NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints have placed their franchise tag on
Jimmy Graham in order to protect the clubs rights to its star tight end through
next season.
Nike Roshe One Dames Schoenen . The move
means Graham, barring a holdout, will almost certainly play for New Orleans next
season for no less than the tight end franchise tag of $7.04 million. It is also
possible, under the NFLs collective bargaining agreement, that Graham could be
tagged as a receiver because of how often he lined up split wide from the line.
That would carry a tag of $12.3 million. However, since the Saints only placed
the non-exclusive franchise tag on Graham, according to a report from ESPN,
teams can still try to sign the star but the Saints would be able to match any
offer or be compensated with two first-round draft picks from the signing team.
Once Grahams tag has been determined, the two sides could continue to argue that
matter before an arbitrator. That appears to be the likely process as both side
aim to determine precisely how much negotiating leverage they have before
hammering out a long-term deal. Similarly, the Saints use their franchise tag on
quarterback Drew Brees in March 2012, then needed a little more than four months
to work out the five-year, $100 million deal Brees signed shortly before
training camp. Like Brees, Graham is represented by Creative Artists Agency.
They do not have the same agent. Graham is represented by Jimmy Sexton and Brees
by Tom Condon. The move, confirmed by team spokesman Greg Bensel, was expected
as part of what is widely anticipated to be a protracted negotiation between the
team and one of the best young tight ends in the NFL Graham has said publicly
during the Pro Bowl in February that it would be "unfortunate," if the team used
the franchise tag on him, but on Friday he reacted to the move with subtle
humour. Afterward, Graham wrote on his Twitter account, "Confirming its
officially Franchisefriday... TAG ... I guess Im it." Graham, a former college
basketball who played one year of football at Miami, was drafted by the Saints
in 2010. Last season, he led the Saints in catches with 86, yards with 1,215 and
touchdowns with 16. He has led the Saints in catches in each of the past three
seasons, while leading the club in yards receiving and touchdowns in two of the
last three seasons. During the past three regular seasons combined, he has 270
catches for 3,507 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Nike Roshe One Print Dames . Manuel was
offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the
team made the announcement Friday.
Nike Roshe Run Grijs Heren .J. -- New York
Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having
surgery on his left knee.
http:///...she-one-flyknit.html
. Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15
points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory
Saturday night.ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Heavy fog allowed Brian Gay a quick
nap, and he no longer felt so sluggish after travelling halfway around the world
from Shanghai to Sea Island. Gay had enough energy Thursday to make eight
birdies on his way to a 7-under 63, giving him a share of the lead with
Briny Baird among early starters in the McGladrey Classic. The opening round
could not be completed because of a fog delay lasting nearly two hours. Once the
sun burned off the fog, the Seaside course was a pushover with virtually no
wind. George McNeill ran off five straight birdies and was 8 under with two hole
remaining. Will MacKenzie reached 7 under through 16 holes until dropping three
shots in two holes for a 66. The morning fog off coastal waters could not have
been better for Gay. "I was super tired," he said. Players were told the round
would resume when the fog lifted. Gay didnt want to stand around on the range.
He also wanted to stay loose. So he took a chance by going into the locker room
at Sea Island, relaxed in a leather chair for a quick nap and then warmed up for
the second time. "I felt pretty good when I teed off," he said. "I felt like I
had a lot more energy." The McGladrey Classic is the third event in Gays most
unusual itinerary -- four PGA Tour events in four weeks in four countries. He
started two weeks ago at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, and then flew eight hours
to Shanghai for the HSBC Champions. He would not have played this week except
that its only about three hours from his home in Orlando, Fla., and he loves the
Seaside course. And then hell finish out the fall portion of the PGA Tour
schedule next week in Mexico. Scott Piercy and Boo Weekley also were in China
last week, and each opened with a 67. Calgarys Stephen Ames also shot a 67. No
one was as thrilled with the start as Baird, who is returning from surgery on
both shoulders. Baird last played a PGA Tour event in 2012 when he started
feeling pain in his left shoulder, and then his right shoulder. He tried a
cortisone shot and rehab before he realized surgery would be required. He had
the operations only a month apart, and then tried to return too soon by playing
Web.com Tour events. Finally, hes healthy enough to swing a club and even lift
his shoulders over his head. He would like to think hes strong enough to lift a
trophy over his head, thoughh its something Baird has never experienced.
Nike Dunk Sb Nederland. This is 365th start
on the PGA Tour, and he still hasnt won. It bothers him, though not as much as
people might think. "Id probably rather be the guy thats won the most money and
not won than the guy who has won the least amount and won once," Baird said.
"When you hear that catch-phrase, that does drive you a little nuts that were
only out here playing for trophies. I kind of cringe at that because thats not
true. Otherwise, wed just be donating our money to charity and living in huts.
So its not entirely true." One aspect about that is true -- Baird needs money to
keep his full PGA Tour card. He is on a major medical exemption, meaning he
needs $463,399 to reach a level that would allow him to keep his card the rest
of the season. Webb Simpson, who won in Las Vegas last month for his first win
this year, was at 65 along with Kevin Kisner, Kevin Chappell and Seung-yul Noh.
Gay finished the HSBC Champions in time to get to the airport for a 6 p.m.
flight home -- nearly 14 hours to Chicago, two more hours to Orlando, a short
layover in between. He tried to relax Monday, but he has been getting up in the
middle of the morning and figures hes a few days away from recovering from his
jet lag. There was nothing wrong with his game that a few long putts couldnt
fix. Gay usually has his caddie read the putts, but after he missed an 8-footer
on the first hole, his caddie left that part up to him. Gay didnt use him the
rest of the way, and he was helped by rolling in three putts from the 30-foot
range. "I wasnt feeling very good at all this morning," Gay said. "Ive struggled
the last few days sleeping and been really tried. But a nice day. Solid. Hit the
ball nice, made a couple of long putts. Just a good day." McNeill had a few
fleeting thoughts of a 59 when he made his fifth straight birdie to get to
6-under with eight holes remaining. He missed an 8-foot birdie at No. 2, and
when faced with a tough par-saving putt, he realized he should worry more about
his next shot than his odds of breaking 60. He had to return Friday morning with
49 other players to finish off the round. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont.,
opened with an even par 70, while David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., turned in a
4-over 70. Ottawas Brad Fritsch was 3-over through 11 holes.
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