True, Bruce has all the leverage. But Graham has to at least TRY to posture for more money. He has earned it, after all.
All Graham has earned is the privilege to come to TC and compete for the starting RB position...IMO
agreed. he has earned a shot but the "Frank Gore money" stuff that I've heard is comical. graham is a solid player who filled in admirably when he was forced into action but he isnt the super hero some make him out to be. like donald penn, graham is a nice story of a hard working guy rising up from the practice squad to make the team and be productive when forced into the lineup due to injury. both players have value but neither are indispensble. if Pettigout is healthy then he has the inside track on that job, even if the coaching staff talks up penn. Likewise on Graham, even if he was showing up to OTAs and mini-camps I'm not so sure that Dunn wouldnt still be ahead of him on the depth chart. You can bet if Caddy was healthy Gruden would have him taking reps with the 1st team offense, despite what Graham did last year.
Or to borrower another comparison from another PR poster, Graham is Nick Goings. Undrafted FA RB without elite measurables who worked his way onto the team as a ST contributer/3rd string back and who was a productive starter when injuries forced him into the lineup. Sound familiar? Did Carolina sign him to a fat extension when he stepped in for Stephen Davis and Foster a few years ago? when those guys were healthy Goings resumed his previous role. If Graham finally shows up and works his butt off he deserves a chance to compete for the starting job. but right now, he is looking up at Dunn and Bennett on the depth chart and rightfully so.
