Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

I think he takes one for the team. Brees and probably restructure to help him get where he wants to be. I just dont see Jimmy holding out. Jimmy is one of those players that seems like he genuinly loves the game and is in it for the passion as much as the pay.

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

I want to be quoted on the following.

Jimmy Graham will not hold out. Jimmy Graham will accept a contract he deserves. There will be no concern about what his true position is but he will absolutely become the best paid 'Tight End' in the game.

Outside of that quote, I am as bored about this talk as everyone else is. Can we put something in place that says if anyone makes any commentary about Jimmy Graham's contract from now until when we win the Superbowl, they have to drink the water at the side of Bourbon Street. From source.

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

I can see Vilma, Moore and Harper gone for next year. We have players stepping up this year. As far as Graham is concerned, he needs to sign a 3 year contract 12-14 million per year, because Drew will be probably gone then and being here gives him the best chance for a Superbowl. Then if he is like Gonzales in ATL, he will have a very long career and make lots of money.

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

To heck with Jimmy. I've been trying to get them to sign me with rookie pool dollars to no avail. I think I need a new agent, or maybe a team of agents. Any of y'all interested in the job?

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

Let's get him a Super Bowl ring then talk about it. How about that.

THEN, he eclipses Tony Gonzalez.

Retires a Saint.

Gets a statue in Champions' Square.

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself here...

Alaska

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

This is what we said about Drew...

Alaska

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

I'll take that job saintfan. Just send me 25% of your earnings from this day forward, and I'll take care of the rest. http://www.ar15armory.com/forums/pub...ault/thumb.gif

As far as Jimmy Graham goes, he keeps taking shots like he took in the Tampa Bay game, he ain't gonna last three years.

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

I will post a copy of my feeling on paying Jimmy before the season started from another forum I frequent:

"Harper, Smith, Vilma and most likely Ingram will all be off the books and its the 3rd yr of Brees' 100Mil contract.....he's gone restructure to get most of his base salary up front so he can keep Jimmy (if you think Brees finna let Jimmy go you crazy, he's not gone make that mistake like he did with Carl Nicks). So its actually smarter for Loomis to wait till the off season to do Jimmy's contract.

Go to this site and look at everyone I just listed. The important numbers is the Dead Money in 2013 vs 2014.

New Orleans Saints Player Contracts, Salaries, & Transactions


The Dead Money is what's important..... Everybody I listed had high Dead Money numbers.

Smith - $ 7,855,902
Brees - $ 29,850,000
Harper - $6,510,000
Ingram - $2,996,250
Vilma - $2,732,500

Here is the money you take off the books if you wait until the offseason to cut them.

Ingram - $2,359,875
Harper - $2,180,000
Smith - $10,400,000
Vilma - UFA in 2014

Brees has no dead money for the rest of his contract. His cap hit in 2014 is $18,400,000. If Loomis can get him to take most of that as a signing bonus he'll have enough to at least pay him what he would be guaranteed with a new contract.

Once you start look at how most of these contracts are structured you'll see Loomis set it up so these older guys from the SB team could get the money in 2013 and he'll be able to cut them to bring in and pay these younger guys."

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

"hybrid tight end"?

His source is either an agent or someone in the Players Association...

Re: What happens if the Saints decide to franchise Jimmy Graham?
 

For a minute there I thought you were my soon-to-be-ex.