The New Orleans Saints and player Jimmy Graham are butting heads over what position he plays. His Twitter bio and website say that he’s a tight end, but he is insisting he’s a wide receiver.
The semantics of this matter, since a franchise tight end makes $7 million, while a wide receiver makes $12.3 million. The NFLPA says that Graham performs the actions of a receiver 67 percent of the time, but the NFL says his social media presence shows he identifies as a tight end, making him a tight end, reports For The Win.
Graham might want to think about changing his bio if he wants the extra $5.3 million a receiver gets. He’s been with the Saints since 2010.
Among @NFL’s arguments: Jimmy Graham meets in the TE room, lines up where TEs line up… and lists himself as a TE on Twitter (really).
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014
Among @NFLPA’s arguments: 67 percent of the time, Jimmy Graham lines up where a WR would line up. Union has expressed a lot of confidence
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014
A settlement in the Jimmy Graham system arbitration is unlikely, from what I’m told. Sounds like he’ll have his day(s) in court.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014