Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

After being accused — ridiculously — of possibly hurting Jimmy Graham’s chances to make more money, Saints quarterback Drew Brees appeared on the “Dan Patrick Show” on Friday, stood on the host’s desk, and professed his hope that New Orleans re-signs his star teammate.

“I want Jimmy back!” Brees shouted atop the desk of Patrick, whose show airs on DirecTV’s Audience Network. “I want Jimmy Graham back!”

It was the absurd end to an absurd attempt by some national media members to stir up a controversy around the Saints’ most compelling off-season storyline: retaining Graham.

Brees on Wednesday repeated to NBC Sports Radio’s Erik Kuselias something that Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis had told New Orleans media at the Senior Bowl on Jan. 21: As far the team is concerned, Graham is not a wide receiver, “he is a tight end,” the quarterback said.

That’s the Saints’ stance even if Graham spends the majority of his time on the gridiron lined up as a wideout and a minority of it as an in-line tight end.




Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham: opinion | Black and Gold

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Does anyone really expect Jimmy not to be on the team next season?

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

The idiots in the media seem to think he's gone

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

I'm sorry but this whole TE vs WR thing is getting annoying. Let's hurry up and get him signed so this is over with.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

We won a Super Bowl without Jimmy Graham and haven't been near it since.

Jus' sayin'…

Recurring theme, I know…

Alaska

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

If I were offered up two #1 picks for him he would be gone.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

You'd be gone too...

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

It may be annoying but it's a crucial point. The franchise tag is the average salary for the top 5 players at the position. For WR that will be close to $11 million, while for TE the number is closer to $6 million.

There are two sides of the coin. The Saints want the best value. Jimmy wants the most money. Which position Jimmy gets designated to will determine his overall value.

I believe that in the end he'll be the highest paid TE in NFL history. But he won't get receiver money.

And trust this is not going to happen quickly. No point in hoping or praying for it. The Saints will slap Jimmy with the exclusive franchise tag. Jimmy will sign the tender (in June). They'll work it out by training camp. Jimmy will get a chance to rest that sore foot this offseason.

He's not going anywhere. I don't think any franchise is foolish enough to give up 2 #1 draft picks for the chance to negotiate with Jimmy for WR money.

But it's going to be exactly the same as Brees a couple of years ago. All the fanbase wanted was for the contract to be done quickly. It wasn't.

Honestly nor should it be. This is likely Jimmy's singularly huge contract. It's both his right and frankly obligation to maximize his value. By the same token the Saints have to think about an entire organization. So maximizing the value is crucial.

Both will compromise... eventually. But it's not going to be a quick process. Because if it were quick, then someone is getting screwed in the deal. The eventual deal needs to balance the needs of the player with the needs of the team.

All anyone needs to do is track 3 dates:

1) Franchise tender deadline (early March)
2) Tender signing deadline (mid June)
3) Training camp (late July)

You'll see some movement around those three dates, and nothing otherwise.

So pack a lunch, cause it's going to be a long haul.

SFIAH

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Unfortunately, that's their job. Find controversy even when the reality of the situation says otherwise.

Who was the last exclusively tagged franchise player that either didn't play for the team that franchised them or actually was ransomed by another team?

SFIAH

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

The team does not have that option. Once Jimmy is offered $x from another team and the offer sheet is signed, if the Saints do not match, the Saints are awarded two first round draft picks from that team.

There is a caveat thought... and I am not sure people are taking that into consideration. The two first round draft picks have to be the offering teams "original picks". Since the stipulation is that the picks have to be original picks, the Saints do NOT get two first round draft picks in that season or any season.

So in all likelihood the Saints would get a 2014 FRDP and a 2015 FRDP.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Still worth it, IMO. Brees could make another tight end look as good as he did Graham.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

If someone would give me a #1 this year and a #2 next, I would let Graham walk. I love his ability as a weapon. But, he can't block at all, can get shutdown and disappear against a physical defender, has had some nagging injuries, and his cap figure will be too high for the team. Drew would make the TE from Washington look just as good as Graham if not better. Seferian-Jenkins can block. Plus, he would be much cheaper for 3+ years.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

People forget we had the number 1 offense for years without Graham.

Here is what I see happening. Saints tag Graham with the 2 first rounder exclusive tag. However, we tag him as a TE and some team with cap room offers him WR money that we can't match and Graham walks. We get 2 first round picks and still have the number 1 offense in 2014.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

I think my point is still valid. By making the offer, another franchise knows going in that the price will be 2 FRDPs. I just don't think that anyone is willing to pay that high a price for Graham.

Another observation is that virtually all of the really great tight ends in the league are coupled with outstanding QBs (Graham/Brees, Gronk/Brady, Gates/Rivers, and even to some degree Gonzales/Ryan). I'm not sure that Julius Thomas has enough experience to be considered in this group and that the only exception seems to be Jordan Cameron in Cleveland. An interesting question is whether or not a team without a top flight QB would take a flyer on Graham. A second question is if Graham would be close to as productive under a QB not named Brees.

SFIAH

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Nope... Point is not valid, the scenario has to play out. If Team x offers him 6.9m a year which is above the tag but below what he expects, the Saints would match it and keep him.

For a team like Atlanta that would love nothing more than to replace Gonzo and not have to rewrite their game plan, Jimmy Graham would be worth 2 FRDPs. Any team that gives Matt Ryan 104m and Roddy White 42m would easily give up 2 FRDPs.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Two first round picks is tempting........we could go young and cheap. Even though it sounds awfully good I would be paying him top tight end money and keeping him at home.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

I wouldn't mind letting him walk for two first-round picks, IF and only IF he went to an AFC team.

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Graham's a wide receiver as much as Bryce is a TE when he reports in as an eligible receiver. SMH. These are the damn agents trying find an angle to make more $ for themselves

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Graham's a wide receiver as much as Bryce is a TE when he reports in as an eligible receiver. SMH. These are the damn agents trying find an angle to make more $ for themselves

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Agreed based on one principle. Jimmy Graham is a known product, and 45% odds on a draft bust is not a gamble i would care to take.

I wouldn't part with Jimmy graham for Patrick Robinson, Robert Meachem, Malcolm Jenkins, and Mark Ingram... 4 of this regimes last 8 first round draft picks.:bng:

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

Would you let him go for two 1st round picks if we could get Vernon Davis or Dallas Clark?

Re: Brees theatrics are an absurd but fitting end to non-controversy involving Jimmy Graham
 

It's not "who you get". That is a gamble that you do not know the payout on for a couple of years, and our track record is 50%. So at best you get 1...... Our track record for drafting 1st round WRs is what? ;)

Now...... Your wanting to get rid of Jimmy due to cost and pick up a Vernon Davis that will cost you more in 3 years.

So we go through all of that exercise to be back to where we are in 3 years. It's not worth the energy.