NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

The NFLPA has filed a grievance against the New Orleans Saints on behalf of Jimmy Graham, according to a source.

The grievance will likely contend that Graham, who was given the non-exclusive franchise tag as a tight end, should have been tagged instead as a wide receiver.

The $12.3 million franchise tag price for a wide receiver is significantly higher than the $7.035 million issued to a tagged tight end.

When asked about Graham's contract status on Wednesday, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said there is no update, a response he has maintained all offseason.

And Saints coach Sean Payton didn't seem too worried when asked about the absence of Graham from offseason workouts.

"I think it's pretty normal," Payton said of Graham's status Wednesday before the Zurich Classic of New Orleans' Pro-Am. "Everything the first week was pretty much as expected."

The Saints have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with Graham's camp, or he will either be forced to sit out the season or play under a one-year contract. An earlier report that Graham had until April 22 to file a grievance proved to be incorrect.

Saints had a similar fight two years ago quarterback Drew Brees missed workouts, OTAs and minicamp. Brees and the Saints eventually agreed to a deal in mid-July and the quarterback returned in time for the start of training camp.

"Look, I think all of us understand and I think it's the hardest thing to understand from the outside. It is a business," said right tackle Zach Strief. "Neither side is right, neither side is wrong. It just is what it is. I think that everyone knows that the first game of the season, Jimmy will be there and be ready to go. That's all you really want at the end of the day. You forget all of a sudden that he wasn't there for OTAs and all of those other things.

Graham has not spoken publicly about the issue since February, when he said he was 'just standing.' He and agent Jimmy Sexton have been silent on the matter for months, despite reports Sexton was going to file a grievance immediately after Graham was tagged.

"I take everyday one day at a time," he said. "I'm just going to wait and see what happens because that's where it's at."

The Saints currently have $3,450,141.00 in salary cap room to work with, according to the NFLPA.

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NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says | NOLA.com

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

the Saints didn't call him a TE, the league did

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

This is correct. The Saints simply tagged him and the league office designated it as a TE tag. The grievance would actually be against the league, not the Saints, although the Saints have an obvious reason to support the league's designation.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

We all expected it would happen sooner than it did, Its not like the team isn't prepared for it even though I think the league will designate him as a TE anyway

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

A player receiving in the Slot is not necessarily a WR. Its pure BS, he was a All Pro TE, Pro Bowl TE and wants changed for more money. You can argue he deserves more than the TE tag but thats football

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Regardless of how we feel about Graham or not, this is an important test case for other players in the future, and also has implications for future tags at other positions (O linemen, hybrid DB/linebackers, etc etc), so that's why the NFLPA has become involved rather than Graham's agent per se.

Let it play out, and then we will see where it goes from there. NOTHING was ever going to happen until this is settled, one way or the other, and everyone should have known that.

I actually don't think it will take very long to sort this out. It's pretty straightforward -- both sides go before the arbitrator and state their case. He goes away for a bit, then comes back with a decision. We move on.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Nice timing ***hole.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

I'm ready for him to go. He wants mega money and that's it. He cannot block worth a squat and got contained most of last season after defenses figured out how getting rough with him pushes him out of the play. His little childish rants on twitter did nothing for me either. Loomis was right to tag him and let him stew because he wants to be the highest paid wide receiver in the league.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Thing is letting go leaves a hole with little in the way of compensation. Id be happy if a team offers him a contract and we dont match it. Id be happy with one first round pick even. But do I trust the NFL committee eho dispense compensatory picks not to screw us when we sign a FA?
Hell No

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

can we expect a trade on draft day? of course all set by the NFL for the NFL for a sweepstakes rating sweep for the NFL Draft.

lmao sorry there i go again :rolleyes:

as the TE turns. oh the drama but sorry to say we have a firm grip on the this :p
he will either be forced to sit out the season or play under a one-year contract.

will some one step up to the plate please.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

We cant trade him though can we. He hasn't signed a tag so isn't under contract

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

trust me if there is a team out there willing to give him the money he wants and make it worth our while a deal would get done. they would find a way. those slim ball agents know better than anyone how to slither around and through the smallest loop holes.

plus i did say i was sorry for bringing up this topic yet yet again.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Ohhh the irony..

Employer and employee want to get to work. Big Union battles Big Corporation on their behalf to decide how the job description should read.

Interesting that Jimmy, the Saints, and Sexton are somewhat just an audience as DeMaurice Smith tries to get reelected.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

I hope so
Say we agreed to take a first of team X in a trade if he signed the tag could he sign tag, move and sign a new deal straight away. I know we are on the hook for the Tag money but it would be better to take the hit and get a pick than wait for a compensatory pick. I still think a long term deal is done by july

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Wouldn't it be interesting if we Draft Ebron or Amaro? Then rescind the FT on Saturday.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Wouldn't mind Ebron but we will get nothing but a 3rd rounder at best next year doing that.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

? You mean compensatory pick... I'm not concerned with that.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Remember back in the day when 7 mill/yr. was alot of money...

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

:popcorn:

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

I know y'all will take me to the wood shed but I hope we trade him. Lets face it, JG is JG because of Drew. Sure, he is a great TE but what would he be in Oakland or Jax? Preform a sign and trade and move on. Secure the future in the draft and save some money. JG will want 10 mil a year and I just do not see him being worth it. Drew can make do with what TE's the team already has and they can draft one in a very deep TE draft. Take 3picks in this draft and draft Ebron.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Exactly. This is all on the NFLPA and the league. Those of you calling for Graham's head are way off base. Graham is going to get basically the same compensation regardless of the outcome because he won't be playing under a franchise tag. I'll guarantee you he simply wants to play, but this whole thing was inevitable, much as was Brees' situation where the NFLPA tested the multiple tag under different franchises. The outcome of the arbitration will give either Graham's agent or Loomis a extra it of leverage, but a deal was going to be made regardless.

Do not take any of this personally. It is not that big of a deal.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

No one player is more important than the team. Not Drew Brees, not Jimmy Graham. Still, I'd stand firm on 2 first rounders for Jimmy and not one penny less. As for Jimmy, he can play for the tag and play for it again next year too I believe or he can sit until the Saints trade him. Personally, I see this huge dude that can't block, can't stand up to Safties or CB's and gets taken out of important game way too easily. It's one thing to dominate the lesser teams, but if you're all that, you should dominate the good teams too. Sorry, but to me Jimmy isn't worth WR money and is barely worth the top TE money until I see him dominate anyone he plays and he should because of his measurables. If we didn't have to tag him, I'd offer him 5-6 mil a year till he proved himself.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Shouldn't this title solve the situation?

@TheJimmyGraham

New Orleans Saints Tight End

https://twitter.com/TheJimmyGraham

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

The PA is probably propping Jimmy up so they can get the designations changed. They see him as the ideal poster boy for hybrid positions.

Also, let's not forget the pages and pages of threads condemning Brees when he went thru his negotiations

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Tight end. done......

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

We all knew this was a possibility. Take a deep breath. Go to your happy place and relax. :razz:

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Well said

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Why didn't Vrabel think of this?

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

That's the business of Football, but he's a TE plain and simple. A very good TE but I really don't think it matters.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Pat Kerwin - "show me where it says a Tight End has to line up next to a Tackle".

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

We won a superbowl without graham, we can do it again

Let him play this year under the tag unless a team puts an offer in for him, then let him walk

team first is what matters, graham should be humble he's even in the NFL considering what happened in his childhood

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Once again, this has nothing to do with Graham's wishes. This is a power struggle between the NFL and the PA. We sure as hell don't want him to play under either the TE or WR tag because a long term deal would limit the short term cap hit tremendously. We can sign him to a 5 year deal for $55M and limit his first year cap hit to as little as $4.5M. That would free up an additional $3M on this year's cap.

As for Graham being humble ... what have you heard out of him personally in the past three months?

(cricket sounds)

That's right. The kid is the same humble appreciative kid we signed. Give him a break and direct any vitriol you have toward the NFL establishment.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

As long as you're including players, player agents as well as owners and GM's in that statement I agree.

If you're ignorantly implying "pay the man you greedy NFL bastaads!" then I disagree wholeheartedly.

But I've seen enough of your posts to assume you're including everyone in your "NFL establishment" comment.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Mayock has us picking this dude, maybe as a consequence of Grambeaux?

Kelvin Benjamin Stats, News, Videos, Pictures, Bio - Florida State Seminoles - ESPN

NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy...
 

I'm game. So is Lee. Trust me.

I actually like Benjamin better than Evans. He'd be a great pick.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

This crap is getting old. I just dont see how we can afford him.

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

Who exactly is this directed towards? As already stated the TE designation was specified by the league. The grievance was filed by the players' association.

While it would be easy to direct blame towards JG or his agent, they didn't do this (at least not directly).

So again just wondering who's the ***hole in all this?

SFIAH

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

It would be whomever decided to drop this the day before the draft.

Take your pick, Jimmy Graham, Jimmy Sexton, the NFLPA...

It could also be more than just one ***hole.

How's this...

Nice timing ***hole (or ***holes that are responsible for dropping this turd the day before the NFL draft)

Better?

Re: NFLPA files grievance against New Orleans Saints on behalf of tight end Jimmy Graham, source says
 

There are two:
1st. DeMaurice Smith - The executive director of the NFLPA who is also up for election next season.

2nd. (The fine print) "on behalf of Jimmy Graham" On behalf off is not indirectly involved, it is directly the cause.

As far as the timing, its fairly irrelevant. Its distracting to the fans but has zero bearing on our draft or what the outcome will end up being.


It is actually quite phuckin comical to say the least. This is a system arbitration over a system that was designed and agreed to by the two parties that are in disagreement. The CBA is an agreement between the NFLPA and the League and is the document that governs all this mess.