Well I wasn't there so I can never know, but I know that I simply do not believe that Jimmy was simply an unwilling pawn in his own contract negotiation. The fact that Jimmy never made any statement was because his agent told him to sit down and shut up and that is what he did. He didn't have to. He could have stopped that madness at any time - he was holding out for as much money as he could get. To that end I don't necessarily blame the man, but the tactics that were used were unsightly and cost him his position on our team. He was not beholden to any other person or group of people other than by choice.

If anything else were true somebody would have gone to jail.

I don't think you understand the power that the NFLPA holds over its membership. Any tactics that were used were solely to the discretion of the PA's lawyers. Graham was indeed a pawn just as any other union member in the same predicament. None of it was illegal, but any player in his position would have felt highly obliged to consent to the PA's "wishes".

And that whole contract affair did not affect his position upon the team. The only reason why Graham was traded was that it was a stipulation by Seattle that was required for the Saints to get Max Unger and a 1st round pick. The Saints had originally offered up Kenny Stills instead, but the Seahawks demanded Graham as part of the package or no deal would be made. That's why it was such a surprise to both Graham and Brees when the deal was announced.

Graham NEVER said anything of the sort. Use your Google tool and you'll find out that what you stated is completely false.

I've tried to factor this into my own opinion, and as I said earlier we must all recognize this is a business, but Jimmy's arm wasn't twisted. He is the captain of his own ship. He could have shut all that down the minute he wanted to by telling his agent to shut up and sit down. I'm not buying it, particularly after his parting shots against the organization, as if he had no role in his departure. Had he (via his agent) been reasonable he'd have been a Saints for life.

I'm over it, but Jimmy wasn't "merely pawn, in game of life". Agents are like lawyers. They must be managed, otherwise they'll run up your bill and screw up your life.

Only there is precedent of compromise ahead of Jimmy's drama. Terell Suggs tried to get paid as a DE and was also shot down. In 2008.

Jimmy wasn't breaking new ground. Neither was the NFLPA.

Jimmy and his agent and possibly the NFLPA wanted to get as much as they could. I don't argue that. The NFLPA wants to push salaries as do agents...as do players.

I'm sorry we agree to disagree. Jimmy was complicit.

He kinda did:

The Seahawks tight end sent new Patriots defensive lineman Akiem Hicks a message on Twitter congratulating him on his trade out of New Orleans.
“feel blessed u got out of there,” Graham wrote to Hicks.

Graham quickly deleted the message, but it was screen-captured by Christopher Dabe of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, proving yet again that the Internet is forever.

Trust me I want Graham back but all these reports and rumors are starting to make me think it's not going to happen, Payton gives the media ZERO info so where they getting all this "speculation" from?