Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Let's hope Jimmy wants a SB more than a high salary

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

cheaper way to keep him in a cap tight year. next year drew can redo his contract with all the complication if he does it this year.

smart move in book.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Reading up on it a bit more, looks like the Saints can tag Graham up to 3 times.

My new theory is:

Tag him this year (exclusive)
Tag him next year and see how it goes
Tag him a third time (non-exclusive) and TAKE THE PICKS AND GET A QB.

I know people want to believe that Drew will be here forever, and I love Drew too....but let's remember, the dude has a SURGICALLY RECONSTRUCTED SHOULDER and has been underthrowing balls like crazy. And there's been a progression to the underthrows -- more noticeable this year than it was last year. I know we all want to believe "there's nothing wrong with Drew," that we're going to enjoy him forever, but that shoulder is a bit of a ticking time bomb. The closing of the window could be far away down the line, or it could be a lot sooner than we'd like to think. At the end of the day you have to admit that nobody knows. That's why I think paying Graham the average of the top 5 for a couple of years, is better long term for the Saints than making him the highest paid player in the history of overpaid players.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Same management company that represented Drew. We know how that worked out

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Just my opinion, ya'll are smoking the rope if you even consider trading Jimmy, a proven bad ass Pro Bowl Tight End, for to 1st round unproven players.

He is arguably the best tight end/weapon in the NFL. Everyone has a bad game, even Drew Brees, would you trade Drew for to 1st round picks.

Don't forget the contributions this guy has delivered for this team, don't have short term memory, the good way surpasses the bad as far as Jimmy goes.

This is not even a decision, do what you have to do to keep this guy on the team. He only makes us better period.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

We love Graham and all but he isn't even close to being the best weapon in the NFL. He is an ok TE and a good but not great wr.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Agreed. I've said this for two years. Drew Brees' replacement is likely already playing in the nfl.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

He's a top 2 TE with a mountain of upside. More thank Gronk - way more.

Don't fool yourself, this kid is still learning, growing and maturing.

If he sticks with Sean Payton (which he will) you'll see that development faster!

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Not sure I agree with this unless another Luck/Manning situation occurs.You dont see top end QBs hit FA too often unless there is a question mark over them.I could see a stop gap QB come in via FA to cover a couple of years but not another long term starter.
Im not surs it will be Paytons problem anyway.I can see Brees, Payton both going at the same time, though im sure he will want to leave a good core group behind.

Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Being as fair to the situation as I can, this will boil down to whether Payton/Loomis view this as a business decision or a personal decision.

Personal - Jimmy is a likable, electrifying player. He is a very hard worker that has shown he is a team player... He has unlimited potential and that is what they will value and pay for.

Business - Opinions of Jimmy are all over the place because quite frankly Jimmy is all over the place. 2011 was spectacular but since then he has been up and down. He has been the star on the tree and the ornament on the bottom backside of the tree. He has been inconsistent and should be paid as he has preformed.

If Jimmy doesn't sign the TE FT, the FO is in no hurry. They were in no hurry for Drew and he was the starting QB.