'Y'all Might See Something Crazy!' Falcons RB Bijan Robinson Stars On, Off Field

First teammates at the University of Texas, running back Bijan Robinson and defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham are reunited once more with the Atlanta Falcons - and the latter is a firm believer in what the former will bring to the organization, as much off the field as on it.

The Atlanta Falcons received their first look at running back Bijan Robinson during last week's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the No. 8 overall pick in April's draft only helped add to the hype surrounding his rookie campaign.

Be it his one-handed catch or 12-yard run on his first professional career, Robinson certainly looked like he belonged, something Falcons coach Arthur Smith touched on after the game.

Of course, this was always the expectation, with Robinson's All-American career at the University of Texas inspiring plenty of confidence he'd be a star at the sport's highest level.

But there's another side of Robinson that some haven't yet seen - and it may be just as impressive as the on-field skills that made the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall in 2018.

Just ask Falcons defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham, who played with Robinson at Texas in 2020, about what makes his fellow Longhorn special, and this special other side quickly becomes the topic of conversation.

"I think everybody wants to highlight Bijan's talent - he's an incredibly talented player, but I think you've got to see him as a person," Graham said.

The first example that came to mind for Graham is how Robinson has handled becoming one of the league's highest paid running backs at just 21 years old.

Per Spotrac, Robinson's "total cash" intake of $13.7 million is tops in the league among ballcarriers, while his guaranteed contract money of nearly $22 million ranks fourth. His actual cap hit of just under $4 million puts him at No. 14 league wide.

Beyond that, Robinson has already featured in a commercial for his own brand of mustard, bought an ownership stake in a professional pickle ball team and been the cover of promotional advertisements for Falcons games.

And so, Robinson's image and popularity continue to rise, as does his bank account ... but he's still the same humble, down-to-earth individual he was when Graham met him as an 18-year-old in Austin.

"You wouldn't notice it if you see him walk around here on the daily," Graham said, of Robinson's pay and stature. "He acts just like any other rookie. He shows up on time, he goes to work, and he's been like that ever since he stepped on campus when he was a freshman.

"Always been a humble guy, always willing to put the work in."

This was part of the reason why Graham was just fine serving as the Falcons' pseudo-tour guide when coach Arthur Smith, general manager Terry Fontenot and several other staff members flew to Austin for a workout with Robinson during the pre-draft process.

The Falcons had already formally met with Robinson at the NFL Combine, but the private workout would be the ultimate test - and Graham wanted to help his ex-teammate find comfort early.

Shortly after arriving, Atlanta's brass met with Graham and Robinson at a barbecue restaurant called Terry Black's, where the 6-4, 293-pound defensive tackle "got the biggest rib I think I've ever seen (and) hammered that away," in Smith's words.

When asked about it, Graham stretched his hands multiple feet wide and said he ultimately ended up sharing it with those around him, because it was simply too big for even he to finish.

"I was like, 'Hey, anybody want some? I know I can't eat it all by myself,'" Graham said. "It probably had to be like a two- or three-pound rib bone and had a bunch on it - it was a big rib."

Not to be lost in the mention of the ribs that Smith said were dinosaur-sized is that the food wasn't the primary takeaway from that dinner.

Instead, it was the real, authentic and genuine interactions between Graham and Robinson that sold the Falcons on making the Tucson, Az., native a highly drafted, highly paid and highly publicized star.

But Graham was way ahead of them on that front - and while the rest of the world continues to jump on Robinson's proverbial hype train, it's his rib-loving teammate who's occupying the conductor's seat.

"When you've got that talent and are willing to put in the work, I don't know what y'all might see," Graham said. "Y'all might see something crazy out there, who knows?"

And if Robinson's dazzling training camp and preseason performances are simply a sign of things to come, "crazy" might just be selling him short.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @ByDanielFlick

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