Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

What's the better contract? MT got more than Jimmy. But Jimmy couldn't/wouldn't block well.

"Can't Guard Mike" all day long for me. He has some great sideline grabs at the scrimmage at Yulman's yesterday.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Thomas.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Thomas. He's the better "Football" player. I also appreciate MT not using the NFL Players Association to leverage a raise.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

MT the better contract. The special thing about Jimmy was stealing him in the draft and coaching him up considering how raw he was.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Or the NFLPA using Graham to challenge a definition within the franchise tag policy.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Aren't receivers expected to block too? :confused:

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

I'm confused? You reference Jimmy and blocking in the same sentence. I understand that you stated "if Jimmy wasn't blocking", but this infers that Jimmy did block on occasion. If I recall correctly, any blocking on Jimmy's part was totally accidental or unintentional.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Mike mike mike. Jimmys been and done.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

MT. Its not even close.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

What has Jimmy Graham done without Drew Brees? That question alone is the answer to who is better.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

I will go on record and admit I was one of the people who really did not like our offense when Jimmy Graham was the lead receiver.

The 2011 and 2012 team had elite talent on offense all around, not just with Graham. Colston was still great during that time frame and we had Darren Sproles. Lance Moore was a legit deep threat receiver and we used to kill teams with the screen games. The only 2 teams during that two year span who really had the defensive personnel to really slow our offense down and grind them to a half were the 49ers and Broncos, both of whom de-constructed that whole offense in 2012. People forget that we still averaged 28.5 points a game in 2012 despite not having Sean Payton.

Go back to 2013 and we were a Jekyll and Hyde team. Despite how easy it was to blame Rob Ryan's defense, they were not the problem. They handled things well all year until Jabari Greer's injury (and yet still had their moments after that). The problem was all in the offense.

We would throttle teams at home that year but then play down and struggle to put 20 points on the board in road games. This ended up carrying into 2014 as well where we would look like a team with bad luck one week losing flukey games, then get blown out the next week.

The teams that humiliated us in 2013 and 2014 did it by focusing entirely on Graham, taking him out of the equation and trying to force Brees to other targets.

Brees got to a point where he seemed to trust Graham no matter what and would force the ball to him in double and triple coverage. The worst I remember was the 49ers loss from 2014. Brees' INT late in that game, Graham was covered by 4 guys.

When Dallas destroyed us in 2014, they pretty much showed if you could beat up on Graham early and focus on him, we didn't really have much of a game plan beyond him. The Rams did the same thing to us in that embarrassing loss in 2013. They triple-covered Graham and dared Brees to throw to him (and he did early on).

I liked Graham during his time here, but I do not think he was ever the best TE in the game. That honor went to Gronk whom during his peak, will most likely go down as the GOAT TE. Like I asked in the previous post; what did Graham accomplish without Brees? I can discount his season last year cause Aaron Rodgers has a history of avoiding his TEs, but Graham was a huge disappointment in Seattle with an offense that was desperate for playmakers.

MT on the other hand, IS the best WR in the game right now and I'd trust him over every other #1 guy we've had since 2011. It took us years, but we FINALLY have a legit #1 receiver and on top of that, we've been blessed to have the best one in the game right now. Appreciate MT here, cause he really is a blessing.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Mike Alstott didn’t block either. I would have loved having him though.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Michael Thomas

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Has to be said Jimmy had his time in the Sun here, however in my opinion MT is more talented.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Jimmy hardly ever caught a ball in stride. He made a living on a button hooks. And used his height to his advantage .Thomas just does it all.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Michael T. Best receiver in first three years in NFL HISTORY. Basketball player got his bell rung and quit.. We’ll at least he wimped out. What was the question again?

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

While I think it's definitely MT, Jimmy's size wasn't the only reason he was good. Yes he hardly ever caught the ball in stride, but he tended to go up for balls with a lot of power in ways that other people his size couldn't. His basketball background benefited him quite a bit and Jimmy is just a strong dude.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

All this was Jimmy a TE or WR raises the Question When it comes time to extending Number 7 it will be as a............? I can also see the NFL coming out with the "Hill Rule" "A player will be allowed to play at ONE other position during the course of a game" Wait for it.........

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-orle...om-hill-22021/

He's cheap now... not so cheap in 2020 as he will be in line for a new contract. And yes, we must resign him.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

I'm not sure why this is even a question...?

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Interesting discussion but I’m not sure it can qualitatively be had for a couple of years.

Jimmy played smart. He played with enough effort, risk, and pizzaz to build value and a brand. Once he signed that contract he played to protect that value.

If MT plays out like he has up to his extension then this is an easy discussion, if he starts playing to protect his asset this will be an interesting discussion indeed and I suspect Payton and Loomis will get roasted in the process.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Brees deserves credit too. He is one of those rare QBs like Manning, Brady, Favre, Marino and Elway who can elevate talent and bring the best out of someone.

Graham had his best years with Brees throwing to him. Same for Lance Moore and Robert Meachem whom didn't do much after they went and played for other teams.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Brees is a system quarterback....he makes the system work.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Brees IS the system and Payton knows that. Payton relies upon Brees' strengths which include his ability to read defenses (pre and post snap), accuracy (best ever) and motivation (also among the best ever).

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Are you dissing Teddy and Taysom?

Taysom brings a new dimension. Teddy is still a question mark.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Teddy better be miraculous in these preseason games because after being in the building for a few months last year he looked clueless in Week 17. Throws unimpressive and reads were horrible against a washed up team.

I'd better see something make me think he was worth retaining.

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

I’ve been waiting all summer to unleash the beast so to speak. Have to trust Payton and Mick that they see something in bridge to throw down 10 mil a year to retain .

Re: Michael Thomas or Jimmy Graham?
 

Stupid question.