Daniel Graham

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Daniel Graham
Denver BroncosNo. 89
Tight end
Date of birth: November 16, 1978 (1978-11-16) (age 29)
Place of birth: Torrance, California
Height:ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 257 lb (117 kg)
National Football League debut
2002 for the New England Patriots
Career history
College: Colorado
NFL Draft: 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21
 Teams:
Career highlights and awards
Selected NFL statistics
(through Week 17 of the 2007 NFL season)
Receptions     144
Receiving Yards     1,639
Touchdowns     19
Stats at NFL.com

Daniel Graham (born November 16, 1978 in Torrance, California) is an American football tight end who plays for the Denver Broncos of the NFL.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Graham attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Graham won the Randy Brewer award, which was given to the school's most inspirational player. During his time there, he played the positions of tight end, outside linebacker, long snapper, and placekicker. As a senior, he caught 33 passes for 741 yards (22.45 yards per reception) and six touchdowns, and recorded 12 sacks and 29 total tackles in just seven games. He also lettered three times in basketball.

At Thomas Jefferson High school and later at the University of Colorado Graham wore jersey number 89, the number that former New York Giants tight end Mark Bavaro wore during his pro career. As a child Graham idolized Bavaro, who has since followed Graham's career and has come to befriend him in his adult life.[1]

[edit] College career

Graham was a prolific receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes football team, where he also started two games playing fullback during his freshman season before switching to tight end.

After his senior season, he was named First-Team All-American and won the John Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end. He finished his collegiate career with 106 receptions for 1,543 yards and 11 touchdowns.

[edit] NFL career

In the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected Graham out of the University of Colorado with the 21st overall choice.

Early in his career he was known for dropping too many passes and suffering apparent lapses of concentration. In his rookie season, Graham recorded 15 receptions for 150 yards, and one touchdown. He added four tackles on special teams.

Since then, he has blossomed as a receiver and blocker. In 2003, he started nine games and recorded 38 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. By 2004, Graham was fully integrated into the Patriots' system and became one of the better tight ends in the game. He had 30 receptions for 364 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots won the Super Bowl at the end of each of these seasons.

Graham was named the Patriots offensive team captain on December 6, 2006.

Graham was signed by the Denver Broncos on March 7, 2007.[2]

His dad, Tom Graham, also played for Denver as a linebacker from 1972 to 1974.[2]

[edit] External links

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Graham, Bavaro tight tight ends - The Boston Globe
  2. ^ a b AP (2007-03-07). Tight end Graham agrees to deal with Broncos. USAToday.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-07.