WhoDat!656

As the Saints and tight end Jimmy Graham continue to not have a long-term deal in place, the question becomes when the next real deadline applies for either side.

The next real deadline applies on or about April 22, when Graham must file a grievance regarding his designation as a tight end for franchise tag purposes.

Per a league source, the current expectation is that the Saints and Graham will finalize a long-term contract before Graham pulls the pin on a grievance grenade.

Once Graham files a grievance, the process will take on a life of its own, with more than $5 million turning on whether Graham lined up more as a receiver or a tight end for franchise tag purposes. At that point, Graham has nothing to lose by letting it ride — especially once the process becomes adversarial in an industry where the bright line of winning and losing looms over everything else.

Graham can make a strong case for consideration as a receiver for tag purposes. The Saints can make a compelling case, too, but they surely have no desire to draw battle lines with one of their best players. That’s why it makes plenty of sense to resolve the situation before it can take a potentially ugly turn.

Graham deal likely before April 22 grievance deadline | ProFootballTalk

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

hagan714

this is better than AS THE WORLD TURNS baby.

all the drama suspense and empty promises of a bar room pick up just before closing time

as with any deal when the time comes later down the road

You pray to god that on that day in the morning your not screaming

put the makeup back on!

You get B-slapped and out the door goes your wallet

Audiotom

Graham should follow Strief's example and be reasonable. Like a little more than te designation

I lost some respect for Brees when he held out and went big on the money grab at the expense of the team. It doesn't give with his faith. All the commercial money alone should be several lifetimes wages.

TheOak

Brees didn't hold out for the contract, he held out for the Franchise Tag clarification.

I cant fault a man for living up to his duty as a member of the NFLPA executive committee and the player rep for the Saints, making sure that the QBs after him had a clear path on FT comp; and I certainly can not fault a man for doing everything he can to ensure that his family is taken care of. Drew Brees's family is not just him, its his children, future Grandchildren etc...

What I would question is any person that would put his company before his family and turn down an opportunity to set his family up for generations.

AsylumGuido

Absolutely. I couldn't have said it better.

ScottF

nothing to see here...said and said again: Loomis holds the cards

JG won't be designated a WR.
If somehow he is, is he ready to give up his trips to the pro bowl as a starter, and also send his 2013 All-Pro TE plaque to Vernon Davis?

Jack Vegas

This is all manufactured drama from PFT. They are the ones who brought up the whole thing about him possibly filing a grievance months ago and they keep pushing and pushing it, even though (at least to my knowledge) Graham never said he intended to do anything of the sort.

You're supposed to report the news, not try to create it.

SaintsBro

I need this done before Jazz Fest, LOL. I don't want to be out there on the Fairgrounds having to keep checking my phone for news.

SmashMouth

Since he's not allowed to dunk anymore, will he want even more $?

rezburna

I'd like to see him signed before the draft. I'm holding out hope he irons out a couple of his flaws this year. Particularly just his aggression.