New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham has filed an appeal of his grievance he lost.
Graham lost an appeal before NFL arbitrator Stephen Burbank when he disputed the Saints designating him as a tight end under the franchise tag rather than a wide receiver, which he argued he lined up at more often.
The appeal could be an attempt to gain leverage in contract negotiations one day before an NFL deadline to negotiate a long-term deal or have Graham play the entire season under a $7.053 million tight end franchise tender. Graham contended he should be playing under a wide receiver franchise tender worth $12 million.
Graham had 1,215 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns last season and was named All-Pro.
A three-person appeal panel will hear the argument.
The members are Georgetown law professor James Oldham, U.S. District Court judge Richard Holwell and retired U.S. District Court judge Fern Smith.
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