Buccaneers sign RB Graham to extension

Jun 30, 2008 - 10:37 PM TAMPA BAY, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided to make running back Earnest Graham part of their future plans.

One of the NFL's biggest surprises last season, Graham signed a multi-year contract extension with the Buccaneers on Monday.

Financial terms were not disclosed, although NFL.com reported the deal was for three years and worth $11 million.

The deal eliminates a potential training camp holdout from Graham, who skipped some of the voluntary offseason programs but did attend a mandatory team mini-camp earlier this month.

The 28-year-old Graham rushed for a career-best 898 yards and 10 touchdowns last season after injuries to Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Michael Pittman had decimated Tampa Bay's backfield. He also hauled in 49 receptions for 324 yards.

An undrafted free agent from Florida, Graham had a total of just 215 rushing yards in the previous three seasons before his breakout campaign in 2007.