One day after seeing reports of Robert Quinn’s arrest, another former Chicago Bears player is in the headlines after an arrest. Tight end Jimmy Graham, who played for the Bears in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, was taken into custody by police after experiencing “a medical episode” on Friday night that led to him being disoriented, according to TMZ Sports.
The New Orleans Saints, who signed Graham back onto their team in July, released a statement:
Statement from the New Orleans Saints: pic.twitter.com/k3D0QiVvbN
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 19, 2023
TMZ Sports has learned … law enforcement responded to a call for a suspicious person acting erratically near a Southern California resort.
At the scene, cops claim they witnessed Graham walking in the streets … and they attempted to arrest him, but he resisted.
The 36-year-old was eventually taken into custody for suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting, delaying and obstructing a police officer — both misdemeanors.
Graham has since been released. The incident is currently under investigation.
ESPN reporter Katherine Terrell shares that Graham was a full participant in Friday’s Saints practice ahead of their preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Terrell adds that Graham was “normal and spoke to local reporters” after practice. Hopefully, Graham can get back to that state of normalcy after what a Dr. John Amoss believes might’ve been a seizure, per the Saints’ statement.
Graham, 36, played two seasons with the Bears and caught 64 passes for 623 yards, and 11 touchdowns. In addition to helping ease Cole Kmet into the NFL, Graham was a two-time recipient of the Bears’ Walter Payton Man of the Year award. After sitting out the 2022 season, Graham latched on with the Saints — a team he spent five productive seasons with from 2010-14. While in New Orleans, Graham made three Pro Bowls (2011, 2013, 2014), was a first-team All-Pro (2013), caught 386 passes, put up 4,752 receiving yards, and scored 51 touchdowns. To give those stats some perspective, Graham was averaging 77 catches, 950 yards, and 10 touchdowns with the Saints. It was an era in which he was at the forefront of changing the tight end position.
