Graham grateful to be back with Saints

METAIRIE, La. — Jimmy Graham offered a few reasons why — at age 36 and without having played football last year — he could become a playmaker again for the New Orleans Saints.

“I’m feeling better than ever. I’m still 6-(foot)-7 and I like the red zone,” the veteran tight end said Saturday in his first public comments since rejoining his first NFL team Tuesday. “I definitely came into this with a chip on my shoulder and with something to prove.”

Estimating he weighed as much as 285 pounds in his previous stint with the Saints, when he worked out like “a meathead,” Graham said he has been cycling “hundreds of miles a week” and has changed his workout and eating habits to suit to his age.

“I know I’m definitely in shape,” said Graham, now listed at 265 pounds. “That’s not a problem at all.”

Graham, who has caught at least eight touchdown passes in six of his 12 NFL seasons, was a favorite target of former star quarterback Drew Brees and among the most popular players in New Orleans before the club surprisingly traded him to Seattle in 2015.

Many fans were upset, including general manager Micky Loomis’ own daughter. So, too, was Graham.

“For me, it was pretty shocking,” Graham said. “I thought I would never leave this place. … I woke up to the part of the business that hurt.”

Alluding to a difficult childhood in which he sometimes lived in an orphanage, Graham added, “at first it was very difficult because of my connection with Drew as an ‘older brother’ and all the people in this building.”

“It was family, you know?” Graham continued. “So, for me, a guy who didn’t have a lot of family, it was definitely a difficult time.”

Graham played three seasons with the Seahawks — where he had a major knee injury 2015, but also his last 10-TD season in 2017 — before spending two seasons each at Green Bay and Chicago. He said he spent several of those seasons avoiding interviews because he “didn’t really have a lot to say that was positive.”

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman has left the Atlanta Falcons’ training camp without taking the field after coming out of retirement.

Goldman was placed on the exempt/left squad list Saturday. Coach Arthur Smith said the player “is going through something personal” and may retire again.

Goldman signed with the Falcons a year ago, but announced his retirement before the season. He reversed that decision, rejoining the team during the offseason and reporting for training camp Tuesday.

But Goldman did not take part in any practices, raising doubts about how committed he was to a comeback.

TITANS: Outside linebacker Harold Landry III couldn’t be happier about being back on the practice field for the Tennessee Titans. Losing last season to an ACL torn Aug. 31 will do that to an NFL player. Making his return even sweeter is that Landry finally has his chance to prove he can follow up his best season yet.