pads in support. In the end its all about getting the gold medal.” Th

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints have placed their franchise tag on Jimmy Graham in order to protect the clubs rights to its star tight end through next season. The move means Graham, barring a holdout, will almost certainly play for New Orleans next season for no less than the tight end franchise tag of $7.04 million. It is also possible, under the NFLs collective bargaining agreement, that Graham could be tagged as a receiver because of how often he lined up split wide from the line. That would carry a tag of $12.3 million. However, since the Saints only placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Graham, according to a report from ESPN, teams can still try to sign the star but the Saints would be able to match any offer or be compensated with two first-round draft picks from the signing team. Once Grahams tag has been determined, the two sides could continue to argue that matter before an arbitrator. That appears to be the likely process as both side aim to determine precisely how much negotiating leverage they have before hammering out a long-term deal. Similarly, the Saints use their franchise tag on quarterback Drew Brees in March 2012, then needed a little more than four months to work out the five-year, $100 million deal Brees signed shortly before training camp. Like Brees, Graham is represented by Creative Artists Agency. They do not have the same agent. Graham is represented by Jimmy Sexton and Brees by Tom Condon. The move, confirmed by team spokesman Greg Bensel, was expected as part of what is widely anticipated to be a protracted negotiation between the team and one of the best young tight ends in the NFL Graham has said publicly during the Pro Bowl in February that it would be "unfortunate," if the team used the franchise tag on him, but on Friday he reacted to the move with subtle humour. Afterward, Graham wrote on his Twitter account, "Confirming its officially Franchisefriday... TAG ... I guess Im it." Graham, a former college basketball who played one year of football at Miami, was drafted by the Saints in 2010. Last season, he led the Saints in catches with 86, yards with 1,215 and touchdowns with 16. He has led the Saints in catches in each of the past three seasons, while leading the club in yards receiving and touchdowns in two of the last three seasons. During the past three regular seasons combined, he has 270 catches for 3,507 yards and 36 touchdowns. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . A day after FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said three stadiums would not be ready in time for the Dec. 31 deadline, Brazilian officials said they actually plan to deliver all six remaining venues after that date. They claim only three are delayed, with the other three being handed over after the expected date only because of problems accommodating the schedule of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who wants to be present for the ceremonies. Cheap Arizona Coyotes Jerseys . The struggling New Orleans Pelicans were simply overmatched. Crawford hit seven 3s on his way to 24 points, and the Clippers beat the Pelicans 123-110 on Monday night. "We understand what we do well. If we all do what we do well, well make our team stronger," Crawford said. http://www.cheapcoyotesjerseys.com/ . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Authentic .C. -- Colin Kaepernick raced into the end zone, then pretended to rip open his shirt with both hands imitating Cam Newtons Superman touchdown celebration. Cheap Coyotes Jerseys . Rockhold." Known as an aggressive striker, Belfort (23-10) instead paced himself as the engaged in the early going and showed restraint by not overcommitting against the larger Rockhold (10-2). But when the opportunity presented itself, Belfort delivered an incredible spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockholds chin and sent him toppling to the floor.SOCHI — Kevin Dineen has made up his mind. The Canadian womens Olympic hockey team head coach has decided on his starting goalie for the tournament opener. He even hinted that he has informed her. But whether the starter will be Charline Labonte or Genevieve Lacasse or Shannon Szabados against Switzerland at Shayba Arena on Saturday, the three will remain close teammates and continue to support one another. Theres no jealously here. They just want to win. “Weve been competing against each other since August,” Szabados said. “Were used to it. Its a competition. But its definitely a friendly competition. “We all want to be the one who plays. But were still good friends on and off the ice no matter who gets the call.” If you dont believe Szabados, check out the back of their masks. The three came up with a logo to represent their unity. The symbol is 312, with the numeral one situated slightly higher between the three and the two. Three-one-two may be the area code for Chicago, but for Labonte, Lacasse and Shannon it incorporates their sweater numbers of 1 (Szabados), 31 (Lacasse) and 32 (Labonte). “We have a great relationship,” Lacasse said. “We joke around a lot. Were competitors, but we like to have fun. “We also like to support each other. When one of us is struggling and not in the right place mentally we there with a tap on the pads in support. In the end its all about getting the gold medal.” The three come from different cities, different backgrounds and they each followed different paths to the national team. Mix of youth, experience in net Lacasse is the youngest of the three at 24. Her father was in the military. So she was raised in Fort Henry in Kingston. She became a goalie because her older brother Alex needed someone to take shots on. “I had my share of bloody lips and black eyes, but my Mom would put me up on the kitchen counter and fix me up and send me back out there,” Lacasse said.dddddddddddd. She earned a scholarship to Providence and has begun work on her MBA, which was put on hold this year in order to pursue her Olympic dream. Last season, Lacasse was brilliant in leading the Boston Blades to the Clarkson Cup championship in the CWHL. She was named goaltender of the year with a 1.26 goals against average. The 31-year-old Labonte is the most experienced of the three. Shes been with the national team for 13 years. Shes played with boys and against the boys with the QMJHLs Acadie-Bathurst Titan over two seasons when she was a teenager. Labonte of Boisbriand, Que. went to McGill University and led the Montreal school to back-to-back Canadian titles in 2008 and 2009. In 2010-11, McGill settled for bronze at the national tournament, but Labonte set a Canadian university record with an incredible 37 shutouts. She backed up Szabados in the gold-medal final four years ago in Vancouver. The latter had an outstanding game in blanking the United States. Szabados was raised in Edmonton and her idol was former Oilers netminder Bill Ranford, who had his name etched on the Stanley Cup as a player and as the goalie coach of the 2011-12 Los Angeles Kings. Szabados has attended Ranfords hockey school and they still exchange text messages to this day. Shes been a key player on the national team scene since 2006, earning great reviews with a 3-0 shutout over the U.S. in her debut. She played last season for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology mens team and helped the Ooks to the their first provincial championship in 16 years. Each of the three have the credentials, but they know one will have to step up and shine if Canada has a shot at its fourth consecutive gold medal. 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