New Orleans Saints Trade Jimmy Graham For A Center? [VIDEO]
After a ridiculously disappointing season last year, Sean Payton promised there would be some serious changes. He wasn't kidding. Tuesday the Saints released Jimmy Graham.
The New Orleans Saints finished their season last year 7-9. That is a problem!
As a Saints fan, I was so disgusted I could bare to watch their last few games. It was bad. NOBODY was on their A-game, not even Drew Brees. That said, we all knew somebody had to go or something had to change fast. But dropping Jimmy Graham???
Jimmy Graham spent five seasons in New Orleans and caught 386 passes for 51 touchdowns. It's hard to believe the Saints are trading the talented 28-year old, after signing him to a groundbreaking, four-year, $40 million contract just last summer. However, that contract made Graham the highest paid tight end in the NFL and the Saints already was happy with his performance. So it came down to money and the dynamics of football.
Last year, the Saints were roughly $23 million over the salary cap and with their new trade, added another $2 million to that. According to ESPN, Graham is being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, for two-time Pro Bowl center Max Unger and a first-round pick. One of the highest paid centers in the league. In addition, the Saints released linebacker Curtis Lofton, running back Pierre Thomas and word has it may possibly drop six-time Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans as well.
Question now is, will this help the New Orleans Saints put an end to their losing streak? For their sake I hope so. It's ironic that their free fall started after they dropped the super talented running back Darren Sproles. Now their trading one of the greatest tight ends in the league for a center?? God help us.
Here's some funny reactions from shocked Saints fans like myself: