Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank has ruled that Jimmy Graham is a tight end for franchise designation purposes.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Just heard on sirius

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Just saw that. NFL.com

Well at least that's over. Let's see what's next.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Now earn that long term deal by learning how to block. Everything else is golden!

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Knew it....move on...sign your deal and get in camp

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Happy about the designation. More happy that all this foolishment is over.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

According to the article on nola.com, Graham and the NFLPA can appeal to a 3 person panel. I thought this was done with the arbitrator's decision. When is it final?

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Time for the Saints to take the next step. Offer him a backloaded 5-year-deal for about 45 or 50 million. The dude has far outproduced his rookie deal and never complained, he does need to be rewarded.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Common sense prevails

Right now lets get the long term deal done

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Don't think an appeal would overturn this ruling, common sense won out, I just see him becoming the highest paid tight end before the deadline.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Uhh hey Mickey old pal,
Is that 10 million/year offer still on the table?
Sincerely,
Jimmy Sexton

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Yeah, I see a long term deal in the works now. He now knows he could play under the franchise next year as well. Expect something real soon.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Complete ruling from Stephen Burbank on New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham being deemed a 'tight end' | NOLA.com (via http://ble.ac/teamstream-) http://teamstre.am/1lTIIRb

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

looks like our Falcons friends already are up in arms

Bad News - Talk About the Falcons - Falcons Life Forums

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

He will probably appeal. No use and going through all that and not Persue all avenues. The Appeal should be quick though.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

That's the outcome I expected. Can't blame Jimmy for trying tho. He'll get the contract that he deserves.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

By the beard of Zeus!

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

It probably is which is why they're still playing these stupid games. They would feel more pressure on their side if we just flat out said the contract is off the table and we're going to take it on a year to year basis. It'll clog up the franchise tag but from a business standpoint, makes a lot of sense on our end.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Do you have any link that a $10M deal was ever offered. I have searched far and wide and have found nothing beyond conjecture. I seriously doubt that an official offer has ever been made by either side.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

I doubt Graham will allow the NFLPA to appeal. He most likely agreed to let them try this test case, but not to carry it any further. You can tell he simply wants to get a deal done.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

It may have been a discussion on WWL with Detillier, who mentioned that figure was offered.

Could be false, could be true, I know I heard it or read it somewhere.

Probably one of those "sources say" tweets.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Larry Holder said in his blog before the season began the Saints had made an offer and were prepared to make him the NFL's highest-paid TE. It's reasonable to assume that's the $10 million range since Gronkowski is in the neighborhood of $9 million. Graham's camp didn't want to negotiate at the time, IIRC. Which is his right, but I'd say at this point it's looking like his agent has given him a lot of bad advice.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

That's all I have seen. Nothing that could be verified.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

This is from a March 2014 article by Holder:

New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham receives franchise tag as a tight end

This is the only mention I have found and it doesn't name a figure and is attributed to the ever present "league source" who could easily be full of crap.

The other highlighted sign supports what I have been saying all along in that Graham has not been the driver of this train.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

At least the PA said their intent was to get Graham a long term deal:

Jimmy Graham ruled tight end for franchise tag by arbitrator

Sign for 50 over 5 and let's move on

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

You have to add more faux years and faux money to that. It doesn't look pretty enough on paper.

We should sign him to a 1 billion dollar 10 year contract with 20 million guaranteed. Then he'll have lifetime bragging rights.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Thats all I could find for now, but I just started looking (Red by me)

Oh and another one...

And this...

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Since he was ruled a tight end I wonder if that would make teams more likely to give up the two first rounders.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Loomis just pay the man and let's get back to the super bowl

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

How can you tell?

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

It wouldn't make sense for JG to appeal and miss the deadline for the long term deal, I think most experts would agree with the ruling, it's too risky for that extra 5 mill if things don't go his way. Even if he heads out into the open market after winning and completing his franchise tag obligations is there really another team with the quarterback, headcoach, OC combo that can put him in the same successful situation? To me it just seems irrational not to get a long term deal done

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

And with the addition of Cooks and a blueprint to stop Jimmy with a big physical CB, Jimmy's numbers could drop quite a bit next season reducing his perceived value.

He may wanna jump on a deal right now instead of waiting.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Maybe, but I don't think so. Arbitration was just a pretense for higher paying deal.
He is still going to get top dollar, but we of course can match. Somebody with a lot of cap room might try a poison-pill contract, but other than Car, Atl, Sea or SF, who would risk that? Nobody else would really gain from our loss. Sea just won it all, so it's too bold for them. SF has Davis, and Atl quite frankly would never give us two #1's.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Glad to see that common sense prevailed.

Now, either they need to work out a long-term contract or settle for a tag year... just get him on the field with the rest of the offense.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

We may now just offer him the Gronk deal. We have all the leverage. We could just play him under the franchise tag for 2 more seasons if he refuses to sign for what we're offering.

Lets see what kind of deal he can get as a 30 year old TE that can't block and looks to be losing a step.

I think this ruling brings Sexton closer to our demands now.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

I see him getting more than gronk ... He will become the highest paid TE.
Burbanks arbitration report was spot on.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

yea jimmy we'll see, now get on your knees an apologize you crook.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

HE NEEDS TO PUNISH HIS GREEDY AGENT

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

Graham, who was raised by his adopted mother to always be courteous was, for the first time that I have ever heard, acting irritated and refusing to comment when approached by the press prior to the hearing. This was according to Mike Triplett. If he was truly wanting this all to be happening he should have been happy about the hearing's occurrence, no? Everything he has ever said indicates all he wants to do is be a Saint and play the game.

Re: Graham designated TE by arbitrator
 

How can you say he is losing a step? You do know he played last season on an injured foot that has since healed and STILL led the league in TD's.

Personally, I don't think the ruling will have much effect either way. They were probably very close to making a deal but were playing the game that the NFLPA and the league "requested" them play.