Well, the arbitrator, Stephen Burbank, who heard Graham's case ruled he was a tight end and introduced the facts used to come to that conclusion. Saints coach Sean Payton said Graham was a tight end and so did others who testified. The Saints said he was always listed as a tight end.
Why all the fuss over a simple matter? Its called greed. The reports say if Graham was classified a wide receiver his salary would be about $12 million and if a tight end about $7 million, a difference of $5 million. It is another great example how professional sports over pays their players. Does any one really not understand how the team concept has been taken away from professional sports? Players try to justify how they deserve such over priced salary by saying an injury could cut their career short tomorrow. That is true of any employment and most do not make the money players do. Would Jimmy Graham play any harder or smarter if he was classified as a wide receiver? That is the folly in all of this.
Pro players make enough money that allows them to obtain insurance that would cover such a situation. Movie star Betty Grable had her legs insured to protect against such a movie business accident. She was the pin up girl for WWII. Her picture showing her famous legs were posted every where. She had the best looking legs in America. (No, sorry, the girls on the Fox News Network don't even come close. Take my word for it.)
It will be interesting to see how Jimmy Graham performs this season after the ruling. Also if Payton changes his play calling. One thing is for certain, if neither one learns how to handle the defense of Seattle or New England better than they did last year, it will not matter what you call Jimmy Graham. And that says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
