And who could begrudge Graham? He's been paid a relative pittance so far in his four-year NFL career. He's earned a total of $2.4 million, or about a third of what the Saints paid defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley the past two seasons alone.

Hometown discount? Graham has been giving the Saints one for the past three seasons. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2011, Graham has set new standards for tight end prolificacy.

His averages of 90 catches, 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past three seasons dwarf those of the league's second-best tight end, Rob Gonkowski (61; 903; 10.7), and compare favorably with top wide receivers like Dez Bryant (83; 1,181; 11) and A.J. Green (87; 1,277; 9.6)


PAY DA MAN, yeah i said it.

Exactly my thought. What do we OWE Jimmy Graham?
Yes, HE signed his rookie contract, and who would know how unbelievably great he would turn out? Well, maybe Loomis, who 'gambled' on a 3rd round pick AND had the foresight to offer a 4 year deal.

Let's say we do pay him the 12. (obviously we won't). Over the next 4 years, that would make JG's career avg salary $6.3mil. Every team in the league would pay that for his numbers.

We look at JG's agent's 'insane' demands and are appalled. Consider it back pay and it's easier to take.

Doesn't work that way, unless all the busts are also forced to give the owner back all the money they didn't earn.

Rookie contracts are for earning what the owner/GM think you'll be worth.

You 2nd/3rd/4th contract is based on what the owner/GM think you'll be worth.

The only way to make that a bit more fair is to go to one year contracts for everyone, or base each players pay on what they did the previous season. Play 1st, then get paid for how well you did.

Exactly my thought. What do we OWE Jimmy Graham?
Yes, HE signed his rookie contract, and who would know how unbelievably great he would turn out? Well, maybe Loomis, who 'gambled' on a 3rd round pick AND had the foresight to offer a 4 year deal.

Let's say we do pay him the 12. (obviously we won't). Over the next 4 years, that would make JG's career avg salary $6.3mil. Every team in the league would pay that for his numbers.

We look at JG's agent's 'insane' demands and are appalled. Consider it back pay and it's easier to take.

Consider 8-8 and 9-7 or one and done in the playoffs the residual effect of giving a TE $12 million a year.

I am not advocating paying him 12mill.
My point is everyone is saying he is crazy bc his is supposedly asking for $4mil more than he is worth, but no one had a problem when he made $4mil less than his worth