New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Monday that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with unrestricted free agent free safety Darren Sharper, bringing the veteran defender back to New Orleans for a second season.

“We have said since the end of the season that we would love to have Darren back in a Saints uniform for 2010 and I’m glad we’ve been able to make that happen,” Loomis said. “Darren was an integral part of our Super Bowl-winning team and we look forward to having him back.”

Sharper, 34, leads all active NFL players in interceptions with 63 and was a key cog in leading the Saints to their Super Bowl XLIV victory as he matched his career-best with nine interceptions in being named to his fifth Pro Bowl in his 13^th NFL season. Prior to signing with New Orleans in March 2009, the veteran defender played eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers after being selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft and later played four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

The 6-2, 210-pound product of William & Mary has played in 197 career regular season games, with 181 starts to his credit, and has racked up 1,085 tackles, 147 passes defensed, 63 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, 7½ sacks and seven fumble recoveries. In 13 career postseason games, Sharper has started 10 of the contests and registered 74 career tackles, 11 passes defensed, two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Sharper brought a ball-hawking mentality to the Saints defense in 2009, starting 14 games at free safety and picking off nine passes – gaining an NFL-record 376 yards on interception returns, including three touchdowns – and made 93 tackles (55 solo) with half a sack and seven passes defensed. He also started all three postseason games and notched 24 tackles with a pass defense and a fumble recovery.

Sharper’s 63 career interceptions places him in a tie with Ronnie Lott for sixth on the all-time list and he ranks second only to Rod Woodson in interception return yardage (1,412) and interceptions returned for touchdowns with 11.

Center 7

Guard 12

Offensive Tackle 18

Defensive End 29

Defensive Tackle 22

Linebacker 35

Running Back 15

Wide Receiver 30

Defensive Back 50

Quarterback 13

Tight End 19

Kick Returner 2

Punter 3

SEAN CANFIELD

Quarterback

Oregon State University Beavers

#5

6:03.4-221

Carlsbad, California

Carlsbad High School

OVERVIEW

After entering the season as a virtual unknown due to injury, Sean Canfield was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the country the second half of the 2009 season. With eleven scattered starts over the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Canfield impressed scouts in his first full season as a starter with his pinpoint accuracy and efficiency. Canfield led the Beavers to an 8-5 record in 2009 and a run at the Pacific 10 Conference championship that lasted right up until the last week of the regular season. Under Canfield, the Oregon State passing offense improved from 30th in the nation in 2008 (249.0 ypg), to 26th in 2009 (270.8 ypg). He led a unit that ranked 15th in the national in passing efficiency (147.33), second in scoring (32.42 ppg), and 28th in total offense (419.42 ypg). Individually, Canfield was the nation’s 15th most efficient passer with a rating of 148.26, while also ranking 20th nationally in passing yards per game at 258.58. He passed for at least two touchdowns in eight regular season games this season.

Accuracy is Canfield’s strongest attribute, and it was reflected in his stats as he broke the Beavers single-season record for completion percentage. The lefty completed 67.93% of his attempts, a number good enough for sixth in the nation. As a senior, Canfield earned First Team All Pac-10 Conference honors. He was the conference leader in passing yards per game (258.58), and completion percentage (67.93%), and ranked second in passing efficiency (141.9). He tied for the conference lead with 21 TD passes.

A decorated high school standout, Canfield lettered and started three years for Carlsbad High School. He led the team to a 24-9 recorded over his three year span as a starter, including a San Diego Section title as a sophomore. He earned All-Avocado League honors and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award three times, and was a three-time all-state selection. ESPN.com listed him as the nation’s 16th best quarterback in its December 2004 ratings, and both Scout.com and Rivals.com gave him a “three star” rating out of a possible five stars. He participated in the prestigious EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback workout. As a senior at Carlsbad, Canfield earned second-team All-CIF San Diego Section honors after throwing for 1,691 yards on 119 of 214 passing (55.60%) with 13 touchdowns.

Canfield chose Oregon State over an offer from UTEP, citing “coaching staff, the offensive scheme and the overall program” as the reasons for his decision. After graduating early from Carlsbad and enrolling for the spring term at OSU, Canfield spent the 2005 season redshirting while performing on the scout team. In 2006, Canfield was listed second on the depth chart behind current Carolina Panther Matt Moore. However, the redshirt freshman would see the field early in his career. After jumping out to a 42-7 halftime lead in their season opener vs. Eastern Washington, the Beavers put in their back-up in relief duty. Canfield would complete 11-of- 15 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. That season, Canfield saw action as a reserve in eight games, finishing with 335 passing yards, two TDs and a pair of interceptions on 28-of-45 passing (62.22%). He also rushed three times for minus 10 yards and a score.

Canfield was appointed the Beavers starting quarterback prior to the 2007 season. He became the Beavers youngest quarterback to earn the job since current Arizona Cardinal Derek Anderson in 2002. He led OSU to a 5-3 record before suffering a left shoulder injury in a loss at USC, his ninth start of the season. Showing the toughness that is demanded from the position, Canfield returned to action just eight weeks later in the Beavers’ Emerald Bowl match-up vs. the Maryland Terrapins after starter Lyle Moevao went down with injury. He hit on 8-of-14 pass attempts (57.14%) for 68 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the Beavers’ Emerald Bowl win. After the game, he found out the shoulder injury he suffered weeks earlier and had been playing with was actually a torn labrum. He would finish the season completing 165-of-286 passes (57.69%) for 1661 yards, nine touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.

After having surgery on the torn labrum, Canfield missed nearly all of practice in August of 2008 while rehabilitating. Meanwhile, Lyle Moevao, who had taken over for Canfield a season earlier, entrenched himself as the team’s starter. It wasn’t until game four vs. Utah that Canfield would even be cleared to play, and he finally saw action a week later vs. Washington State, playing in relief of Moevao by throwing a 39-yard touchdown pass. Canfield finally saw significant action just two weeks later vs. Arizona State after Moevao went down with injury. He threw for a pair of scores and 218 yards to lead the Beavers to a 27-25 victory over the Sun Devils. The characteristically cool and calm Canfield showed his emotional and energetic side in his first significant action since 2007. Canfield would go on to start two games that season vs. UCLA and at Arizona, leading OSU to victories in both. He finished his junior campaign with 703 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions on 56-of-84 attempts (66.66%).

After an emotional 2008, Canfield finally regained his starting job in 2009 due to a shoulder injury to Moevao. He led the Beavers to an 8-4 regular season record and a run at the Pac-10 championship that lasted right up until the season finale vs. in-state rival Oregon. Their success earned the Beavers a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl, as he closed out his career with 3,271 yards on 303-of-446 passing (67.94%), including 21 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Canfield joined Florida’s Tim Tebow as the left-handed quarterbacks that tried to impress scouts at the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl.

CAREER NOTES

In 35 games at Oregon State, Canfield started 24 contests, hitting on 552-of-861 passes (64.11%) for 5,970 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions, adding three scores on 93 carries for minus 313 rushing yards…Shattered the Oregon State season-record for pass completion percentage of 60.6% set by Matt Moore in 2006, hitting 67.93% of his attempts in 2009…His 3,272 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2009 were good enough for fourth place on both of OSU’s season-record lists behind Anderson (4,058 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2003, 3,615 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2004, 3,313 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2002)…Canfield’s 38 touchdown passes and 5,970 yards rank fourth on Oregon State’s career-record lists behind Erik Wilhelm (9,383 yards with 52 touchdowns from 1985-88), Jonathan Smith (9,680 yards with 55 TDs from 1998-2001), and Anderson (11,249 yards with 79 touchdowns from 2001-04)…His 303 completions in 2009 are an Oregon State record, surpassing the previous mark of 283 set by Wilhelm in 1986…His 353 passing yards vs. Idaho State (9/15/2007) tied for 19th on the school’s game-record chart…His 87-yard touchdown pass to James Rodgers vs. Portland State (9/5/2009) ranks as the sixth longest pass play in OSU history…His 75-yard pass to Rodgers vs. UCLA (11/8/2008) tied as the 17th longest pass play in OSU annals…Canfield’s 10 touchdown passes to James Rodgers ranks the pair fourth all-time in OSU history for a QB-to-WR touchdown combination behind Wilhelm to Robb Thomas (17), Anderson to James Newson (15), Anderson to Mike Hass (14).

2009 SEASON

All Pacific-10 Conference first-team choice…Elected team co-captain…Started thirteen games including the Las Vegas Bowl, leading the team to an 8-5 record (6-3 conference) and fourth-place finish in the Pac-10…Completed 303 of 446 attempts (67.93%) for 3,272 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions…Scored twice on 48 carries for minus 160 yards (-3.33 ypc)…Surpassed the previous school record for completion percentage (60.6% by Moore in 2006) by hitting 67.93% of his passes…His 3,272 yards ranks fourth all-time in OSU history for a single-season behind Anderson (4,058 in 2003, 3,615 in 2004, 3,313 in 2002)…His 21 touchdown passes also ranks fourth in OSU history for a single-season behind Anderson (29 in 2004, 25 in 2002, 25 in 2003)… 162 of his 303 pass completions (53.46%) went for first-downs, with 60 of those converting third-down attempts…105 of his pass completions (34.65%) were completed for a gain of 10-19 yards, and 41 (13.53%) went for 20 or more yards…Plays resulted in either a sack, pass break-up, or interception on 78 of his 446 pass attempts (17.48%)…45 of 446 pass attempts were deflected by the opposition (10.08%)…Averaged 251.6 passing yards per game, tops in the Pac-10 Conference…Ranked second in the conference in pass efficiency at 141.9…Ranked fourth in the conference in average total offense per game at 239.3…On 494 plays, Canfield amassed 3,111 total yards of offense…Engineered 67 scoring drives for OSU, with 46 going for touchdowns and 21 for field goals..

2008 SEASON

Missed nearly all of practice in August and the first few weeks of the season while rehabilitating from a left shoulder (throwing shoulder) injury suffered at USC in ‘07 – cleared to play for the first time at Utah (10/02), although he wouldn’t see action until the October 11th clash vs. Washington State…Started two games for the season, vs. UCLA and Arizona, and played a majority of the Arizona State game due to a Moevao injury – all victories…Completed 66.67% of his pass attempts (56-of-84) and had a pass efficiency of 155.78 (would have been second in the Pac-10 behind USC’s Mark Sanchez, but he did not have enough attempts to qualify)…Finished with 703 aerial yards that included six touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

2007 SEASON

Sean started the first nine games becoming team’s youngest starting quarterback at OSU since current Anderson in 2002, Canfield connected on 165-of-286 passes (57.69%) for 1,661 yards, nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions…His 353 passing yards vs. Idaho State was the 12th-highest total in school history…Returned to action in the Emerald Bowl in emergency after Moevao was hurt in the first quarter, tossing a touchdown pass to Rodgers.

2006 SEASON

Played in eight games, all in reserve, as he accounted for 335 yards and two touchdowns (Eastern Washington) while completing 28-of-45 attempts (62.22%)…Played in the first half at Washington and Arizona State, but otherwise saw second half action in the rest of the games.

2005 SEASON

Redshirted as a freshman…Entered OSU for spring term after graduating early from Carlsbad High spending the season competing on the scout team.

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS

4.96 in the 40-yard dash…1.71 10-yard dash…2.86 20-yard dash…4.59 20-yard shuttle… 12.87 60-yard shuttle…7.51 three-cone drill…29.5-inch vertical jump…8.16 figure-eight drill…12.31 angle drive…250-pound bench press…31 5/8-inch arm length…9-inch hands…Throws left-handed.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Carlsbad (Carlsbad, Cal.) High School, starting in each of his three varsity seasons…Led the team to a three-year mark of 24-9…Earned All-Avocado League honors and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year Award three times…Also a three-time All-State selection…Second-team All-CIF San Diego Section as a senior after throwing for 1,691 yards (119-of-214) and thirteen touchdowns…Hit on 152-of-266 tosses for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior…Led Carlsbad to the San Diego Section title during his sophomore season, throwing for 1,725 yards (105-of-174) and 17 touchdowns…ESPN.com rated him the 16th-best quarterback in the nation in its December 2004 list…Participated in the EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback workout.

PERSONAL

Philosophy major…San Diego Tribune Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for 2004-2005… Son of Jill Ganey and Daniel Canfield…Father is a photographer and mother is a sales representative…Right-handed in everything, except when playing ping pong and throwing the football…Resides in Carlsbad, California

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Monday the 14 undrafted rookie free agents that have agreed to terms with the team following the conclusion of the NFL Draft. Joining the Saints will be LBs Jason Beauchamp and Harry Coleman, WR Chris Bell, RBs Carlos Brown, Christian Ducré and Chris Ivory, Gs Brandon Carter and Joe Tonga, DEs Junior Galette and Brandon Sharpe, LS Clint Gresham, safety Ryan Hamilton, DT Jay Ross and CB Marcell Young.

The following is an outline of the 14 players who – along with the club’s six draft choices and other tryout players – will be coming to New Orleans to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp, scheduled to take place May 7-9.

Jason Beauchamp – Linebacker, UNLV (6-3, 244): Beauchamp is an athletic linebacker who was the Rebels’ leading tackler in both his junior and senior seasons, playing 48 games with 37 starts for UNLV and tallying 334 tackles, with 26 of those coming for losses including 13 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. The San Diego native was a three-year starter and was named honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference in 2009 after earning second-team honors the prior year, posting 95 tackles with a career-best 6½ sacks as a senior.

Chris Bell – Wide Receiver, Norfolk State (6-2, 211): Bell played two seasons at Penn State, catching 12 passes for 209 yards, prior to returning to his native Norfolk, Va., where he led the Spartans with 51 catches for 958 yards and 13 touchdowns in his lone season at Norfolk State. Bell led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in receiving yards and touchdowns and was named first-team all-MEAC before declaring for the NFL draft with a year of eligibility remaining.

Carlos Brown – Running Back, Michigan (6-0, 212): Brown was a four-year letterman for the Wolverines, playing in 30 games with 12 starts over his collegiate career. The Franklin, Ga. native totaled 1,025 yards on 201 carries with nine touchdowns for his career, caught 16 passes for 145 yards and a score and also averaged 20.3 yards on 19 kickoff returns. Brown took over the starting running back job as a senior and led Michigan with a career-best 480 rushing yards on 79 carries (5.9 avg.) with four touchdowns and added 10 catches for 122 yards and a score.

Brandon Carter – Guard, Texas Tech (6-6, 319): Carter started for three seasons for the Red Raiders, opening 40 of the 49 games he played during his collegiate career. The native of Longview, Texas was selected first-team All-Big XII as a senior in 2009 after receiving honorable mention all-conference honors in each of his sophomore and junior seasons.

Harry Coleman – Linebacker, LSU (6-2, 212): Coleman was a two-year starter for the Tigers, moving from strong safety to linebacker in between his junior and senior seasons and closed his career with 183 tackles, four sacks, 11 pass defenses, four fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in 52 games, starting the final 26 of them. The Baldwin, La. native was named LSU’s Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2009, posting career-highs with 82 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles.

Christian Ducré – Running Back, Mississippi State (5-11, 225): Ducré, a native of Lacombe, La. and a graduate of Mandeville’s Fontaineblue HS, played in 37 games for Mississippi State over four seasons, rushing for 972 yards on 49 carries with seven touchdowns and catching 39 passes for 346 yards and two more scores. He spent a redshirt season at Tulane before transferring to MSU and had his biggest statistical season as a sophomore in 2007, gaining 487 yards with three touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

Junior Galette – Defensive End, Stillman (6-2, 258): Galette was a three-year letter-winner at Temple before transferring to Stillman College prior to his senior season. The Spring Valley, N.Y. native played 33 games for Temple, making 80 tackles with 16 sacks and three forced fumbles. In his lone season at Stillman, Galette made 56 tackles and notched 9½ sacks, earning first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors and being named a second-team Division II All-American.

Clint Gresham – Long Snapper, TCU (6-3, 238): Gresham, a Corpus Christi, Texas native, was the only long snapper invited to the NFL Scouting Combine after a solid career for the Horned Frogs, playing in 38 games over three seasons and recording eight tackles on special teams. The long snapper spent his freshman season at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to TCU.

Ryan Hamilton – Safety, Vanderbilt (6-1, 206): Hamilton was a four-year starter for the Commodores, playing both free and strong safety over his 39-game career (36 starts) that saw him total 222 tackles, five interceptions, two sacks, three forced fumbles and seven pass defenses. Had his best season as a junior in 2008, making 104 tackles with four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown and three fumble recoveries. The Wycombe, Pa. native had his senior season cut short after just two games after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.

Chris Ivory – Running Back, Tiffin (6-0, 222): Ivory played three seasons at Washington State, gaining 534 yards on 91 carries with four touchdowns in 22 games for the Cougars in an injury-shortened career. The Longview, Texas native also averaged 22.8 yards on 23 kickoff returns for WSU before transferring to Division II Tiffin, where he played in five games and rushed for 223 yards on 39 attempts.

Jay Ross – Defensive Tackle, East Carolina (6-3, 302): Ross was a three-year starter on the Pirates’ defensive line, opening 42 games of the 52 he played for East Carolina, three times earning honorable mention All-Conference USA honors. The Wilmington, N.C. native totaled 140 tackles over his four seasons, 25 of them behind the line of scrimmage including eight sacks and added two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a TD.

Brandon Sharpe – Defensive End, Texas Tech (6-2, 254): Sharpe played in 23 games at Texas Tech over three seasons after spending a year at Fresno City College. The Lyons, Ga. native set a school record with 15 sacks as a senior in 2009, earning first-team All-Big XII honors as he started 12 games and totaled 36 tackles (20 of them coming behind the line of scrimmage), with five pass defenses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. For his Red Raider career, Sharpe totaled 41 tackles with 16 sacks.

Joe Tonga – Guard, Indiana (Pa.) (6-4, 313): Tonga played his senior season at Division II Indiana (Pa.) University and started nine games on the offensive line for the Crimson Hawks. The Taylorsville, Utah native played one season at Florida State in 2008, playing in 11 games after two standout seasons at Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) Community College, where he earned all-conference honors.

Marcell Young – Cornerback, Jackson State (6-0, 183): Young played in 21 games over two seasons for Jackson State in his hometown of Jackson, Miss., making 49 tackles with two interceptions, five pass defenses and two interceptions. Prior to transferring to JSU, Young played two seasons at Hinds (Miss.) Community College where he was selected to play in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game.

Saints head coach Sean Payton discussed the selections of USC T Charles Brown and University of Miami (Fla.) Jimmy Graham at the end of day two of the NFL Draft. Below is a transcript of his press conference:

 

Opening Statement: “Wrapping up today with the selection of Jimmy Graham, there was a guy that when you payed attention to the limited tape and yet the workouts, the character…People use the term upside. I like all the measurables we saw with him. I think he understands and will continue to get better. That’s one of the things you saw this year with him playing. He has more of a basketball background. We’re excited about the selection. He’s a guy that when you start the process, there are a few guys you are very attached to. It happens every year during the draft. He was one of those guys for us collectively. The challenge with a player like that is you just don’t know how others are going to see him as well, so as you try to visualize where a player like that gets selected. It’s hard to predict. What’s most important is you just have to like him and you have to have a vision for the player. We had a good visit with him when he was here, had a real good visit tonight. That finishes where we are at today with some more work tomorrow.”

 

Can you discuss why you like him?

“Honestly in the process, I was probably the one who was skeptical in the beginning in regards to the idea, the area scout that had him, the cross check, Rick Reiprish, the director (of college scouting), the position coach and I think as the process evolved, you kept looking for a reason. You’re waiting to hear that we have to develop his hands or that he’s going to struggle learning at first. Certainly there’s going to be a period of growth for the player. I think that was one specific player that everyone felt pretty good about. We understand that this is a three day period when everybody says they got their guy. How many times do you hear that, but we’re excited about what we think he can do, not just three years from now, but what we think he can do now when you watch him.”

 

Can you talk if this a guy with value on the board?

“This one is different because you probably don’t have as much to grade and yet the process in evaluating workouts and everything you see. That all is probably one of the biggest challenges in doing this. It’s exciting.”

 

When you see guys with basketball backgrounds like Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, do you envision Graham having some of the same skills as these guys when they came out?

“Yes. I think you just have to be cautious that you’re not trying to make them somebody, but clearly, it starts with your vision. A question we ask all the time is who do we remind them of and now Antonio Gates was someone that wasn’t drafted. I’m trying to think of who he reminds me of. I remember our workout of Jason Witten. That’s different, because Jason had a lot more football experience at Tennessee than Jimmy, so when you look at watching them run and catch and see them progress…We spent a week down there at Miami at the practices. You continue to gather your information and everything that comes back is positive and you watch the improvement he made already and you look at some of the things you think he can do right now. You develop the things that need to be worked on. He has a unique skill set. He really does. He catches it very efficiently, so it’s exciting.”

 

Are you discouraged that you weren’t able to address the front seven yet so far?

“I think prior to the draft with signing a couple of defensive ends, getting the corner yesterday, that definitely was coming into the draft something we wanted to accomplish and with a number of picks tommorrow we want to accomplish. We have to make sure we’re really paying attention to the grade and not taking a player based on need only, so we’ll continue to look at that. There’s a lot still to go.”

 

When you did your pre-draft mocks, did you ever have a scenario where Charles Brown was available at 64?

“Yes. There’s a handful of players where when you’re picking at 32, you feel you might not have a chance to draft that you think you’re not going to take them at 32 and by the time you get to 64 they might not be on the board. There are players I could go through with you, the safety at South Florida, who we thought was a real good player, (Nate) Allen. There was a group of players that if they could get 32, we’re not going to be selecting them, but by the time we go again, we’re not going to have a chance to select them, like the TCU linebacker (Daryl) Washington, another great example of someone Arizona got. The player was going to be drafted where Roman (Harper) was drafted or Tracy (Porter) was drafted. There’s certain players you have that sense on based on your grade. I think in fairness in relation to that selection and the player, we kind of saw that taking place maybe, where at 32 it wasn’t going to happen, but at 64, it probably wasn’t either. You don’t know. We had talked and we know Mickey (Loomis) had mentioned it probably about moving up a little and it’s always maybe a little easier said than done and we just kind of continue to try to sit tight and we were able to make the selection. That was good.”

 

Was Brown graded higher in your grades then where you got him?

“We had him graded very high. His magnet stood out independently. I don’t think coming in we identified tackle as a place where we had to select somebody but we felt like the grade was clearly different.”

 

In regards to the trade speculation with Jammal Brown and the Redskins, can you discuss potential trade conversations prior to the draft and during the draft. Did you have them internally or with the actual teams?

“There are a handful; he’s an unsigned restricted free agent. I think you try to go through the scenarios. For us, you say where do you have some depth on your team that you feel like you maybe have some assets. Tackle was one with the development of Jermon (Bushrod) and with Jammal over there who has been good for us. The receiver position is the same way where we feel like we have a pretty good group with some young players as well with Adrian Arrington. I’m not saying you randomly go out, but you try to look at some teams with other needs. It happens a lot more than is really reported. I think that process of trying to help yourself on the defensive front seven or maybe help yourself in other areas where you have maybe additional players and where do you feel you’re light.”

 

Would it be accurate to report you spoke to other teams?

“I think it would be accurate to say, because what happens is there’s a lot that’s entertained in there. What normally would happen is that I think teams would like to go through this process to see if they can make the selection. You can’t make a trade with player right now that’s unsigned anyway. The player has to be signed to trade him, so once you get through the first day, the second day, tomorrow, then teams that of couldn’t fill a need possibly became more interested in certain players, no different than when we would pursue and continue to look at other areas where maybe we weren’t able to draft, but with a player that’s unsigned, you really aren’t in a position to trade him anyway. You couldn’t just say it about the one player. A lot is discussed in regards to rosters when you talk to other teams relating to picks possibly when the draft’s over. We got through the draft a couple years ago and then traded for (Jeremy) Shockey after the minicamps, later on. In his case it just took more time. I think tomorrow you’ll see some movement, but with the unrestricted players and restricted players that have not signed, there cannot be any.

 

Now that you have drafted Charles Brown, does it possibly encourage you to try to get some value for a player like Jammal Brown?

“We said after the selection, we’re excited about having quality players that that position. Once again, we talked about corner yesterday and you talk about left tackle. It’s another area that teams hold in high regard when it comes to the draft and we’ll see. I’m anxious to see him come in and compete as a rookie, get stronger. He has a lot to work on and I’m sure he knows that. Going from the college level at that position, all of a sudden seeing (John) Abraham and some of the guys they have to see…But we like the fact that we graded him well. His magnet stood out there clearly from where we were at or where we thought we were at, but we have depth there I think. There’s a lot of players. You’re going to have to teach, train and get snaps. Jermon Bushrod, we felt progressed each game last year and he’s a guy we’ve invested time and a draft pick in. Jammal Brown we’ve won with and he’s been a two-time Pro Bowl player for us, but those are good problems to have, especially at that position, which is a position sometimes if you don’t have the right player, it can really hurt you.”

 

The Vikings moved back behind you guys into the second round. There was some speculation in Minneapolis today that that Patrick Robinson was going to be available to them at the start of the second round and that they wanted him thinking they would still get him. Were you concerned they would take Robinson before you and once they were behind you, were you still concerned?

“I think you’re always concerned when you’re looking to select a player. I think Detroit came in there. Right away you’re looking at Detroit’s needs. When it gets down to the two picks in front of you, the final pick, you’re a little worried that all of a sudden you might lose your player. We had two players we were ready to select, but I had heard what you just said. We really weren’t aware of it when they backed out. We weren’t’ concerned with Minnesota selecting him at the front of the second round. We were concerned with the teams in front of us and just knowing the nature of the position, like when Detroit moved up. Generally when a team moves up there’s a player they have in mind and the running back from Cal was the player they had in mind, but when they move up, they have someone they were specifically going to draft and what happens over the years, you see it happen where someone moves up in front and selects maybe the player you were targeting. You wait it out. We did have two players. Patrick was the one we hoped stayed on the board. He did and we felt fortunate to be in a position to draft him.”

 

Could Jimmy Graham’s maturation be accelerated by the fact that he considers Jeremy Shockey to be a mentor?

“There’s plenty of snaps. You guys know there are a lot of snaps and stuff we do formationally. It’s not so much the conventional one tight end offense. I think Jeremy and one of the things he said after we had selected him was that he knew of Jeremy’s history there. Those guys are kind of a little bit of a fraternity. I think it’s beneficial for a younger player to watch and see what’s happening in front of them, someone with the experience Jeremy has and even David Thomas. He’s going to come in here and be hungry to learn. That’s the thing that’s exciting. You look at the workout, you match it with his ability to catch. I kept looking for reasons to not like the player and couldn’t find any. I think it will be a good fit and I think it’s important at that position when you look at the quarterback and the smaller windows and spaces they operate in and the routes from the outside. He’s a guy that I think that provides a big target that we can take advantage of him.”

 

When you speak of Graham’s skill set are you referring more to pass catching than blocking?

“I think that would be accurate. He’s got real good size. He has a frame that can continue to gain weight. I think he can become a real good run blocker. He has very soft hands. He’s fast and he’s extremely intelligent. You start there and try to feature the things he does well and work at the things that he’s not as proficient at. That’s kind of where you start from. To answer the question, that’s the area you see initially. It’s hard to work out a tight end. Usually the ones you would grade as real good run blockers, you have evidence of film on. It’s hard to work a tight end out with limited exposure and say he’s going to be a good run blocker. I think when you watch him in his college tape, he’s willing, and he’s strong. He’s very athletic and we’ll try to get him up to speed quickly. You guys will have a chance to see some of what we’re talking about I think.