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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

ScottF

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

AsylumGuido

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.

dizzle88

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

lee909

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

SaintsBro

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.

Danno

Nice timing ***hole.

Halo

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.

lee909

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

hagan714

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

as the TE turns. oh the drama but sorry to say we have a firm grip on the this
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.