Jimmy Graham Plays Tag

The Saints, ahem, ‘tight end’ played two-thirds of his snaps in the slot or split out wide in 2013. Will an arbitrator determine that his franchise tag should be at the better compensated level of wide receiver? And in the end, will it matter?
Jimmy Graham Plays Tag
Jimmy Graham Plays Tag /

A hearing is set for this week to determine the franchise tag calculation for the Saints’ Jimmy Graham. At issue for the arbitrator is the proper tag amount to be applied to Graham—and to be counted against the Saints’ salary cap: the amount for a tight end ($7 million) or for a wide receiver ($12.3 million). Let’s look at the arguments:

Graham’s argument

The Players Association will focus on the specific language of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, basing the tag designation (and calculation) on the position "at which the Franchise player participated in the most plays during the prior League Year." Graham lined up outside the traditional tackle box—either in the slot position or at wide receiver—for 67 percent of his total plays in 2013. Thus, a strict legal reading—and, as we know by now, there will be lawyers—presents a simple, clear and persuasive argument for Graham.

NFL’s argument

The NFL Management Council will take a broader approach, trying to shift the discussion from a specific “number of plays” dispute to a deeper referendum on league-wide use of the tight end. They will present evidence to show Graham, Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski and others increasingly split out to create matchup advantages. And, in so doing, these players are still acting as tight ends, not wide receivers. Their positioning according to scheme, they will argue, should not change their designation for tag purposes.

Further, the NFLMC will drive home Graham’s official positional designation since entering the league: Graham played tight end in college, was drafted as a tight end, is listed on the roster and depth chart as a tight end, and was voted to the Pro Bowl as a tight end, etc.

The precedent

There is no grievance or arbitration result to be used as precedent. A pending dispute between the Packers and Jermichael Finley was headed off by a two-year contract worth the midpoint between the two tag numbers at the time ($7.5 million). A different positional dispute involving the Ravens’ Terrell Suggs—whether he would be designated as a defensive lineman or linebacker—was also contractually resolved prior to a hearing.

A secondary issue

The tag amount over a one-year number disguises the real issue: the negotiation of a long-term contract between the Saints and Graham. Much like the Saints’ negotiations with Drew Brees two years ago—also involving a franchise tag dispute, resolved in Brees’ favor—my sense is that this episode is also heading for a deadline deal in mid-July, no matter the result of the tag dispute.

And therein lies the power of the franchise tag. At either number, it gives the Saints leverage. Despite high one-year earnings, Graham wants security; he wants the Saints to marry him, not just date him year-to-year.

Beyond this short-term dispute, the Saints will probably operate in the same manner as they did with Brees in 2012: wait until the July 15 deadline approaches and then make their best offer. And although an offer with perhaps $20-25 million guaranteed might not meet Graham’s desired $30-plus million guaranteed, he would be hard-pressed to turn down that level of security compared to one-year earnings at either number.

But, you ask, won’t a higher tag amount provide Graham more leverage in negotiations? Maybe, but probably not a lot assuming Graham prefers a long-term deal over the one-year placeholder. Further, assuming a long-term deal is negotiated, the “new money” will be calculated minus the tag amount and will actually look more player-friendly coming off the lower tag.

Ultimately, this dispute is not about a tag number, it is about a long-term deal. And my sense is, no matter the winner of this short-term dispute, Graham and the Saints will consummate a deeper commitment closer to the July 15 deadline for doing so.

Follow the (long-term) money.

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Andrew Brandt
ANDREW BRANDT

Andrew Brandt is the executive director of the Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova University and a contributing writer at Sports Illustrated. He has written a "Business of Football" column for SI since 2013. Brandt also hosts a "The Business of Sports" podcast and publishes a weekly newsletter, "The Sunday Seven." After graduating from Stanford University and Georgetown Law School, he worked as a player-agent, representing NFL players such as Boomer Esiason, Matt Hasselbeck and Ricky Williams. In 1991, he became the first general manager of the World League's Barcelona Dragons. He later joined the Green Bay Packers, where he served as vice president and general counsel from 1999 to 2008, negotiating all player contracts and directing the team's football administration. He worked as a consultant with the Philadelphia Eagles and also has served as an NFL business analyst for ESPN.