Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history

Halo · 10-18-2013, 11:29 AM

Larry Holder - I've confirmed the Saints sent their latest contract offer to Graham's camp two months ago, before he opened the season with monstrous numbers. Notice the use of "latest contract offer." The team has indeed been actively pursing a new deal for their best offensive weapon, but it takes two parties for negotiations to commence.

For now, Graham is content on playing under the terms of the final year of his rookie contract, which will pay him $1.323 million this season.

I wasn't made privy to the new terms discussed at the bargaining table, but my guess is the offer exceeded the contract signed by New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski two years ago, which was a six-year deal reportedly maxing out at $54 million.

Graham's contract situation is reminiscent of the way talks began between the Saints and Drew Brees nearly two years ago before Brees ultimately received his lucrative extension.

Unless something drastically changes, I would anticipate Graham's contract negotiations to play out in the same fashion as Brees and Manning. Why? Graham's agent is Jimmy Sexton, who works for the same firm as Condon -- Creative Artists Agency.

Read the full article here

jnormand · 10-18-2013, 12:19 PM

I'm not looking forward to the "Graham hold out media frenzy" next season. Ick.

dueceloose · 10-18-2013, 12:24 PM

We still dnt know if he's hurt bad or not.

exile · 10-18-2013, 12:58 PM

Get ready for a bloodied and bitter offseason. He will want to get WR pay and the Saints can't afford that. So we will trade him for a first round pick and then pick the best RB on the board.

Halo · 10-18-2013, 01:17 PM

Sure, another $54 million a year for Graham.
It's going to get so bad with the cap and salaries that we're going to have to start asking players on the offense to play both sides of the ball, or just play defense with 10 players.

I can see Graham getting between $55 mill (Gronk pay) and $70 mill over 5 years. I also think wide receivers are overpaid. Some making $120 mill on 5 year deals. Grahams agent is Sexton, a man who I think should be banned from the NFL. So Graham will definitely be looking for $120 plus pay range and that's gonna hurt. Hate to say it but we have one gigantic payout on staff and don't know how we can afford other huge payouts and manage the team and salary cap.

RaginCajun83 · 10-18-2013, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Halo

Sure, another $54 million a year for Graham.
It's going to get so bad with the cap and salaries that we're going to have to start asking players on the offense to play both sides of the ball, or just play defense with 10 players.

I can see Graham getting between $55 mill (Gronk pay) and $70 mill over 5 years. I also think wide receivers are overpaid. Some making $120 mill on 5 year deals. Grahams agent is Sexton, a man who I think should be banned from the NFL. So Graham will definitely be looking for $120 plus pay range and that's gonna hurt. Hate to say it but we have one gigantic payout on staff and don't know how we can afford other huge payouts and manage the team and salary cap.

Cut Will Smith, Vilma and Harper after this season and there is plenty of cash to go around to resign Graham

|Mitch| · 10-18-2013, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by RaginCajun83

Cut Will Smith, Vilma and Harper after this season and there is plenty of cash to go around to resign Graham

I'd rather Harper restructure for a lesser cap hit, I was growing fond of the 3 safety look Ryan was fielding before Romans injury...

SmashMouth · 10-18-2013, 01:32 PM

Surely there are other unemployed basketball players we can convert ... At some point you have to say WTF.... it's just too much $. Would he have been worth it last game against the Patriots?

Budsdrinker · 10-18-2013, 02:08 PM

Graham is not a WR. If he was he would have been able to get open against Talib. He will however get a contract for 5 years between $45-50 million total with quite a bit of it up front as signing bonus to help the cap.

Mardigras9 · 10-18-2013, 03:45 PM

Graham is just the latest in the new tight end molds. He is a huge asset, no doubt, but not like trying to retain Brees. They can find another to save on that kind of expense at that position.

10-18-2013, 11:29 AM	#1
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,860 Blog Entries: 45	Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Larry Holder - I've confirmed the Saints sent their latest contract offer to Graham's camp two months ago, before he opened the season with monstrous numbers. Notice the use of "latest contract offer." The team has indeed been actively pursing a new deal for their best offensive weapon, but it takes two parties for negotiations to commence. For now, Graham is content on playing under the terms of the final year of his rookie contract, which will pay him $1.323 million this season. I wasn't made privy to the new terms discussed at the bargaining table, but my guess is the offer exceeded the contract signed by New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski two years ago, which was a six-year deal reportedly maxing out at $54 million. Graham's contract situation is reminiscent of the way talks began between the Saints and Drew Brees nearly two years ago before Brees ultimately received his lucrative extension. Unless something drastically changes, I would anticipate Graham's contract negotiations to play out in the same fashion as Brees and Manning. Why? Graham's agent is Jimmy Sexton, who works for the same firm as Condon -- Creative Artists Agency. Read the full article here Attached Thumbnails
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10-18-2013, 12:19 PM	#2
jnormand 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Free State of Idaho Posts: 5,740	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history I'm not looking forward to the "Graham hold out media frenzy" next season. Ick. Halo and RockyMountainSaint like this.

10-18-2013, 12:24 PM	#3
dueceloose 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 957	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history We still dnt know if he's hurt bad or not.
dueceloose 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 957

10-18-2013, 12:58 PM	#4
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Get ready for a bloodied and bitter offseason. He will want to get WR pay and the Saints can't afford that. So we will trade him for a first round pick and then pick the best RB on the board. Halo likes this.
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608

10-18-2013, 01:17 PM	#5
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,860 Blog Entries: 45	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Sure, another $54 million a year for Graham. It's going to get so bad with the cap and salaries that we're going to have to start asking players on the offense to play both sides of the ball, or just play defense with 10 players. I can see Graham getting between $55 mill (Gronk pay) and $70 mill over 5 years. I also think wide receivers are overpaid. Some making $120 mill on 5 year deals. Grahams agent is Sexton, a man who I think should be banned from the NFL. So Graham will definitely be looking for $120 plus pay range and that's gonna hurt. Hate to say it but we have one gigantic payout on staff and don't know how we can afford other huge payouts and manage the team and salary cap. RockyMountainSaint likes this.
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10-18-2013, 05:12 PM	#6
RaginCajun83 Hou Saints Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 5,050	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Originally Posted by Halo Sure, another $54 million a year for Graham. It's going to get so bad with the cap and salaries that we're going to have to start asking players on the offense to play both sides of the ball, or just play defense with 10 players. I can see Graham getting between $55 mill (Gronk pay) and $70 mill over 5 years. I also think wide receivers are overpaid. Some making $120 mill on 5 year deals. Grahams agent is Sexton, a man who I think should be banned from the NFL. So Graham will definitely be looking for $120 plus pay range and that's gonna hurt. Hate to say it but we have one gigantic payout on staff and don't know how we can afford other huge payouts and manage the team and salary cap. Cut Will Smith, Vilma and Harper after this season and there is plenty of cash to go around to resign Graham

10-18-2013, 05:27 PM	#7
\|Mitch\| 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alexandria, La Posts: 11,303	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Originally Posted by RaginCajun83 Cut Will Smith, Vilma and Harper after this season and there is plenty of cash to go around to resign Graham I'd rather Harper restructure for a lesser cap hit, I was growing fond of the 3 safety look Ryan was fielding before Romans injury... Halo and WHODATINCA like this.

10-18-2013, 01:32 PM	#8
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,511 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Surely there are other unemployed basketball players we can convert ... At some point you have to say WTF.... it's just too much $. Would he have been worth it last game against the Patriots? Mardigras9 likes this.

10-18-2013, 02:08 PM	#9
Budsdrinker A Cajun Transforming TX Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 2,787	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Graham is not a WR. If he was he would have been able to get open against Talib. He will however get a contract for 5 years between $45-50 million total with quite a bit of it up front as signing bonus to help the cap.

10-18-2013, 03:45 PM	#10
Mardigras9 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Land Mass between LA and AL Posts: 4,375	Re: Graham will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history Graham is just the latest in the new tight end molds. He is a huge asset, no doubt, but not like trying to retain Brees. They can find another to save on that kind of expense at that position.

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