NFL CAREER – A force against the run and the pass, no one has started more games for the Saints than Grant since the hard-nosed defensive end arrived in New Orleans in 2002. A cornerstone of the club’s defensive front, Grant has played in every contest but two since being selected in the first round out of Georgia, including 87 starts. He has notched 37.5 sacks in that span, and teams with Will Smith to give the Saints one of the NFL’s top tandems at end. Grant missed the lone two games of his career in 2007 with an injured ankle that he endured from midseason on. No player in club history has posted more sacks in his first three years than the 27.5 that Grant had from 2002-04. Since joining the Saints, he has recorded 411 tackles (287 solo), 13 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries – including one in 2002 that he returned 34 yards for a touchdown – and an interception. Grant has 38.5 sacks, ranking 11^th in team history.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Re-signed to seven-year contract, 4/27/07; Designated Franchise Player, 2/20/07; Signed to a six-year contract, 7/27/02; Selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.

2007 – Started all 14 games he appeared in at LDE, missing two contests with an injured ankle, marking the first contests of his career he did not play…Posted 55 tackles (35 solo), 2.5 sacks and knocked down a pair of passes...At Seattle had a sack and three tackles, Oct. 14…Earned a defensive game ball vs. Atlanta, Oct. 21 with five tackles (four solo), a half-sack and two tackles for a loss. Was a constant presence in the Falcons’ backfield…Suffered first-quarter ankle sprain at San Francisco, Oct. 28, an injury that would be problematic for the rest of the season…Started the following week vs. Jacksonville and had three tackles but was on the inactive list for the next two contests, ending his streak of 88-straight games played…Returned at Carolina, Nov. 25 and had a pair of tackles…Notched five solo stops and a sack vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 23. 2006 – For fifth straight season appeared in all 16 games, all starts at LDE, running his streak to 80 games played…Posted six sacks, led defensive line with 71 tackles (52 solo), a team-high three forced fumbles, four deflected passes and a pair of fumble recoveries…Had five tackles and a forced fumble at Green Bay, Sept. 17…Notched a sack with five stops vs. Atlanta, Sept. 25…Oct. 8, vs. Tampa Bay, had a season-high nine tackles (four solo), a sack and a forced fumble. Also credited with three QB pressures…Had a sack and four stops vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 15…Turned in another big game at Tampa Bay, Nov. 5, with seven tackles, a sack, a deflected pass, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Recorded a sack for a 12-yard loss and six solo stops at Atlanta, Nov. 26…Posted five tackles, a pass defense and a fumble recovery at NY Giants, Dec. 24…Started both postseason contests, and had seven tackles (four solo) vs. Philadelphia in NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Philadelphia, 1/13/07. 2005 – Appeared in all 16 contests and started 14 at RDE, recording 75 tackles (52 solo), 2.5 sacks, a pass defense and a fumble recovery…Notched eight tackles and a sack vs. Buffalo, Oct. 2…Recorded 11 tackles (seven solo), a half sack and a fumble recovery vs. Carolina, Dec. 18. 2004 – Started all 16 contests for the second-straight season and paced defensive line with 113 tackles (69 solo) with a career-high 10.5 sacks…Added six pass defenses, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception…Sack total ranked 11th in NFC…Started every game at LDE for first time in career, having also opened games on right side in 2003…Had top performance at St. Louis, Sept. 26 with a career-high three sacks and six tackles (three solo)…Notched a sack, eight tackles and a pass defense at Arizona, Oct. 3…Had two sacks, eight tackles and a forced fumble vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 10…Led NFL over first six contests with 7.5 sacks…Had an interception with an eight-yard return and nine tackles (six solo) at Atlanta, Nov. 28…Posted a career-high 12 tackles (11 solo), two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defense at Carolina, 1/2/05. 2003 – Started all 16 games and led team with 10 sacks and three forced fumbles and led defensive line with 53 tackles (39 solo)…Had six tackles, two sacks and a pass defense at Seattle, Sept. 7…Added sack and five stops (two solo) vs. Houston, Sept. 14…Had five tackles (four solo), a pair of sacks and two forced fumbles vs. Chicago, Oct. 12…Had sack in each of final three games. 2002 – Finished second on squad with seven sacks and added 36 tackles (32 solo), two pass defenses, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…Appeared in 16 games, starting six at LDE…Started in NFL debut at Tampa Bay, Sept. 8, and had a sack…Started at LDE for games 4-8…Recorded eight tackles, a sack and forced fumble vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 6…Had a solo tackle, a pass defense and a 34-yard fumble return for a TD at Carolina, Nov. 10…Had sack and forced fumble vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 1…Posted four tackles, two sacks and forced fumble at Cincinnati, Dec. 22.

COLLEGE – Three-year letterman and two-year starter at Georgia…Ended career with 136 tackles and 15 sacks…Sack total ranked sixth on school’s all-time list upon departure…Totaled 63 tackles and six sacks as a junior in 2001...As a freshman, recorded 33 tackles and seven sacks, while also rushing for 79 yards and three touchdowns at fullback…Majored in arts and sciences.

PERSONAL – Played offense and defense at Hargrave Military Academy in 1998…Posted 12 sacks, two interceptions and 84 tackles in 1998…A fixture in the Saints’ community relations efforts in New Orleans and also holds a free football clinic at his hometown of Colquitt, Ga....A Parade Magazine 1997 All-American…Tied RB Herschel Walker’s state single-season touchdown record with 45 in 1997 and added 3,472 all-purpose yards…Totaled 101 touchdowns in his three-year career at Miller County HS…Cousin of Washington Redskins DE Phillip Daniels, who also went to Georgia…Born Sept. 3, 1978 in Colquitt, Ga.