If the Saints franchise tag drama was a mob field, Sean Payton would be guilty of turning informant, or states witness.
In a move that had to be described as awkward, the Saints head coach was one of several people who testified at Graham’s grievance hearing last week and claimed he was in fact a tight end, not a wide receiver.
That testimony could end costing Graham almost $5.3 million. A tight end hit with the franchise tag will make $7.035 million in 2014, while a receiver will earn $12.312 million.
Besides Payton, Pro Football Talk reports that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and former NFL general manager Bill Polian also testified that Graham should be tagged as a tight end.