The Green Bay Packers have placed cornerback/kick returner Darrien Gordon and running back Jay Graham on waivers, GM/head Coach Mike Sherman announced Tuesday.
Gordon, signed as a free agent (July 16, 2002) after leading the National Football Conference in punt returns as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2001, ranked 14th in the National Conference after 13 games with a 5.1-yard average for 35 runbacks. He had averaged 14.1 yards per return, the second-highest average of his NFL career, last season.
In addition to returning punts, the 10-year veteran also made occasional appearances as an extra defensive back, posting 5 tackles, 4 of them unassisted.
During the season, Gordon moved into third place in NFL history with 3,601 punt return yards, passing Eric Metcalf (3,454) en route.
Graham, a fifth-year professional, had been signed as a free agent Nov. 21 to provide the Packers with a veteran reserve at halfback for the season's stretch run, replacing the injured Najeh Davenport (eye) on the active roster. He posted a special teams tackle against Chicago Dec. 1; and had one rushing attempt for a 3-yard gain and 2 receptions for 6 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in last weekend's game.
Graham, the fourth-ranking rusher in University of Tennessee history, began the 2002 season in Seattle's training camp and was released by the Seahawks in their final roster reduction for the regular season Sept 1.
