Jimmy Graham - Pro Football Rumors

NFC Notes: Graham, Forte, Giants, Peterson

June 10th, 2014 at 3:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The grievance hearing on Jimmy Graham‘s franchise tag positional designation is scheduled for next week, and a source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com that the NFL Management Council is preparing a “strong counterargument” against the NFLPA’s claim that Graham should be considered a receiver.

“The union’s position is a naked cash grab,” the source said. “It ignores Mr. Graham’s use as a traditional tight end on roughly 60% of the snaps where he lined up within four yards of the tackle. It also ignores the historical use of the tight end position.”

It’s fair to assume that Triplett’s source isn’t exactly an impartial observer, considering his comments sound like ones the NFL will make during the hearing. Taking into account that the Saints star lined up in the slot or split out wide for roughly two-thirds of his snaps in 2013, the decision certainly isn’t cut-and-dried, and the outcome could have significant ramifications not just on Graham’s next deal, but on the tight end position going forward.

Here’s more from out of the NFC:

“I think I can play 12 years,” Bears running back Matt Forte tells John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. Forte, who has two years left on his current contract, would have to play through the 2019 season to achieve that goal.
The Giants have multiple free agents lined up for workouts this week, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, who writes in two separate pieces that the club will audition 6’5″ wide receiver Denzell Jones and former South Carolina cornerback Victor Hampton on Wednesday.
Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals have yet to reach an agreement on a new long-term contract, but that didn’t stop the cornerback from reporting to the club’s mandatory minicamp today, says Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Agent Joel Segal and the Cards continue to discuss an extension for Peterson.
Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com believes Justin Durant will be the Cowboys‘ starting middle linebacker when the regular season gets underway, but suggests that if Durant doesn’t play well in camp, the 28-year-old is a candidate to be cut or traded.
Wide receiver Kain Colter received the biggest bonus ($8K) among the Vikings‘ undrafted free agent signings, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.

NFC South Notes: Panthers WRs, Saints TEs

June 7th, 2014 at 4:51pm CST by Peter Sowards

Chalk this up as one of the more amazing tidbits with respect to NFL team’s rosters, as written by The Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person: none of the 11 wide receivers on the Panthers roster this spring caught a pass for the team last season.

The Panthers went wide receiver in the first round of the draft, selecting 6-foot-5, 240-pound Kelvin Benjamin from Florida State No. 28 overall. He’ll be looking to replace departed receiver Steve Smith, as will fellow young wideouts Tavarres King and Marvin McNutt, who have been rotating through the first-, second- and third-team offenses in organized team activities.

“One thing we’re trying to make sure is everybody’s getting a lot of reps right now,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “Because when we get to training camp, we want to make sure everybody’s up to speed. We’ve made an emphasis that we’re rotating a lot of players, as much as possible. Wide receiver’s one of those positions.”

As Person notes in his column, both King and McNutt have impressive collegiate résumés, starring at Georgia and Iowa, respectively. They’ll be competing for the starting receiver spots with Benjamin and three free-agent acquisitions: Jerricho Cotchery, Tiquan Underwood and Jason Avant.

Check out more from the NFC South in the links below…

De’Andre Presley was the answer from Rivera when asked if a player has distinguished himself after Wednesday’s OTA, writes The Observer’s Tom Sorensen. Presley, a quarterback in college at Appalachian State, switched to cornerback upon signing with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent, and is now trying to make the Panthers roster at wide receiver.
The Panthers went defensive tackle back-to-back in the 2013 NFL Draft with the selections of Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short in the first and second rounds, respectively, but Short is still in a fight for a starting position, writes Jonathan Jones of The Observer.
Six tight ends combine for 20 years of experience on the Panthers roster, and Rivera loves the versatility they bring, ESPN.com’s David Newton reports.
While there is no replacing the immense talent of Jimmy Graham, Saints tight ends Ben Watson and Josh Hill are doing what is asked of them at OTAs, including everything Graham would be doing, per The Times-Picayune’s Christopher Dabe.
First-round pick receiver Brandin Cooks will be back for the final week of Saints OTAs, believes ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.
Despite suffering two concussions in his rookie season, Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro said he won’t slow down nor change his reckless ways, Triplett writes.
With a defensive-heavy draft, notes ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure, the Falcons surely made defensive coordinator Mike Nolan a happy man. Nolan touched on each of the seven defensive players drafted, including a glowing review of Dez Southward, the former Wisconsin safety whom Atlanta selected in the third round: “He’s got really good size and is fast. He’s an intelligent guy. He doesn’t have as much football in his background as other guys because he played late in high school. But he’ll listen, as opposed to somebody that didn’t learn much and then they think that they have all the answers.”

NFC Links: Davis, Bryant, Graham

May 31st, 2014 at 4:52pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 49ers have a lot of players looking for new contracts in the coming years, including Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Colin Kaepernick, Mike Iupati, and Alex Boone. The team has been preparing for life without some of those players, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

Here are some other links from around the NFC:

When it comes to Davis, Maiocco believes the 49ers will not budge on his contract. He is the third-highest paid player in the league at his position, and is on the wrong side of 30 years old. With extensions for other players coming, Davis may have to play his current contract out.
Cowboys‘ Vice President Stephen Jones said an extension for star wide receiver Dez Bryant could come before the season starts, writes Lorenzo Reyes of USAToday.com. “As far as from the receiver standpoint, of course I feel like I’m one of the better receivers in this league,” said Bryant. “But like I said, when it comes to that contract, I’m going to sit back and I’m going to wait and see what happens.”
Jimmy Graham has yet to sign a long-term deal, but Mike Triplett of ESPN.com does not expect this to drag on through training camp. July 15 is the last day to negotiate a deal for franchised players, and Triplett expects Graham to sign a deal that pays him between $10.5MM and $11MM per year.
Robert Meachem returned to the Saints, and maybe more importantly, his old quarterback Drew Brees, writes Christopher Dabe of NOLA.com. Meachem has a one-year deal, but says the offseason has kept him focused and more comfortable, being back in New Orleans.
Tanard Jackson has gotten another chance in the NFL with the Redskins, but he might not stick on the roster, writes J.P. Finlay of CSNWashington.com. The team might not have a spot for him at safety, and his minimum salary deal could be easy to release.

Extra Points: Titans, Chiefs, Graham, Ravens

May 29th, 2014 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said earlier in May that his team suspected another club was targeting defensive back Lamarcus Joyner in the second round, which is why St. Louis traded up for him. However, while Fisher’s comments pointed to his old team – the Titans – as the team eyeing Joyner, Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report hears that Tennessee was always targeting a running back in the second round. There were a handful of backs the Titans liked, so they worked out a deal to move down even before the Rams moved up, says Pompei. The club ultimately grabbed Bishop Sankey 54th overall.

Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFL….

The Chiefs worked out defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick this week, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The former seventh-round pick spent three seasons with the Pats before joining the Jaguars last season, and has started 15 of his 47 career contests.
Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an extended look at the Jimmy Graham grievance hearing situation, identifying a few clubs that still could conceivably take a run at the free agent tight end, including the Browns and Packers. In Corry’s view, no matter the outcome of next month’s hearing on Graham’s position, he and the Saints are likely to work out a long-term contract.
The Ravens will be on the lookout for potential post-June 1 additions to their roster, coach John Harbaugh confirmed today (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
Brandon Graham‘s name surfaced in a couple trade rumors this offseason, but the edge defender remains on the Eagles‘ roster, and takes solace in the fact that he’s still in Philadelphia, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer outlines. “They want me here, I’m still here, all the rumors and whatever it is, it’s just rumors,” Graham said. “I feel like if it was something they wanted to do, I’d be gone.”

Poll: Jimmy Graham’s Contract Situation

May 23rd, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The most exciting stretches of the NFL offseason are behind us, with only a handful of notable free agents still on the market and teams signing their draft picks in time for training camp. Still, there will be a handful of storylines worth keeping an eye on over the next several weeks, and perhaps none are bigger than Jimmy Graham‘s upcoming hearing related to the positional designation on his franchise tag.

The Saints used their franchise tag on Graham earlier in the offseason, locking in a one-year contract offer worth the amount for a tight end: $7.035MM. However, now that a grievance has been filed, an arbitrator will be tasked with determining whether Graham should actually be considered a wide receiver, since he lined up as a wideout for about two-thirds of his snaps in 2013.

Graham’s side will point to a section of the CBA that states a franchise player’s position is the one “at which the franchise player participated in the most plays during the prior league year,” arguing the standout pass-catcher should be eligible for the franchise salary for a receiver, which is expected to be about $11.5MM. That hearing is scheduled for June 17-18.

It’s possible that the two sides reach a multiyear agreement before a ruling on Graham’s position comes down, but if they don’t, the decision made at June’s hearing will significantly affect what sort of long-term money the Saints’ star could receive. Depending on how things play out, a handful of different scenarios are possible: Graham could play the 2014 season on the one-year franchise tag, he and the Saints could agree to a long-term contract, or a rival suitor could swoop in and sign Graham to an offer sheet, which New Orleans would have the opportunity to match.

That last outcome may seem unlikely, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report recently reported that multiple clubs are still “strongly considering” extending an offer sheet to Graham. If New Orleans elected not to match such an offer, the club would receive two future first-round picks from Graham’s new team. In my view, that’s probably too significant a price to pay for a tight end, particularly since you’d probably be committing to paying Graham $10MM annually in addition to losing the picks. Still, a contender expecting to be near the back of the first round for the next couple years could decide it’s worth the risk. At this point in the year, a deal could conceivably be structured in a way that would make it difficult for the capped-out Saints to match it.

I still think the most likely scenario sees Graham and the Saints eventually agree to multiyear contract, like Drew Brees did with the team a couple years ago. But that’s not a given yet, and the positional hearing in June adds a unique wrinkle to the situation. What do you think? How will this play out?

South Notes: Andre Johnson, Texans, Saints

May 22nd, 2014 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

In a series that has been running for several weeks, former agent Joel Corry and former Jets executive Ari Nissim have been conducting mock negotiations between J.J. Watt‘s reps and the Texans, giving National Football Post readers an idea of what real extension discussions might look like. In the fifth installment of the series, the two sides ultimately decide to table negotiations, having failed to reach a middle ground that works for both sides. It should be interesting to look back at these hypothetical talks if and when Watt and the Texans actually do agree on a new deal to see how the numbers compare.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two South divisions:

The Texans don’t have interest in trading Andre Johnson, and it would be difficult financially anyway, so head coach Bill O’Brien and GM Rick Smith are working with and talking to the standout receiver in an effort to alleviate his concerns about the club’s direction, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Johnson voiced some frustration with his role and his future last week.
Drew Brees, who missed the Saints‘ summer practice sessions and workouts two years ago before signing a long-term deal in July, is familiar with Jimmy Graham‘s current position, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com details. “It’s a leverage game and it’s back and forth. And the team has a job to do and the player has a job to do in regards to their contract,” Brees said. “And so you just understand that that’s the way it is, and you live with it. And when he’s here, I know he’ll be ready to play. I know he’ll be staying in good shape and all those things. I’m not worried about Jimmy Graham. When he comes back, he’ll be ready.”
In pieces for ESPN.com, Triplett, David Newton, Vaughn McClure, and Pat Yasinskas wrap up the offseason moves for the Saints, Panthers, Falcons, and Buccaneers, respectively.

NFC South Rumors: Graham, White, Bucs

May 14th, 2014 at 10:08am CST by Luke Adams

Free agency, which opened more than two months ago, feels well behind us now, but technically one of the top free agents of the offseason remains available. Jimmy Graham was franchised by the Saints, meaning he can’t freely sign with another club, but he can still sign an offer sheet if there’s a team out there willing to give up two first-round picks to land him. And according to Mike Freeman of the Bleacher Report, that’s not a total pipe dream — Freeman hears from multiple sources that there are still some teams “strongly considering” extending an offer sheet to Graham.

I’d be surprised if another team ended up make a serious play for the Saints tight end, who would require a sizable chunk of cap space in addition to his suitor being willing to give up two first-rounders. But with a hearing looming next month to determine whether Graham will be considered a tight end or a wide receiver, it’s a situation worth keeping an eye on. Here’s more from around the NFC South:

ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure explores the possibility of an extension for Falcons wide receiver Roddy White, who is entering the final year of his contract. McClure likens White’s contract situation to that of Reggie Wayne, who signed a three-year extension in 2012 at age 33 — White turns 33 this fall.
Patriots director of college scouting Jon Robinson is leaving New England to reunite with Buccaneers GM Jason Licht in Tampa Bay, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston (Twitter links). According to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link), Robinson will assume the role of director of player personnel in Tampa. Meanwhile, Bucs director of college scouting Eric Stokes will be moving on to Miami to act as an assistant to Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey, tweets Reiss.
A bill addressing professional athletes’ injury benefits, which is working its way through the Louisiana Legislature could adversely affect the Saints‘ recruitment of free agents, according to former NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, via Emily Lane of the Times-Picayune. Lane’s piece has plenty of details on the bill, which would limit compensation benefits for NFL players if they’re injured during training camp rather than during the regular season. The Players Association also published an article on its website stating its opposition to the bill.

Jimmy Graham Hearing Scheduled For June

May 12th, 2014 at 9:03am CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 9:03am: The grievance hearing for Graham is scheduled for June 17-18, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

SATURDAY, 8:49pm: Amidst this week’s draft news, the fact that the NFLPA officially filed a grievance on behalf of Jimmy Graham‘s franchise tag positional designation flew relatively under the radar. But assuming Graham and the Saints don’t reach a contract agreement anytime soon, GM Mickey Loomis expects the grievance hearing to happen in about a month, according to Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune (via Twitter).

The Saints used their franchise tag on Graham earlier in the offseason, locking in a one-year contract offer worth the amount for a tight end: $7.035MM. However, now that a grievance has been filed, an arbitrator will be tasked with determining whether Graham should actually be considered a wide receiver, since he lined up as a wideout for about two-thirds of his snaps in 2013.

The argument made on behalf of Graham will suggest that, by the letter of the law, the standout pass-catcher should be eligible for the franchise salary for a receiver, which is expected to be about $11.5MM. The CBA dictates that a franchise player’s position is the one “at which the franchise player participated in the most plays during the prior league year.”

Of course, this process could be avoided if the Saints and Graham agree to a long-term deal. But it’s been more than two months since the club used its franchise tag on the 27-year-old, and there haven’t been any reports of progress in negotiations. According to a February report, New Orleans was willing to make Graham the NFL’s highest-paid tight end, exceeding Rob Gronkowski‘s $9MM annual salary. However, Graham was said to be seeking a salary that would pay him like a top-five receiver, in the neighborhood of $12MM per year.

AFC East Links: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Pats

May 11th, 2014 at 6:54pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills certainly gave up a lot for the opportunity to draft wide receiver Sammy Watkins, including this year’s and next year’s first-round pick. Understanding that he’ll soon be working for new owners, general manager Doug Whaley knew he needed to make a big splash. If he was indeed intending to make a big move, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com opines that the team should have instead pursued All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham.

Had they signed Graham to a contract that the Saints “wouldn’t or couldn’t match”, they would have still been able to grab a serviceable player with their ninth overall pick. Florio says that the two future first rounders that the Bills would have had to surrender would have been worth the cost, especially since Whaley may be fired before those drafts even come around.

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…

The Dolphins have 11 wide receivers but will only keep around six, tweets ESPN’s James Walker.
Jets quarterback Matt Simms should be worried about his job security, writes ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. With the drafting of Tajh Boyd, there doesn’t seem to be a spot on the roster for the veteran.
In the same article, Cimini says the team will rely on one of their rookie receivers to play opposite Eric Decker.
The Patriots‘ drafting of Dominique Easley was the riskiest first-round pick in Bill Belichick’s tenure, says Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Saints Notes: Graham, Ingram, Draft

May 7th, 2014 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

When Saints general manager Mickey Loomis addressed the media today at his pre-draft press conference, he told reporters, including Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link), that there were no new updates on Jimmy Graham‘s contract situation. However, that quickly changed, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports the NFLPA has filed a grievance on behalf of Graham, related to his positional designation.

This step had been long anticipated by both sides, and it should help expedite the process. Graham’s tight end franchise tag is worth just $7.035MM, so if an arbitrator determines he should actually be in line for the wide receiver tag of $12.312MM, it will significantly affect leverage in long-term contract talks. It also may prompt the two sides to work out a compromise, particularly if it seems as though the decision could go either way.

Loomis also weighed in today on a few other Saints-related topics, so let’s turn to Holder, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett, and the Times-Picayune’s Katherine Terrell for the highlights (all links go to Twitter)….

Of the 30 allowable pre-draft visits for NFL teams, the Saints used 29 to host prospects. Loomis also confirmed that the club had the opportunity to talk to every draftable player on its board.
While other GMs have identified a few positions they’ll be targeting in the draft, Loomis balked at giving away any details on that, presumably attempting not to tip his hand regarding the Saints’ first-round pick.
Asked about the decision to turn down Mark Ingram‘s fifth-year option, Loomis said it was purely a financial move and not a reflection of the team’s opinion of Ingram. Given the price tags we saw on running backs this offseason, it makes sense that New Orleans wouldn’t want to commit to Ingram on a $5MM+ salary for 2015.
The Saints are always keeping an eye out for the potential successor to Drew Brees, but that doesn’t figure to be an area of focus this year.
Although they have some candidates on the roster to return kicks, the Saints will be on the lookout for guys with return ability in the draft.
There hasn’t been any increase in trade chatter between the Saints and other teams so far this week, according to Loomis. However, if the club decides to try to acquire extra picks in the draft, salary cap constraints shouldn’t be a concern.
Asked about the team’s plans at center, Loomis was fairly noncommittal, suggesting that it’s difficult but not impossible for a rookie to come in and take over the starting job.