Graham - Saints updated...a grievance may be filed

[BIGH2001]

Nature of the beast in the NFL salary cap era.  You can't pay Brees franchise QB money forever and then hold onto your other best weapons who have played their way into the top of the league at their positions.  This is the proverbial window closing on the Saints.

[RoaringRiot]

Point? Where was he when The Taints needed him the most? I'm sorry, but if you're going to pay this douche 60 million, he better come up bigger than just 2-3 total receptions for 40 yards when he gets touched.

New England, Seattle and San Francisco are prime examples why he's not worth anything. I could care less what he does when he's taking on mid-level and crappy defenses.

Hardy didn't exactly have notable games against those teams either.

[RoaringRiot]

How quickly fans forget. I seem to remember Hardy bringing it in the final crucial games of the season and when Johnson went down. Greg isn't Quinn but he's versatile and possesses a high motor. Sure, he was inconsistent at the start of the season but there's no arguing he came up big for us down the stretch. Don't even bring up the San Fran rematch. Hardy was wrestled and tackled like he was last night in the Pro-Bowl.

 

 

Of course he did.  But let's not forget he was going up against a rookie when we played the Saints, and then the horrible Falcons' line.  I'm not trying to take anything away from him -I'm a huge Kraken fan.  I just think your argument for saying Graham isn't good was kinda weak.  You criticize him for "disappearing" in big games or when he's facing physical contact, but then make excuses for Hardy disappearing against the 9ers.  You're obviously looking at it through Panthers fans glasses. Don't worry, I usually do too. With Gronk out, Jimmy Graham is arguably the best TE in the game right now.  

[RoaringRiot]

Staley is perhaps the best LT in the game today. This is a guy who has pummeled and stonewalled pass rushers like JPP and Quinn. However, let's not pretend he wasn't a big factor in the run game (along with containing Kaepernick) and that he wasn't held like crazy in the rematch when he beat Staley inside. That's hardly an excuse. We were asking for those flags.

I'm sorry, but in order to be the best TE in the NFL you gotta be able to block and take punishment when the going gets tough. Graham isn't capable of doing neither. Putting up insane numbers count for nothing when an actual defense comes to town. Gronk, Gonzalez, Gates, etc never disappeared when a DB or LB landed hits.

Graham is a wimp. He can go take up someone else's cap space. Give me Cameron instead.

 

 

Again....not taking anything away from Hardy, but if the guy wants to get paid like one of the top DE in the game we can't use "he was going up against a monster" as an excuse.  The Kraken claims he's a monster.  You can't use an argument against someone (Graham) to say he's not worthy of being called one of the best and then for someone (Hardy) to justify why he was shutdown.  

 

Have you seen Olsen block?  There is a difference between pass catching TEs (Olsen) and TEs whose primary job is to block (Hartsock).  I would take a TE like Graham all day, personally.  

[Cpt slay a ho]

hardy was the only de getting pressure during the 49ers game...............they also only threw the ball 4 times during the second half..................graham is one of the top te in the league,and the soft talk only came up after Seattle de said something,it's a rarity to have a te who can block good but is athletic enough to line up at wr..........i think the soft talk is overrated along with his blocking since the saints rarely run the ball.

 

i agree with you both to a certain degree........

[Evengelion]

There is absolutely no way you let that man walk if you are the Saints.

If somehow he did walk from that team, I would be ecstatic that we would not have to see him and Brees together again twice a year.

I would also really dread seeing who he goes to, because it would definitely be a contender and he would put them over the top. For example, a super hellish nightmare for me is him winding up on the Colts.

He's the kind of player that makes his QB better. Just throw the ball up.

[KendrickPanther]

Whatever gets Graham away from our division is great by me. Watching Brees throw up sloppy passes that only Jimmy can reach is the epitome of unfair. I mean it's fair you just get that feeling like you did when you were a kid and your bro wouldn't give you a turn at Nintendo. There's just nothing you can do about it.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

It'll go to arbitration and they'll be watching game film of him trying to run block and go "LOL no, he's a wide receiver"

[Captain Morgan]

Though few believe the Saints will let Jimmy Graham hit free agency, it doesn't mean things aren't getting complicated. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that no meaningful progress has been made, according to a source briefed on the talks. The sides are still millions apart annually. If no deal is struck, look for Graham to be tagged as a tight end -- projected for 2014 at $6.8 million -- despite his high percentage of snaps in the slot and out wide as a receiver. If that happens, expect Graham to file a grievance in an effort to get wideout money, projected at $11.6 million. FoxSports.com's Mike Garafolo noted Tuesday that New Orleans is willing to pay Graham more than Rob Gronkowski's $9 million per year.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-daily-jolt/news/20140226/daily-jolt/#ixzz2uS98b2Ve

[Riverboat Ron]

But...but...hometown discount!

[rodeo]

He should take the TE and then be like "Naaaaah" whenever a play is called where he lines up wide.

[Snake]

he should fight the TE tag because of how much time and production he has had split out at WR. he has a legit case.

 

Yea it didnt work for Suggs the year they tagged him as a LB and he had his hand in the dirt for most of his snaps.