Subject : fresh from leading the Netherlands at the World Cup. The Dutch secured
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Trent Cole Authentic Jersey . -- Its the $5 million question thats rumbling through NFL front offices and locker rooms alike: Is All-Pro Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints a tight end or a really big wide receiver? It matters to men like Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas of the Denver Broncos, whos up for a big pay raise and could be facing a franchise tag himself after the upcoming season. The Saints gave Graham the franchise tag for about $7 million as a tight end, the position hes been listed at for his entire four-year career -- and which he himself lists on his Twitter account. Graham contends that because he more often is split out away from the tackle, he is really a wide receiver. And, after all, he did lead the league with 16 touchdown catches last season. That franchise tag is worth about $12.3 million. The sides stated their cases in an arbitration hearing earlier this week in Louisiana and are awaiting a ruling from arbitrator Stephen Burbank. Thomas is understandably interested in the outcome. "Ive kind of been keeping ... an eye on that situation, obviously, because it could probably come back to affect a lot of us tight ends," said Thomas, who is scheduled to make $645,000 this year. "But the way I feel about it is, Does two letters next to your name on the depth chart really determine your value to a team?" When it comes to franchise tags in the NFL, it certainly does. The Saints note that Graham made the All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl as a tight end and was drafted as a tight end. Graham points to the 86 passes he caught for 1,215 yards last season -- numbers any wide receiver would envy. "Does it matter if hes a tight end, or if he calls himself a slot receiver or a running back?" Thomas said. "I mean, if youre going to have double-digit touchdowns and contribute a bunch of yards in the receiving game, I just say that youre a guy that makes great plays and are a value to your team. So I dont know why the argument necessarily comes down to either youre a tight end or a receiver. I think that if youre a guy that makes plays, thats how you should be valued." Its because top-tier wide receivers make much more money than the games best tight ends. "Thats true. So I guess thats why its a topic," Thomas said. "But Ill say again: I think if youre a basketball player, they wouldnt say, Ah, youre a power forward. Really look out for those point guards. So I dont think that the position matters. I think if youre a guy making plays for your team, then that should be your value." Denver general manager John Elway has opened talks with representatives of both Thomas and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who are entering the final year of their respective rookie deals and would like any deal to get done by the start of training camp next month. Demaryius Thomas, who has two dozen TD catches since Peyton Mannings arrival and was the lone bright spot for Denver in the Super Bowl, figures to command around $60 million over five years after putting up back-to-back stellar seasons that vaulted him to elite wide receiver status. Yet, it was Julius Thomas who was the key to Denvers record-breaking offence last season. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound late-bloomer was a matchup nightmare for defences and the bulls-eye for many of Mannings biggest moments last season when he earned his first Pro Bowl honour. He caught the quarterbacks 51st TD throw that broke Tom Bradys single-season record, one of his dozen TD receptions that broke Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpes team record for tight ends. And he came up huge in the Broncos two wins that got them to their first Super Bowl in 15 years. Broncos coach John Fox said the tight end position has evolved over the years to the point that "its like another receiver" rather than "an offensive tackle lined up to block." Thats not to say Fox is going to dive into the debate over whether a tight end actually is a wide receiver. "Im not getting into that," Fox said with a chuckle. "Ill leave that for other people." Seth Joyner Jersey . 2 Ohio State to a 64-35 drubbing of Texas-Pan American on Saturday. Buckeyes sophomore forward Jared Sullinger missed the game with back spasms, but that didnt stop Ohio State (8-0), as Deshaun Thomas dropped 11 points to go with five rebounds, while Scott Shannon and Jordan Sibert contributed seven points apiece. Zach Ertz Eagles Jersey . Gretzky was asked if he believes Montreal Canadiens defenceman PK Subban should be on Canadas blueline in February at the Sochi Olympics. "Im not going to get in the middle of that controversy because Stevie Yzerman obviously knows what hes doing, he won a gold medal in 2010," said Gretzky.Manchester United secured a record-breaking $1.3 billion sponsorship deal with Adidas on Monday, signalling the clubs enduring global appeal despite its worst Premier League campaign and strengthening its financial muscle for player transfers. The 10-year kit deal, worth at least 75 million pounds ($128 million) a year from July 2015 for an overall 750 million pounds ($1.3 billion), was negotiated after Nike decided that trebling the cost of its existing 13-year contract for having its name on United shirts was not good value for the company. United finished seventh in the league last season at the start of the post-Alex Ferguson era. But the eagerness of Adidas to make United kits and sell replicas is an indicator of the expected durability of the Red Devils brand -- and a worldwide following which the club claims to be around 660 million supporters. The German sportswear firm said it expects to generate 1.5 billion pounds ($2.5 billion) in sales during the decade-long deal with United. Adidas currently pays around $50 million a year to Chelsea and Real Madrid, and United could generate far more over the decade from footballs biggest kit sponsorship, describing the headline figure of 750 million pounds as a "minimum guarantee." In 2005 the Glazer family paid 790 million pounds -- just 40 million pounds more than the Adidas windfall -- for the entire club. Ten per cent of the Old Trafford-based team is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange and shares rose two per cent to $18.14 in morning trading on Monday. Adidas, which also makes the kit of newly-crowned World Cup winner Germany, saw shares rise by 2.85 per cent in Frankfurt to close at 73.57 euros ($100) on Monday. "Our new partnership with Manchester United clearly underlines our leadership in football annd will help us to further strengthen our position in key markets around the world," Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer said in a statement. Tommy McDonald Jersey. "At the same time, this collaboration marks a milestone for us when it comes to merchandising potential." Nike has one more season as kit maker, recently unveiling jerseys featuring a gold Chevrolet logo for the start of the American automakers $559 million, seven-year jersey sponsorship deal with the team. Adidas last held the United contract between 1980 and 1992 just before the club ended its 26-year wait for an English title in 1993, ushering in a period of dominance under Ferguson. But United is now in a period of rebuilding again after going from winning a 20th English title before Ferguson retired in 2013 to a sudden slump with David Moyes in charge. Moyes was fired before the end of the season, and Louis van Gaal now has the task of returning United to the Champions League in 2015, fresh from leading the Netherlands at the World Cup. The Dutch secured a third-place finish by beating host Brazil 3-0 on Saturday. Despite the grueling campaign in South America, Van Gaal is taking just two days off before formally taking charge at United this week and beginning the tour of the United States on Friday. "I dont need a holiday," the 62-year-old former Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax coach said on Uniteds website. "Its great to have such an exciting challenge. To work daily with young people is something that I dont need time off to rest for." Van Gaals first match in charge of United will be on July 23 in a friendly against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl. While the new manager has been in Brazil, United has signed midfielder Ander Herrera and defender Luke Shaw. ' ' ' |
