No. While somewhat similar the Suggs case was not the same. Suggs was not franchised. His grievance was over his negotiated salary and an arbiter agreed that he was basically a DE and should be paid as one.

The Graham case was based upon franchise position designation. It was a different animal entirely. The NFLPA was arguing that he was basically a WR and should have been designated as one with the franchise tag. It was all about tag designation, not negotiated salary based. This truly was new ground.

I pointed that very tweet out earlier in my response. And I agree with Graham that Hicks should have felt blessed getting away from that mess created by Rob Ryan. Yet, if that's the worst that Graham did (and it is) then it is pretty trivial.

We can argue all that 'til we're purple. If you think Jimmy was merely a pawn and not actively involved then we just have to agree to disagree.

Back in March (early on in the legal battle), Saints quarterback Drew Brees offered Graham advice that remains relevant in light of the latest development: "I just told him be patient," Brees said. "Don't get frustrated. Don't take it personally. It's part of the deal and it's hard and ... you just want it to be over. You want certainty. That's the hardest part."

You’re assuming it was a dig on Rob Ryan (not even his coach). I assume it was a dig on the team that dealt him without warning. And dealt him to a team who’s players talked major pregame trash on the field to him and subsequently shut him down.

Yeah. That tweet was a jab at Payton. Hence the delete.

Oh, I have no doubt Graham was simply a pawn in the franchise designation ploy by the NFLPA. While Graham never provided any input during the proceedings, his good friend Brees implied that Graham was not an enthused participant ...







All the facts point to the NFLPA and their bank of lawyers driving the grievance action. Graham had, in fact, never changed his Twitter description stating that he was an "NFL Tight End".

All he had to do was sign. Nobody stopped him. Not his agent. Not the NFLPA. Like I said earlier, otherwise somebody goes to jail. Believe it or don’t, but Jimmy knew exactly what he was doing. To believe your angle would be to believe he was some sort of victim, and, as I said, we can agree to disagree.

No, the delete was probably the conscience of a young man who most likely felt his message would be misconstrued by persons always looking for the worst in people.

And what does Ryan not being Graham's coach have to do with anything? Hicks was a square peg in a round hole in Ryan's crappy defensive scheme. Graham could see that as easily as anyone.