Jimmy Graham Ignores Media, Exits Superdome In Silence After Loss To Saints [VIDEO]
Jimmy Graham's return to New Orleans was not a pleasant experience.
The Seahawks tight end was in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as a Saints opponent for the first time since being traded by the Black & Gold back in 2015. He had a relatively quiet game—three catches for 35 yards—as the Seahawks fell to the Saints 20-25.
After the game, Graham did not make himself available to the media and avoided all questions from the media. As a matter of fact, other than a quick exchange with Roman Harper and an embrace from Drew Brees' wife on his way to the bus the former Saints tight end managed to avoid anyone who knew him during his time in New Orleans.
And for what it's worth, Harper had to run him down in the Seahawks tunnel after the game to give him positive words.
Jimmy's a great friend of mine, and just seeing him and watching him grow up to be the star that he is, I always want to just say great job and keep going
When asked about his former teammate, Brees said he had no interaction with Jimmy leading up to the game and that it would be "weird" to see him in a Seahawks uniform, but planned on texting after the matchup. Saints head coach Sean Payton said he had no interaction, but it "wasn't intentional."
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson suggested Graham's silence could simply be chalked up to frustration.
He’s a winner. He wants to win and obviously we didn’t win.
Many thought Graham would come back to New Orleans with a chip on his shoulder, given the surprising nature of the trade announcement that sent him to Seattle in exchange for center Max Unger and a first-round draft pick.
There didn't seem to be any anger, animosity or smack talk—as Graham literally kept to himself before, during, and after the game.
To me, what we saw was a sad Jimmy Graham who still wishes he was in New Orleans with Drew Brees—a place where he shined as an NFL star and has openly said he wanted to play his entire career.
Graham is a free agent in 2018—the final year of Drew Brees' current contract.
Just saying.