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[email protected] Phone: (225) 572-‐1329 NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2015 N.O. Saints Trade Tight End Jimmy Graham for Center Max Unger NEW ORLEANS, LA (March, 10, 2015) – The New Orleans Saints have agreed to trade tight end Jimmy Graham and its fourth round draft pick in 2015 in exchange for Seattle Seahawks center Max Unger and the Seahawks’ first round draft pick in 2015. On March 10, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis officially announced that Jimmy Graham had been traded to the Seahawks. “We’ve got to improve ourselves on defense. There’s three ways to get players in our league. That’s through free agency, it’s through draft, and then trades. We kind of believe in using all avenues. So we took one of our assets on offense and turned it into some resources we can hopefully improve our defense with. It was a tough decision. We love Jimmy Graham. He’s been a great player for us. … In order to improve ourselves we felt we had to make a bold move, and so we did.” Loomis continued by saying, “We would like to thank Jimmy for all that he has done for our organization for the last five seasons. We wish Jimmy the best of luck in the future. We also want to welcome Max to our team. Max has been an instrumental Pro Bowl player with Seattle since being drafted in 2009 in the second round. In addition, with the first round draft pick, we - more - 1 will have the opportunity to impact our team for years to come.” By trading Graham, the Saints will get rid of an expensive contract and gain a first-‐round draft pick. This is very important in building the team defensively and improving the team’s chances for success in the future. The Saints’ newest edition, Max Unger, has played in the NFL for six years as a center. Additionally, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for two years. He has started in all of the 67 games that he has played for the Seahawks. “The track record of success and the formula that they have here, it’s awesome,” Unger said about the New Orleans Saints. “It’s been a tough team to play since I’ve been in the league, and we’ve played quite a few times. They seem to have a good group of guys that know how to win, and it’s exciting to be able to contribute to that.” “This is cool. I’m really excited to be here. This is a cool city; it’s an awesome opportunity. Coming to a great franchise and a city – I’ve never lived in the South before and just from being here one day, it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Unger. The Saints look forward to working with Unger in the upcoming season and the team is excited to see what he can bring to the team. While moving forward, the team would also like to thank Jimmy Graham for everything he has done for the Saints through the years and the dedication he has displayed on the field. The team wishes him success with his new - more - 2 team. We are confident Jimmy will be a great asset for the Seahawks. He has always strived for excellence in everything he’s done and he has shown great skill and talent while playing for the Saints. The New Orleans Saints now have two picks in the first round of the 2015 draft. The NFL Draft will take place April 30 through May 2. The first round will begin on Thursday, April 30, at 8:00 p.m. The second and third rounds will be on Friday, at 7:00 p.m. Finally, the fourth through seventh rounds will be on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. (All times listed are in the eastern time zone) About the New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional football team located in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are in the South division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League. Visit Neworleanssaints.com for more information. #### 3 SELECTED QUOTES Interviews on 2015 Trade between Saints and Seahawks Mickey Loomis – Saints General Manager “First off, it’s hard to make trades in the NFL, especially bigger trades for really good players. We had a number of conversations with Seattle. At the end of the day it comes down to this: we have had a good offensive team for a number of years. We have finished top four or five in offense eight of the last nine years. We feel like we do well on that side of the ball, but we have to improve ourselves on defense. “We would like to thank Jimmy for all that he has done for our organization for the last five seasons,” Loomis said. “He became a very productive tight end with our team. We wish Jimmy the best of luck in the future. We also want to welcome Max to our team. Max has been an instrumental Pro Bowl player with Seattle since being drafted in 2009 in the second round. In addition, with the first round draft pick, we will have the opportunity to impact our team for years to come.” “Coming to us from a primary basketball background with limited experience in 2010, Jimmy immediately got to work in the weight room, on the practice field and in the playbook and quickly evolved into one of the top tight ends that I have ever coached, Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said. “Decisions like these are always difficult and we wish Jimmy the best of luck. We’re excited to add Max to our offensive line. He is a tough, physical player where he blocked for one of the top rushing offenses in the NFL, he has been a solid contributor to Seattle’s success.” Max Unger – NFL Center “The track record of success and the formula that they have here, it’s awesome,” Unger said. “It’s been a tough team to play since I’ve been in the league, and we’ve played quite a few times. They seem to have a good group of guys that know how to win, and it’s exciting to be able to contribute to that. “The concepts are familiar, just from watching them on film. It’s cool to get into it and figure it out and see what I can provide and how I can contribute to (the offense). 4 “This is cool. I’m really excited to be here. This is a cool city it’s an awesome opportunity. Coming to a great franchise and a city – I’ve never lived in the South before and just from being here one day, it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Jimmy Graham – Former Saints Tight End “Thank you whodat nation & the city for all your support, love & hospitality. And to all my brothers I've played with over the years. Thank you.” Sean Peyton – New Orleans Saints Head Coach “Coming to us from a primary basketball background with limited experience in 2010, Jimmy immediately got to work in the weight room, on the practice field and in the playbook and quickly evolved into one of the top tight ends that I have ever coached… Decisions like these are always difficult and we wish Jimmy the best of luck. We're excited to add Max to our offensive line. He is a tough, physical player where he blocked for one of the top rushing offenses in the NFL, he has been a solid contributor to Seattle's success.” 5 ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Mickey Loomis New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is the executive vice president and General Manager of the NFL's New Orleans Saints. He was named NFL executive of the year for 2006. Since June 2012, he is also head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. Loomis joined the Saints in 2000 and became general manager in 2002. He was with the Saints when they were forced to relocate to San Antonio in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and helped rebuild the team afterward, culminating in its victory in Super Bowl XLIV. Max Unger NFL Center – Former Seattle Seahawks’ Center Maxwell McCandless "Max" Unger is an American football center for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Unger was listed as the No. 1 offensive guard available in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round and was the starting center for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. 6 ORGANIZATION BIO The New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints is a professional American football team in the National Football League. It is a member of the South division of the National Football Conference. The team is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. John Mecom Jr., David Dixon and the city of New Orleans founded team, and they began playing games in 1967. The team’s colors are black and gold and its logo is a fleur-‐de-‐lis. For a period of time the Saints played its games in Tulane Stadium until they moved to the Mercedes-‐Benz Superdome. The Superdome suffered external and internal damage due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The roof of the dome was torn off and there was destruction caused from flooding. The dome was used as an emergency shelter for those who lost their homes during the tragedy. 2009 was a team record for the Saints. They went to win Super Bowl XLIV. It is currently the only Super Bowl championship they have won. The Super Bowl win meant so much to the people of Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina. People rallied behind a cause as a collective state and celebrated in its victory. Sean Peyton has acted as the full-‐time head coach of the New Orleans Saints since 2006. The team is lead by quarterback Drew Brees (number nine). He has played for the Saints for nine years. Since joining the Saints in 2006, he has led all NFL quarterbacks in touchdowns, passing yards and 300-‐ yard games. 7