METAIRIE, La. Dan Marino Jersey For Sale . -- The NFL Players Association confirmed Wednesday that it filed a grievance on behalf of Jimmy Graham concerning the Saints tight ends franchise tag designation. At issue is whether the NFL was correct to apply the tight end tag to Graham or whether Graham should have received the more lucrative wide receiver tag, a difference of $5 million. The NFLs current collective bargaining agreement states that a player should be tagged according to the position at which he lined up most often. Graham and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, are contending that the frequency with which Graham lined up split out from the line merits the $12.3 million receivers franchise tag, not the $7 million tight end tag. No date for a grievance hearing has been set, but the filing alone could provide Graham with a measure of additional leverage as he seeks to have his franchise tag designation removed in favour of a long-term extension. July 15 is the final day a team can sign 2014 franchise players to long-term extensions. Grahams agent, Jimmy Sexton, did not return a message seeking comment on the matter. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday there had been no progress to report on negotiations with Graham. The Saints have asserted that lining up split from the line is a significant part of every tight ends job description. When asked in January whether the Saints viewed Graham as a tight end under the leagues CBA, Loomis responded: "Isnt that what we drafted him as? Isnt that what he made the Pro Bowl as? Thats what we see him as -- a tight end. "The tight end has always been part of the passing game," Loomis continued. "Hes part of the running game. So hes part of both. So are receivers. So are running backs." According to an analysis by ESPN Stats and Information, Graham lined up split out from the line on 67 per cent of his snaps -- 45 per cent of the time in the slot and 22 per cent out wide. Unless the Saints and Graham pre-emptively agree on a long-term deal, an arbitrator may have to decide whether those numbers alone, under the language of the CBA, would require the league to apply the receiver designation to Graham. If so, it likely would set a precedent for negotiations involving other tight ends who figure prominently in their teams passing games, and could substantially lower the franchise tag number for tight ends who more often line up next to offensive tackles. It could also affect other positions in which players have varying roles, most notably some outside linebackers in a 3-4 defensive scheme, who could argue their right to receive the higher defensive end tag. Brent Grimes Authentic Jersey . Surely they couldnt be any worse than what they are now: a winless team running out of ways to express its humiliation. Rubio and Kevin Love controlled the game in the 93-72 win for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday as the Wizards were showered with boos during a 12-point fourth quarter as they dropped to 0-8. http://www.authenticdolphinsshop.com/Mike-Pouncey-Dolphins-Jersey . But what goes up ultimately comes down, and an ugly loss to the Chicago Bears the following week ushered the Seahawks out of the postseason. If their hosting of a first-round playoff matchup was the biggest surprise of the year, than the Hawks not-so-shocking exit in Chicago stood at the other end of the spectrum. While Seattle certainly wasnt expected to make a deep playoff run, dont think head coach Pete Carroll will simply just rest after getting the Seahawks to the postseason for the seventh time in 12 seasons.PHOENIX -- Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson helped engineer a quick turnaround in the desert, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping the two will stick around for a while. Towers and Gibson each had their contracts extended three years, through at least 2014. There also are mutual options for two more years for the general manager and manager that must be exercised by 2013, but also could be triggered by performance incentives. "I am so proud of Kevin and Kirk and the direction they have taken our ballclub in a short time span," Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall said Friday. "They are both on the same page and the work dynamic is magical. It is my opinion that their performances this past season warranted a reward." The Diamondbacks had been a tailspin, losing 97 and 92 games the previous two seasons, before turning it around quickly this year. One of the surprise teams in baseball, Arizona won 94 games and the NL West title for the first time since 2007 with a roster rebuilt by Towers and guided by the always-prepared Gibson. Towers, who had a long, successful run in San Diego, was hired late last season to replace Jerry Dipoto, who had been named interim general manager when Josh Byrnes was fired in July. Towers first move was to retain Gibson, the fiery former player who was elevated to manager when A.J. Hinch was fired the same day as Byrnes. Towers then spent the off-season retooling Arizonas roster, beeefing up a bullpen that had been one of the worst in baseball and adding more contact hitters to a team set the major league record in strikeouts the season before. Dion Sims Womens Jersey. He also brought in a group of seasoned veterans such as J.J. Putz and Willie Bloomquist who provided a steady example for the other young-but-talented players on the roster. Gibsons job was to get those veterans and youngsters to mesh, which he did with a combination of intensity and organization. A gritty player who won World Series titles with the Tigers and Dodgers, Gibson proved to be a great motivator and kept his players ready to play every day by not posting the lineups until the day of the game. The approach worked to near perfection as the Diamondbacks seemed to have a different player come through with the big hit or big play almost every night. Gibson also got the players to pay close attention to details from the first day of spring training, which helped them down the stretch after a big run in May sent them to the top of the division standings. Arizona ended up losing to Milwaukee in five games in the NL division series, but it was a big step for a franchise that had been down for so long. "Ill tell you what, its a great group of guys," Towers said after the Diamondbacks were eliminated by the Brewers. "We talked about theres always next year and next year will be better. I dont know how it could be better." ' ' '
