Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar

RockyMountainSaint · 06-04-2013, 06:39 PM

Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar | ProFootballTalk
When a high-profile player enters the last year of his contract, it’s usually a big deal.

“Usually” is the operative term because, when it comes to Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, no one seems to notice that one of the best young players in the NFL is careening toward free agency, with no sign that the Saints can or will give him a new deal.

A third-round pick in 2010, Graham has seen New England 2010 second-rounder Rob Gronkowski and New England 2010 fourth-rounder Aaron Hernandez get long-term deal after the 2011 season. You know, the same season in which Graham ping-ponged with Gronk for the single-season tight end receiving yardage record.

To his credit, Graham doesn’t complain about the lack of a new contract. His camp doesn’t piss and/or moan privately to the press about the team’s failure to shift the injury risk (see Gronkowski and Hernandez) away from a player who arguably has earned that privilege.

As a result, hardly anyone realizes Graham is in a contract year. On Tuesday, he spoke to the media in connection with the team’s mandatory minicamp, and the transcript shows not a single question about his contract. There’s also not a single answer alluding to his desire to get paid.

“Everything is going well,” Graham said. “I’ve been in rehab and I’ve been getting stronger. Right now I’m almost 100 percent. Going into camp, I’ll be 100 percent. It just feels good. It just feels good to be healthy finally and back playing like myself. . . . Now I am healthy and just looking to the future and looking to get back in the playoffs.”

If he performs well, the Saints will find themselves in a potential predicament. A multi-million-dollar franchise-tag fight is looming on the question of whether he’s a tight end or a receiver (it surely is).

Regardless of how it’s resolved, the Saints may not have the cap room to use either level of the tag on Graham. As Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com recently pointed out, the Saints have $143.4 million in salary commitments for 2014.

Jack Vegas · 06-04-2013, 10:40 PM

Dumb "story" full of speculation and not much substance.

According to PFT, the Saints supposedly didn't have any cap room this year, they ended up signing Lewis/Watson/Butler/Coleman/S. Wallace. PFT said the same thing in 2012, right before they signed Grubbs/Bunkley/Hawthorne/Lofton. They did it again in 2011, the Saints signed Rogers/Franklin/Kreutz/Sproles.

You'll have to forgive me for not taking PFT seriously when it comes to salary cap talk. Florio was sort of in our corner with the bounty stuff, but now he's back to his same old s***-disturbing nonsense.

jeanpierre · 06-05-2013, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Posted by Mike Florio on June 4, 2013, 6:47 PM EDT

Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar | ProFootballTalk

Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar

Posted by Mike Florio on June 4, 2013, 6:47 PM EDT
Graham AP

When a high-profile player enters the last year of his contract, it’s usually a big deal...

...To his credit, Graham doesn’t complain about the lack of a new contract. His camp doesn’t piss and/or moan privately to the press about the team’s failure to shift the injury risk (see Gronkowski and Hernandez) away from a player who arguably has earned that privilege.

...If he performs well, the Saints will find themselves in a potential predicament. A multi-million-dollar franchise-tag fight is looming on the question of whether he’s a tight end or a receiver (it surely is).

Regardless of how it’s resolved, the Saints may not have the cap room to use either level of the tag on Graham...

With the cap at $123 million and only inching up, Drew Brees may need an explanation come March.

Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team.

So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux?

Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team?

Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do...

N'est-ce pas?

papz · 06-05-2013, 07:23 AM

I'm not even the least bit concerned of how we're going to find money to get Graham's deal done.

He's not going anywhere period.

TheOak · 06-05-2013, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team.

So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux?

Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team?

Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do...

N'est-ce pas?

Brady vs Brees in regards to contracts is apples to oranges.

AsylumGuido · 06-05-2013, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team.

So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux?

Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team?

Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do...

N'est-ce pas?

The "saintly" Tom Brady redid his deal because it guaranteed him $30,000,000 more in guarantees in the form of a signing bonus.

alleycat_126 · 06-07-2013, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team.

So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux?

Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team?

Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do...

N'est-ce pas?

Why does everybody talk about Brady's redo as if he did the team a favor....... Brady's wife also pulls in millions of dollars so I do believe he is in a better position for a redo than any other qb in the league.....

jeanpierre · 06-07-2013, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by alleycat_126

Why does everybody talk about Brady's redo as if he did the team a favor....... Brady's wife also pulls in millions of dollars so I do believe he is in a better position for a redo than any other qb in the league.....

Feel what your saying Cat - but millions he's made in Louisiana or really anywhere is pretty good security...

What I'm concerned about as a fan of the Saints is being sure we can sign our developed players and quality free agent players to make this team a perennial competitor...

And even the great Loomidini can't keep postponing the inevitable, we're gonna get bit in the arse at some point...

Jack Vegas · 06-08-2013, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

And even the great Loomidini can't keep postponing the inevitable, we're gonna get bit in the arse at some point...

Of course, but then you do what the Colts did, blow it all up and start from scratch. Likely going to have to do that anyway, at least a little bit, when Brees hangs it up.

NuNu318 · 06-05-2013, 08:15 AM

Loomis will find the money to sign him not worried in the lease. Graham is a key piece to this offense and SP no Brees will not be willing to let him go.

I also think Brees will restructure his deal next offseason...seems like most high paid players do that in the 3rd yr of long term contracts any way.

06-04-2013, 06:39 PM	#1
RockyMountainSaint Mmm That Smell! Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Metairie Terrace Posts: 3,073	Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar \| ProFootballTalk When a high-profile player enters the last year of his contract, it’s usually a big deal. “Usually” is the operative term because, when it comes to Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, no one seems to notice that one of the best young players in the NFL is careening toward free agency, with no sign that the Saints can or will give him a new deal. A third-round pick in 2010, Graham has seen New England 2010 second-rounder Rob Gronkowski and New England 2010 fourth-rounder Aaron Hernandez get long-term deal after the 2011 season. You know, the same season in which Graham ping-ponged with Gronk for the single-season tight end receiving yardage record. To his credit, Graham doesn’t complain about the lack of a new contract. His camp doesn’t piss and/or moan privately to the press about the team’s failure to shift the injury risk (see Gronkowski and Hernandez) away from a player who arguably has earned that privilege. As a result, hardly anyone realizes Graham is in a contract year. On Tuesday, he spoke to the media in connection with the team’s mandatory minicamp, and the transcript shows not a single question about his contract. There’s also not a single answer alluding to his desire to get paid. “Everything is going well,” Graham said. “I’ve been in rehab and I’ve been getting stronger. Right now I’m almost 100 percent. Going into camp, I’ll be 100 percent. It just feels good. It just feels good to be healthy finally and back playing like myself. . . . Now I am healthy and just looking to the future and looking to get back in the playoffs.” If he performs well, the Saints will find themselves in a potential predicament. A multi-million-dollar franchise-tag fight is looming on the question of whether he’s a tight end or a receiver (it surely is). Regardless of how it’s resolved, the Saints may not have the cap room to use either level of the tag on Graham. As Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com recently pointed out, the Saints have $143.4 million in salary commitments for 2014.
	I'm no one. Who are you?

06-04-2013, 10:40 PM	#2
Jack Vegas 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,254	Re: Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar Dumb "story" full of speculation and not much substance. According to PFT, the Saints supposedly didn't have any cap room this year, they ended up signing Lewis/Watson/Butler/Coleman/S. Wallace. PFT said the same thing in 2012, right before they signed Grubbs/Bunkley/Hawthorne/Lofton. They did it again in 2011, the Saints signed Rogers/Franklin/Kreutz/Sproles. You'll have to forgive me for not taking PFT seriously when it comes to salary cap talk. Florio was sort of in our corner with the bounty stuff, but now he's back to his same old s***-disturbing nonsense. savoyk likes this.
Jack Vegas 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,254

06-05-2013, 06:47 AM	#3
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	No Room Left For Jimmy?!? Originally Posted by Posted by Mike Florio on June 4, 2013, 6:47 PM EDT Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar \| ProFootballTalk Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar Posted by Mike Florio on June 4, 2013, 6:47 PM EDT Graham AP When a high-profile player enters the last year of his contract, it’s usually a big deal... ...To his credit, Graham doesn’t complain about the lack of a new contract. His camp doesn’t piss and/or moan privately to the press about the team’s failure to shift the injury risk (see Gronkowski and Hernandez) away from a player who arguably has earned that privilege. ...If he performs well, the Saints will find themselves in a potential predicament. A multi-million-dollar franchise-tag fight is looming on the question of whether he’s a tight end or a receiver (it surely is). Regardless of how it’s resolved, the Saints may not have the cap room to use either level of the tag on Graham... With the cap at $123 million and only inching up, Drew Brees may need an explanation come March. Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team. So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux? Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team? Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do... N'est-ce pas? RockyMountainSaint likes this.

06-05-2013, 07:23 AM	#4
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,768	Re: No Room Left For Jimmy?!? I'm not even the least bit concerned of how we're going to find money to get Graham's deal done. He's not going anywhere period. RockyMountainSaint, savoyk and kcsaints like this.

06-05-2013, 08:07 AM	#5
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,039	Re: No Room Left For Jimmy?!? Originally Posted by jeanpierre Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team. So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux? Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team? Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do... N'est-ce pas? Brady vs Brees in regards to contracts is apples to oranges.

06-05-2013, 03:10 PM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,472	Re: No Room Left For Jimmy?!? Originally Posted by jeanpierre Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team. So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux? Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team? Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do... N'est-ce pas? The "saintly" Tom Brady redid his deal because it guaranteed him $30,000,000 more in guarantees in the form of a signing bonus. TheOak and SaintsBro like this.

06-07-2013, 05:57 AM	#7
alleycat_126 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Katy, Tx a suburb of Houston Posts: 2,089	Re: No Room Left For Jimmy?!? Originally Posted by jeanpierre Now it's time for Brees to step forward and say the extra couple of million for a Tom Condon contract is not as important as winning the Championship as a team. So is Drew going to be a team player or neaux? Tom Brady did a redux on his contract for the team? Winning multiple Lombardi Trophies will yield a lifetime of revenue that a short-sighted contract will not do... N'est-ce pas? Why does everybody talk about Brady's redo as if he did the team a favor....... Brady's wife also pulls in millions of dollars so I do believe he is in a better position for a redo than any other qb in the league.....

06-07-2013, 06:58 AM	#8
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: No Room Left For Jimmy?!? Originally Posted by alleycat_126 Why does everybody talk about Brady's redo as if he did the team a favor....... Brady's wife also pulls in millions of dollars so I do believe he is in a better position for a redo than any other qb in the league..... Feel what your saying Cat - but millions he's made in Louisiana or really anywhere is pretty good security... What I'm concerned about as a fan of the Saints is being sure we can sign our developed players and quality free agent players to make this team a perennial competitor... And even the great Loomidini can't keep postponing the inevitable, we're gonna get bit in the arse at some point... Rugby Saint II likes this.

06-08-2013, 02:06 PM	#9
Jack Vegas 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,254	Re: No Room Left For Jimmy?!? Originally Posted by jeanpierre And even the great Loomidini can't keep postponing the inevitable, we're gonna get bit in the arse at some point... Of course, but then you do what the Colts did, blow it all up and start from scratch. Likely going to have to do that anyway, at least a little bit, when Brees hangs it up.
Jack Vegas 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,254

06-05-2013, 08:15 AM	#10
NuNu318 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: VA Posts: 465	Re: Graham’s contract status somehow stays under the radar Loomis will find the money to sign him not worried in the lease. Graham is a key piece to this offense and SP no Brees will not be willing to let him go. I also think Brees will restructure his deal next offseason...seems like most high paid players do that in the 3rd yr of long term contracts any way.

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