New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham continues his fight with the team as to which franchise tag contract he deserves. Graham believes himself a wide receiver while the league recognizes him as a tight end.
The union is set to make a solid counterargument in favor of Graham as a wide receiver.
"The union's position is a naked cash grab," the source said. "It ignores Mr. Graham's use as a traditional tight end on roughly 60 percent of the snaps where he lined up within 4 yards of the tackle. It also ignores the historical use of the tight end position.
"Since the days of Mike Ditka, coaches have split the tight end wide to gain information about the defensive set and gain a matchup advantage. According to the union's position, last year's All-Pro tight end was not a tight end and Mike Ditka was a wide receiver."
Graham and the NFLPA believes that he should be labeled a wide receiver considering he lines up as one for 67 percent of the Saints offensive plays. If Graham is successful in his claim for more money, he will be payed $12.3 million instead of $7.035 million.
In similar cases like this the two sides compromised on a salary before the hearing to avoid bad blood. Baltimore Ravens’ Terrell Suggs compromised on salary when he was franchised tagged and St. Louis Rams Jared Cook was allowed to walk away from the Tennessee Titans when he threatened to take the case to the union.
Graham’s case starts in less than a week, but he will very likely be a New Orleans Saint for at least one more year. The question is how much money will Graham demand before becoming a free agent in 2015.
[ESPN]
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