Oak, you know quite a lot about this stuff so I thought I'd ask a question to clear this jimmy graham thing up for me.

Regardless of what the league says he is - a WR/TE, what happens when the franchise tag figure comes back if a long term deal is not done?

The main reason I ask is because an article I read recently, said if a team puts an offer in for him and we don't match we get there 2015 and 2016 first round picks? Is this correct?

If it had occurred last week, we would have gotten their 2014 and 2015 1st rounders.

But now its too late to include the 2014 pick, so we'd get their 2015 and 2016 picks.

To be honest, if a team was going to make a play for him, the smart thing to do would be wait until the 2014 pick wasn't an option.

Thanks danno! so there is still a possibility that we could get some picks for graham if a team was interested.

Come on cleveland, you know you want to!

Thanks danno! so there is still a possibility that we could get some picks for graham if a team was interested.

Come on cleveland, you know you want to!

As far as I know no team has ever signed a non-exclusively franchise tagged player. Two first round picks are simply far too prohibitive for anything less than a franchise QB, which is why Loomis placed the exclusive tag on Brees.

Graham will remain a Saint and will get the long-term deal.

Oak, you know quite a lot about this stuff so I thought I'd ask a question to clear this jimmy graham thing up for me.

Regardless of what the league says he is - a WR/TE, what happens when the franchise tag figure comes back if a long term deal is not done?

The main reason I ask is because an article I read recently, said if a team puts an offer in for him and we don't match we get there 2015 and 2016 first round picks? Is this correct?

I'll tell you how I interpret this and the CBA in regards to this, there are separate and distinct items which have to be processed in order for it to make sense.


First and foremost Jimmy Graham is a Free Agent, and the non-exclusive Franchise Tag makes him a "restricted" free agent because there is a right of first refusal by the Saints. Make sense?

Ok

May 2nd was the last day a restricted free agent could sign an offer sheet with another club.

May 7th was the deadline for the Right of First Refusal for Clubs that had restricted free agents that signed offer sheets.

So.... To answer your question, the Draft picks for Jimmy ship sailed last Friday.

Now I know a few people are upset that Jimmy waited just before the draft to file the grievance.

I don't think that is the case, I believe Jimmy and his agent waited until the offer sheet period was over and then filed the grievance which just so happens to be right before the draft. The reason is that Jimmy didn't want a ruling stating his tag was worth 7m as a TE while he was negotiating with other teams. All they would have to offer is 8m to beat what he would make for his tag. He also wanted to make sure he didn't have to battle over his Tag designation with the Saints unless it was absolutely necessary.

Help any? I know it is contradictory to 90% that is out there, but I have experience in negotiating and interpreting contract T&C and that is how I see it all. It's the only scenario that makes complete sense to me from start to finish.

So, according to that interpretation there are only three distinct scenarios:



1. Graham and the Saints come to an agreement on a new deal.



2. Graham agrees to sign the Franchise Tag (be it as a WR or a TE).



3. Graham refuses to sign the Franchise Tag and is forced to sit out the full NFL year.



Graham would not be available to any other NFL franchise unless signed via new deal or tag and offered as a trade.



Correct?

4. NFLPA wins arbitration, Loomis decides 12m is too much for Graham and he rescinds the Franchise Tag making Gram a Free Agent with no restrictions. We gain 7m in cap space.