2014 NFL off-season thread

I am still not all that sure that the language is clear. Most of the time, Graham lands up in the slot. Is the slot the exclusive domain of a wide receiver? No. It's a spot for a tight end or a running back plenty of times. And as to lining up wide of the line 67 percent of the time? OK, but a wide receiver does that 100 percent of the time.

An interesting case for sure.

 

If the rule says it is where he lines up most of the time, it doesn't matter that he isn't there all the time.

Fart, how could this be anything but an interpretation of rules? I would think cases like this are exactly why the rule was worded that way.

 

I could see the league getting involved if he were listed as a tight end so they could carry a extra receiver, given there existed limitations on the number of each you could carry.

 

This is a case where I wish teams were still able to put certain kind of language into deals so it would be nearly impossible for the Saints to match, like what the Vikings did with Steve Hutchinson about a decade ago.

Tight end is probably the only position where getting hit by the franchise tag completely screws you over.

 

I seem to recall something about the OLB and DE numbers being different and one getting less than the other even if a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE have similar responsibilities.

 

The difference between LB and DE is about $1.5 million a season. The difference between WR and TE is $5 million.

 

Additionally, both LB and DE get franchise tenders more than $10 million for the year.

The tag for a TE is the second-lowest in terms of salary for the year, and when you look at the tight ends who make $7 million per year, it's not a hands-down argument that those TEs are better than Jimmy Graham.

 

I think we're probably 2-3 years away from the TE franchise number being closer to $9 or $10 million, but that won't happen until Graham, Gronk and maybe 1-2 others get new deals.

 

You have to figure that other TEs hope he loses & is classified as a TE.

 

Just the opposite. If he wins, it's doubtful any TE would ever get tagged. I doubt too many teams are willing to pay a TE $12 million a year.

Guards and centers are almost never tagged because the tag is based on all linemen, and the top 5 are almost certainly all tackles.

 

Would anyone trade, straight up...

Graham for A.J. Green
Graham for Josh Gordon
Graham for Megatron
Graham for Alshon Jeffery
Graham for Dez Bryant
Graham for Julio Jones
Graham for Demaryius Thomas

 

Is he fighting to be tagged as a WR or to put the 2 positions together?