April 2014 - New Orleans Saints Wiretap

Jimmy Graham Doesn't Want Franchise Tag

Oct 7, 2014 9:43 AM

Jimmy Graham will be a free agent and he would prefer to sign a long-term deal this offseason.

"I'm not keen on the franchise tag," Graham said after Pro Bowl practice Friday, according to NFL.com. "That would be really unfortunate, but that is really all I have to say about that one."

If the New Orleans Saints decide to use the tag on Graham, it will open up a battle on whether he's a tight end of wide receiver.

The franchise tag last season at wide receiver was $10.5 million, compared to $6 million at tight end.

"Isn't that what we drafted him as? Isn't that what he made the Pro Bowl as?" Mickey Loomis said Tuesday. "That's what we see him as, a tight end. ... That's what makes him valuable."

ESPN

Tags: New Orleans Saints, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Lions To Hire Joe Lombardi As Offensive Coordinator

Oct 15, 2014 6:37 PM

The Detroit Lions will hire Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator.

Lombardi has worked with the New Orleans Saints since 2007 and the past five have been spent as quarterbacks coach.

Lombardi is the grandson of Vince Lombardi and will report to Jim Caldwell.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Misc Rumor

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Divisional Round Games Average 34.3M Viewers

Oct 15, 2014 6:37 PM

The NFL's four Divisional Round playoff games averaged 34.3 million viewers.

Sunday's coverage on CBS of the Denver Broncos' win over the San Diego Chargers pulled 41.2 million, followed by the San Francisco 49ers' victory over the Carolina Panthers at 33.3 million viewers.

On Saturday, the New England Patriots defeat of the Indianapolis Colts drew 31.7 million viewers and the Seattle Seahawks' win over the New Orleans Saints drew 31.1 million.

The numbers are down slightly from the Wild Card weekend in which 35 million viewers was the average. The Divisional Round games were not as close, which is the likely cause for the drop in ratings.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers

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Drew Brees Willing To Restructure Contract

Dec 7, 2014 2:28 PM

Drew Brees is willing to restructure his contract this offseason to keep the New Orleans Saints as playoff contenders.

Brees is set to count against the cap at $18.4 million in 2014, $26.4 million in 2015 and $27.4 million in 2016. The Saints will enter the offseason at least $12 million over the cap.

"You look around and look at the veteran leadership on this team, you look at the young talent, you look at the systems in which we play, this organization and the expectation level that we've set for ourselves, the track record, and you would say the future is as bright as we want it to be. As hard as we're willing to work, it's all there for us. Now every year is a new year and you've got to re-establish that identity every year.

"The term 'window of opportunity,' in my opinion, is always there for us, for this team, for this organization, for this staff and this group of players. It's always open."

Jimmy Graham, Zach Strief, Malcolm Jenkins and Brian de la Puente are some of the bigger potential free agents on the Saints.

"Whatever I can do to help this team, if they want to come to me and extend me even further, that'd be great. 

"Listen, there are so many possibilities as to what can happen here. Let's just let this offseason start. It's what, today's the second day of it unfortunately. We all wish it wasn't, but whatever helps this team win and puts the best team on the field."

Larry Holders/Times-Picayune

Tags: New Orleans Saints, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Full List Of 2013 All-Pros

Sep 30, 2014 7:59 PM

The AP released its 2013 All-Pro team on Friday, which is determined by 50 AP voters.

Offense

Quarterback: Peyton Manning, Denver. No second team quarterback.

Running backs: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia; Jamaal Charles, Kansas City  Second team: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Eddie Lacy, Green Bay 

Fullback: Mike Tolbert, Carolina. Second team: Marcel Reese, Oakland.

Tight End: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans. Second team: Vernon Davis, San Francisco.

Wide receivers: Calvin Johnson, Detroit; Josh Gordon, Cleveland. Second team: A.J. Green, Cincinnati; Demaryius Thomas, Denver and Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh. 

Tackles: Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Jason Peters, Philadelphia. Second team: Tyron Smith, Dallas; Joe Staley, San Francisco. 

Guards: Louis Vasquez, Denver; Evan Mathis, Philadelphia. Second team: Jahri Evans, New Orleans; Logan Mankins, New England, and Josh Sitton, Green Bay. 

Center: Ryan Kalil, Carolina. Second team: Alex Mack, Cleveland.

Defense

Defensive end: J.J. Watt, Houston; Robert Quinn, St. Louis. Second team: Mario Williams, Buffalo; Greg Hardy, Carolina. 

Defensive tackle: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit. Second team: Dontari Poe, Kansas City; Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets, Jurrell Casey, Tennessee and Justin Smith, San Francisco. 

Outside linebackers: Robert Mathis, Indianapolis; Lavonte David, Tampa Bay. Second team: Tamba Hali, Kansas City; Ahmad Brooks, San Francisco. 

Inside linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Carolina; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco. Second team: Vontaze Burfict, Cincinnati; Karlos Dansby, Arizona. 

Cornerbacks: Richard Sherman, Seattle; Patrick Peterson, Arizona. Second team: Aqib Talib, New England; Joe Haden, Cleveland and Alterraun Verner, Tennessee. 

Safeties: Earl Thomas, Seattle; Eric Berry, Kansas City. Second team: Eric Weddle, San Diego; Kam Chancellor, Seattle, Jairus Byrd, Buffalo, T.J. Ward, Cleveland, Devin McCourty, New England and Antrel Rolle, New York Giants. 

Special teams

Punter: Johnny Hekker, St. Louis. Second team: Brandon Fields, Miami.

Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore. Second team: Matt Prater, Denver.

Kick Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota. Second team: Dexter McCluster, Kansas City.

NFL.com

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, All-Star, IQ

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