NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham to holdout on New Orleans Saints
By Josh Hill
The Jimmy Graham situation took a comical turn yesterday when ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested that the tight end could be traded to the Green Bay Packers or Seattle Seahawks, but things got real on Tuesday when it became known that Graham plans on holding out on the Saints until his contract situation is resolved.
According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, Graham won’t report to the Saints until the issue of his contract and the fact that he was franchise tagged is worked out.
Reality for #Saints & franchised TE (or WR) Jimmy Graham: They won’t see him for a while. Don’t expect him to show up until it’s resolved.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2014
Graham wasn’t too pleased about being tagged as a tight end last week ahead of the franchise tag deadline, but there is still time to work out a deal with the Saints before his one-year deal becomes finalized. There is hope on both sides — particularly among fans — that Graham will re-sign but New Orleans has been reluctant to give him the wide receiver money he covets and that could lead to issues down the road that possibly even results in Graham’s exit from New Orleans.