Jimmy Graham need four more yards in 2013 to classified as a WR
By Brian Miller
Jimmy Graham is a tight end and he’s officially a tight end after the ruling earlier today by arbiter Stephen Burbank. The decision will cost Jimmy Graham $5 million but save the New Orleans Saints that same $5 million. The question is how close was this decision?
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Apparently the answer is about four yards.
Burbank ruled that four yards, in essence, separates a tight end from a slot wide receiver. Burbank portends that within four yards of the next offensive lineman, a tight end can still perform the duties of a tight end. In other words he can run block, pass block, and run routes. So if that is the justification for the designation then it only seems reasonable to assume that outside of that four yards a player can not perform those duties.
"“I conclude that Mr. Graham was at the position of tight end for purposes of Article 10, Section 2(a)(i) when, at the snap, he was aligned adjacent to or ‘arm’s-length’ from the nearest offensive lineman and also when he was in the slot, at least if such alignment brought him within four yards of such linemen,” Burbank said in decision obtained by Profootballtalk.com."
The judgement by Burbank puts, at least for now, an end to the questions regarding how a tight end is designated for purposes of retention tagging. Franchise tag designations this year for tight ends would cost teams $7 million while a receiver designation would cost a team $12 million. Which is where the $5 million difference came into play. So when it all gets settled back to normal, the difference of $5 million comes down to four yards.