ProCanes Report: Graham, Johnson Key Big Week
CORAL GABLES, Fla. —The Monday Morning ProCanes report will weedthrough all the NFL highlights and news to bring you the information you careabout the most… what the former University of Miami Hurricanes did during theweek prior. With a highly-anticipated Week One of the2012 season nearly complete, Pro Canes across the NFL find themselves at the top of theleague’s weekly leaderboards. Jimmy Graham extended “the streak” to seven consecutiveweeks (and 156 of the past 157) with a Pro Canes touchdown, while AndreJohnson and Frank Gore helped guide their teams to convincing victorieswith dominant offensive performances.
Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints) – 6 catches, 85 yards, 1touchdown
The third-year tight end, who delivered one of themost prolific offensive seasons in NFL history during his 2011 Pro Bowl campaign, gotoff on the right foot in his team’s opener against the Washington Redskins.Graham recorded the 17th touchdown of his career (in only 17 starts)with a 20-yard grab through traffic in the first quarter, and added catches of20 and 23 yards in a six-catch performance. Despite the Saints’ 42-30 loss,Graham finished second among all NFL tight ends in yardage for the week with 85yards.
Video highlights: FirstProCanes TD of 2012
Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) – 9 catches, 135 yards
As the focus of much trade speculation towards the endof last season, Wayne reinforced his commitment to Indianapolis and rookiequarterback Andrew Luck in the offseason. Luckily for the first-year signalcaller, the 12th-year veteran wideout showed little signs of slowingdown in Indianapolis’ opener at Chicago. Wayne, who was targeted 21 times by Luckin the contest, led all NFL receivers in Week One with totals of nine catchesand 135 yards. Though his team fell to Chicago, Wayne finished with threecatches of 20 yards or more, and five catches of 15+ yards.
Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) – 8 catches, 119 yards, 1touchdown
After a disappointing end to an impressive 2011season, the Houston Texans marked their return to Reliant Stadium ready to makea statement; Andre Johnson made sure their point was heard. The tenth-yearwideout recorded his 39th career 100-yard game in a scintillatingperformance, adding a highlight-reel touchdown grab in the back of the endzonefor his first score of the season. The Miami, Fla. native, who became the firstTexan in franchise history to play 10 seasons with the team, finished thirdamong all receivers in Week One with his 119-yard showing.
Video highlights: TouchdownGrab
Frank Gore (SanFrancisco 49ers) – 16 carries, 112 yards, 1 touchdown
Gore,who became San Francisco’s all-time leading rusher with a 1,211-yard season in2011, picked up where he left off in the 49ers’ Week One upset at Green Bay.The 29-year old needed only 16 carries to reach 121 yards, and added a 23-yardrumble to the back of the endzone for his first score of the year. Gore, who wasone of only five running backs in the NFL to record 100 yards or more, averagedan impressive seven yards per carry in his team’s 30-22 win at Lambeau Field.
Video highlights: 23-yardRumble
After some dominantoffensive performances from Pro Canes in Sunday’s Week One action, the best maybe yet to come on defense during Monday Night Football. The Baltimore Ravens,featuring Pro Bowlers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, take the field against the Cincinatti Bengals tonightat 7 p.m. Kickoff for the game at M&T Bank Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.Richard Gordon and the Oakland Raiders will face off against San Diego in thesecond game of Monday’s doubleheader (10:15 p.m., ESPN).
