Saints tight end Jimmy Graham has arbitration hearing on contract

All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract.

Graham filed a grievance through the players' union. He contends he should be considered a wide receiver, not a tight end, when the team designated him with the 2014 franchise tag. The difference in salary would be more than $5 million.

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank is conducting the meetings that also involve the NFL Players Association, the NFL's Management Council, and the Saints. No ruling is expected immediately.

The Saints gave Graham the franchise tag for about $7 million as a tight end, the position he has been listed at for his entire four-year career. But he believes because he often is split out away from the tackle, he is a wide receiver. That franchise tag is worth about $12.3 million.

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