly show otherwise. anybody who thinks that personnel decisions involving rice, sapp, lynch in particular have more to do with gruden than kiff and bruce allen is not going to be reasoned with....i've given up on that category of goober "fans" in this town, who'd rather see the bucs lose so they can be right and get one guy fired than be be proven wrong en route to a championship.

[Skylar]

Good comments all the way around.

[Jim]

wow,... a non-negative article about the Bucs, that mentioned both Allen and Gruden,...way to go,.. about time.
does this mean they are going to let this guy cover the Bucs now? please say yes,...

[Rene Gnam]

Hello Joe Smith...

Good article. Good read. Glad you're replacing some of the frequent media nay-sayers!

Welcome to a breath of fresh air!

[Stephen_Holder]

Jim... The thing you have to realize is that Gruden and Allen rarely do interviews in the offseason. So, when you don't see them quoted, it's because they weren't available to us. There's nothing we can do about that. They happened to be available today, so, presto: we quote them.

[Scott]

Stephen, I think Jim is referring to the good doctor in this case, not you.

I understand your comment about Gruden and Allen not being available to the media much of the time, but you can't possibly say with a straight face that you don't think there is an anti-Allen/Gruden bias among the major Tampa media outlets, including your own. Please tell me you don't think that. You and Joe Smith are the only ones I can read anymore.

[Greg]

You cannot knock Gruden's work ethic, passion and understanding of the game. But let's face it, all the talk about being an "offensive genius" just has not shown in reality. For all the shifts and disguises, he always ends up running a relatively limited set of actual plays. The Bucs O really does not fool too many teams as shown by their perenial standings at the lower half of the NFL on offense. Gruden's offense is so complex it confuses his own players. The only thing I knock him for is he should focus on less finesse and more vertical threat to keep opposing D's more honest.

[JR]

great article. all the sensible fans know that garcia and graham will work out in the end. And some media outlets and reporters are using the length of time it takes to negotiate contracts to put a negative spin on the front office and coach.

[JR]

where's the info on the OTA's from thursday?

[Drew]

The Writers that were stirring the negativity pot are gone? Right?

[Matt]

Wow!!! So it doesn't bother any of you that Gruden and Allen treat players who put the Bucs on the map like something they stepped in as soon as they no longer produce? It's not that they cut Lynch and Rice (and didn't resign Sapp), it's the way they let them go, along with the way Gruden treats players like Simms. You'll never convince me that they couldn't treat people better. The old adage that "it's just business" is just an excuse for treating people poorly. Plus, Gruden is still living off the reputation he earned with the Raiders and winning the Superbowl (with Dungy's players). At the end of the day, I don't think he's that good a coach and he's even less of a person. So let the bashing begin. Call me a fair weather fan, or a Gruden hater, or whatever else you want to call me. But I expect better from Gruden and the Bucs.

[shane]

well i guess we have two new writers for the bucs now don't we? can stephen and joe cover the bucs from now on because i'm tired of reading rick stroud and gary shelton bash the bucs every game whether it was a win or loss those two always find something negative to rag on gruden about or one of the players.

[Tony]

Matt, while you expect more from Gruden and the Bucs, I hope you were also expecting more from Dungy and the Bucs when they cut Brad Culpepper, truly a fan favorite. The man they call the Turk delivered that news to Culpepper, not McKay, certainly not Dungy, he never did that. Wasi it business? Yes, was it done correctly? No. I won't call you anything you don't already think of yourself.