2014 NFL off-season thread

I agree. If they're going to use him in a way where he's going to be among the NFL leaders in receptions and lead the league in TDs, then they should pay him like the top receivers.

 

To me, it's all about how the rule is written. I don't care where they put him on Pro Bowl ballots or where his statistics are listed.

Maybe you lump right ends and receivers together for franchise and transition tag purposes, especially because we have seen so many elite tight ends who are split wide so often.

 

That's a slippery slope. What if a safety leads the league in sacks? or a back in catches/receiving yards?

 

Well, backs and receivers are probably pretty close in the $$$ range, so that wouldn't be an issue. I think Rodney Harrison has the most sacks by a safety in history and the most he ever had in the same season was six.

 

I guarantee that Graham (actually his agent) will use the All-Pros and Pro Bowls when negotiating for a contract. That's why it matters.

 

I recall a similar debate when it came to positionally classifying Keith Byars.
Eric Metcalf and Larry Centers were others.
You can call a guy a tight end all you like, but if he doesn't perform those functions from down to down then he isn't.

 

I'm not the one calling the guy a tight end. He has had no trouble being classified as a tight end his whole career, until it came to the franchise tag.

 

This kind of bullshit led to contract strife with Kellen Winslow Sr., as well.
Graham is a joker in the deck, like Winslow was and a healthy Gronkowski is.
I agree with MGrad, lump them all together- "Backs and Receivers" like the old telecasts used to do.

 

Irrelevant. This is a rule interpretation, not a contract negotiation.

 

Also irrelevant, for reasons already stated.

 

It's a rule interpretation to establish contract value. I know it's not the exact same thing, but it does highlight that Graham would be happy to have it both ways, as long as it benefits him.

 

The NFL doesn't give a shit whether Graham is listed as a tight end.
The Dolphins listed Jim Jensen at quarterback- he did everything but.
This is a peculiarity, not any interpretation of rules.