http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10896064/nflpa-files-grievance-behalf-jimmy-graham-new-orleans-saints-star

Quote :

It took a little longer than anticipated, but New Orleans Saints star Jimmy Graham has filed a grievance through the NFL Players Association to challenge whether he should be considered a tight end or wide receiver for franchise-tag purposes.

A league source confirmed Graham's grievance, which was reported earlier Wednesday by USA Today.

The Saints placed the franchise tag on Graham in early March, and the NFL's management council ruled that he is a tight end, a position that has a mandatory tag salary of $7.05 million.

Graham, however, will claim that he should be considered a receiver because he lined up for 67 percent of his snaps either out wide or in the slot in 2013. If he wins, his franchise-tag salary will vault to $12.3 million.

More importantly, the winner of this debate will gain significant leverage in long-term contract negotiations.

The next step in the process is for the players' association and management council to agree on a neutral, third-party arbitrator. It's unclear how quickly the process will begin or when a hearing will be scheduled.

It's also unclear what motivated Graham to file the grievance at this time. But it could speed up negotiations between the Saints and Graham's agent, Jimmy Sexton, if both sides decide they want to reach an agreement before an arbitrator gets involved.

In past years, similar debates have sprung up with free-agent tight ends Jared Cook and Jermichael Finley and linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs. In each case, an agreement was reached before an arbitrator handed down a ruling.

The ultimate deadline hanging over Graham and the Saints is July 15. After that date, franchised players can sign one-year deals only.

That mid-July date served as the impetus for the Saints getting a deal done with their last franchise-tagged superstar, quarterback Drew Brees, in 2012. Owner Tom Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis have both speculated that Graham's deal could follow a similar timetable, though both continually express optimism that a deal will be reached.

Graham would almost certainly become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, surpassing the $9 million per year the New England Patriots gave Rob Gronkowski two years ago. What remains to be seen is if Graham's salary will approach the $12 million range, putting him in line with a top-five or top-10 receiver.

No WR lines up in-line half of the time. Sorry Jimmy, you're a TE.

He is a TE. But that doesn't mean the NFL should get to screw him.

Most positions, you get a fair shake because of the quality of the players. At TE... There is exactly one TE in the league under 30 (Stated because money goes down after 30) that is close to the caliber of Jimmy Graham, and that's Rob Gronkowski. (Who has known injury issues limiting his earning potential.) Why should vastly inferior players determine

These are the players that determined his salary:
Rob Gronkowski, who has known injury problems that limited his earning potential
Vernon Davis, who signed his deal in 2010 before the TE boom
Antonio Gates, who signed his deal in 2011 as a 30 year old
Jason Witten, who signed his deal in 2012 as a 30 year old
Jared Cook, who isn't very good.

None of which are comparable to Jimmy Graham when you factor in Gronk's back.

Because of the lack of top end talent at Tight End, Jimmy Graham SHOULD get WR money. That's what is fair. He's the guy that's going to set the market. He shouldn't get screwed because he's the best player at a position where there isn't a lot of talent.

But he isn't a WR, he'd be an average WR. If you line him up against CBs, he'll be an average joe.

I disagree he'd be average, but I acknowledge he isn't a WR and wouldn't be nearly as effective.. But that doesn't mean the billionaires should get to pay him $7M less than what's he's worth.