Jimmy Graham: I'm blessed to have gone through those things

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 2, 2012, 1:25 PM EST

Getty Images

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham is in Indianapolis this week talking less about football than about his childhood, when he suffered from abuse and spent time in the foster system. Graham, whose life story will be featured as part of a documentary on the USA Network on February 10, talked this afternoon about the ways he has moved on from that.

“I’ve forgiven the people who need to be forgiven for the things that happened to me as a child,” Graham said. “I would never change those things. The things I went through as a child have molded me into the man I am today. I think I’m blessed to have gone through those things.”

Colts fill coaching vacancies

Posted by Evan Silva on February 1, 2012, 9:35 PM EST

AP

Mike Florio broke the news a week ago that Chuck Pagano would be the Colts’ next head coach. FOXSports.com’s Alex Marvez has the scoop on several of Pagano’s assistants.

Marvez, citing a source, reports that the Colts have tabbed Marwan Maalouf as special teams coordinator, Roy Anderson as safeties coach, and Alfredo Roberts to coach tight ends. Marvez also reports that Pagano is retaining running backs coach David Walker from Jim Caldwell’s old staff.

Maalouf and Anderson worked with Pagano in Baltimore. Roberts comes over from Tampa Bay, where he coached up rookie Luke Stocker and veteran Kellen Winslow this past season.

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Toomoer: Shockey's absence helped Eli

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on February 1, 2012, 8:02 PM EST

AP

Eli Manning is gunning for his second Super Bowl title on Sunday. According to his former teammate Amani Toomer, Manning might not have won his first title if Jeremy Shockey was healthy in the 2007 season.

Appearing on NBC SportsTalk Wednesday with Florio, Toomer said Shockey “tried to take advantage” of Eli by pressuring him for the ball.  Toomer said there was “no question” Eli improved his play after he didn’t have the distraction of Shockey in the huddle.

Shockey didn’t exactly have the greatest reputation as a reliable player in New Orleans either. Perhaps the Panthers should consider that before possibly bringing him back for another season with Cam Newton in Carolina.

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