METAIRIE, La. -- The NFL Players Association confirmed Wednesday that it filed a grievance on behalf of Jimmy Graham concerning the Saints tight ends franchise tag designation. At issue is whether the NFL was correct to apply the tight end tag to Graham or whether Graham should have received the more lucrative wide receiver tag, a difference of $5 million. The NFLs current collective bargaining agreement states that a player should be tagged according to the position at which he lined up most often. Graham and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, are contending that the frequency with which Graham lined up split out from the line merits the $12.3 million receivers franchise tag, not the $7 million tight end tag. No date for a grievance hearing has been set, but the filing alone could provide Graham with a measure of additional leverage as he seeks to have his franchise tag designation removed in favour of a long-term extension. July 15 is the final day a team can sign 2014 franchise players to long-term extensions. Grahams agent, Jimmy Sexton, did not return a message seeking comment on the matter. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday there had been no progress to report on negotiations with Graham. The Saints have asserted that lining up split from the line is a significant part of every tight ends job description. When asked in January whether the Saints viewed Graham as a tight end under the leagues CBA, Loomis responded: "Isnt that what we drafted him as? Isnt that what he made the Pro Bowl as? Thats what we see him as -- a tight end. "The tight end has always been part of the passing game," Loomis continued. "Hes part of the running game. So hes part of both. So are receivers. So are running backs." According to an analysis by ESPN Stats and Information, Graham lined up split out from the line on 67 per cent of his snaps -- 45 per cent of the time in the slot and 22 per cent out wide. Unless the Saints and Graham pre-emptively agree on a long-term deal, an arbitrator may have to decide whether those numbers alone, under the language of the CBA, would require the league to apply the receiver designation to Graham. If so, it likely would set a precedent for negotiations involving other tight ends who figure prominently in their teams passing games, and could substantially lower the franchise tag number for tight ends who more often line up next to offensive tackles. It could also affect other positions in which players have varying roles, most notably some outside linebackers in a 3-4 defensive scheme, who could argue their right to receive the higher defensive end tag. China Shoes Nike . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best. Fake China Shoes .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. https://www.chinashoesshop.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. China Shoes Cheap . JOHNS, N. China Shoes Outlet . Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said his team will include 9th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic and 27th-ranked Viktor Troicki as he decided to let the top-ranked Djokovic rest. WINNIPEG -- Buck Pierce wasnt out of football long. On Tuesday, the former quarterback retired following nine CFL campaigns. Three days later, he returned to Winnipeg -- where he spent three-plus seasons -- as the Blue Bombers running backs coach. Rookie head coach Mike OShea said Friday adding Pierce to his staff was a no-brainer. "When Buck retired, it came up as part of my multiple conversations per day with Kyle (Bombers GM Kyle Walters)," OShea said. "Then it went to how good a guy Buck is, his experience and the value of adding a CFL quarterback to our staff. "The running backs position hadnt been filled and its an entry-level position for guys who want to get into coaching and learn the daily rigours of becoming a professional football coach. Kyle and I got on the phone with Buck and he was very receptive. He wants to coach, he loves the CFL game and it just made sense on all levels to have Buck Pierce on our staff." The six-foot-two, 195-pound Pierce began his CFL career with the B.C. Lions, spending five seasons in Vancouver before signing with Winnipeg as a free agent following the 09 season. Pierce, 32, remained with the Bombers until last September when he was traded back to B.C. Injuries limited Pierce to 67 starts in 125 career CFL games although he did post a solid 64.2 completion percentage, with 76 TDs and 63 interceptions. He also averaged 7.2 yards per rushing attempt with 14 touchdowns while also committing 18 fumbles. Despite being plagued by an assortment of injuries, there was never any question about Pierces heart, toughness or character. Regardless of the ailment, he always returned to the field for his teammates. And embarking on a coaching career in Winnipeg makes perfect sense. Not only did Pierce play for the Bombers, his fiancee is also from the Manitoba capiital.dddddddddddd But OShea, a former standout linebacker who became Torontos special-teams co-ordinator following his stellar career with the Argonauts, said becoming a coach can present challenges for some former players. "Im sure Buck recognized early in his career the coaches were there before he was and were there after he left," OShea said. "Its always an eye-opener in terms of the planning and the number of tasks that are involved. "But as the staff comes together in the off-season and gets going through the daily routine and has the specific tasks theyre charged with Im sure hell get it all figured out quickly." OShea believes adding a former CFL quarterback to his coaching staff will provide added benefits as well. "These guys play quarterback for a reason, they have the ability to take in all that information, process it and then put it all back out there," OShea said. "Hell obviously do some work figuring out drills and finding out what his position group needs on a daily basis but hell also give that group a different perspective and understanding about how other positions are looking at the game and not just through the running backs eyes. "Any time a player can gain a better understanding of what the other positions are thinking out there is a good thing. That kind of knowledge only helps players produce." Notes: The Bombers signed quarterback Robert Marve and receiver Mario Urrutia on Friday. The six-foot-one, 212-pound Marve played collegiately at Miami (2007-08) and Purdue (2010-2012). The six-foot-six, 238-pound Urrutia was a 2008 seventh-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals out of the University of Louisville. He also spent time with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the Arena Football Leagues Utah Blaze. ' ' '