Saints Disagree with Reason Behind Jimmy Graham Ruling

The New Orleans Saints are obviously pleased with NFL arbitrator Stepehn Burbank’s ruling last week that Jimmy Graham should be franchised as a tight end… but the Saints say that they don’t agree with the reasons behind reaching his decision.

Pro Football Talk cited an unnamed source on Sunday saying the Saints disagree with "the notion that the question of tight end vs. receiver boils down to whether the player lines up most of the time within four yards of an offensive tackle."

That notion, of course, was the impetus behind Burbank's decision.

The Saints believe there are more factors to it; including how Graham is defended.

Still, the Saints are said to be working on a contract with Graham and all those points would be moot if the Saints and Graham can reach a long term deal.

The deadline for reaching a long-term deal with Graham will be next Tuesday.