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. Cheap NFL Jerseys . According to a report from CSN Bay Area, the 49ers are bracing for 6-8 game suspension for their outside linebacker. Stitched Jerseys . -- Each time the Utah Jazz threatened Memphis lead, the Grizzlies responded with defensive stops.PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. Shane Danyluk and Collin Valcourt also scored for the Raiders (24-25-3), who stayed disciplined throughout the game without incurring any penalties. Brett Lernout and Coda Gordon scored for the Broncos (26-20-8). Cole Cheveldave finished with 34 saves for the Raiders, while his Broncos counterpart Eetu Laurikainen turned aside 32 shots. --- TIGERS 4 PATS 1 REGINA — Marek Langhamer made 41 saves and Medicine Hats offence did the rest against the Pats. Tommy Vannelli, Miles Koules, Curtis Valk and Trevor Cox each had a goal for the Tigers (30-19-3). Chandler Stephensons penalty shot for Regina (27-22-5) was the only time Langhamer was beaten. Reginas Daniel Wapple meanwhile stopped 25 shots. --- ICE 6 BLADES 3 CRANBROOK, B.C. — Jaedon Descheneau had a spectacular game with three goals and three assists as the Ice won their third straight. Descheneau, Zach Franko and Sam Reinhart dominated Kootenays (28-21-4) offence. Franko scored twice and had three assists, while Reinhart added a goal and four assists. Cameron Hebig, Cory Millette and Mitch Lipon replied for Saskatoon (14-37-4), which dropped its fourth straight game. Mackenzie Skapski turned aside 28 shots for the Ice, while Troy Trombley stoppped 33 in net for the Blades.dddddddddddd --- GIANTS 3 REBELS 2 (OT) VANCOUVER — Cain Franson scored 4:20 into overtime to help the Giants hold off Red Deer. Thomas Foster and Dmitry Osipov also scored as Vancouver (27-19-9) squandered a 2-0 lead. Conner Bleackley and Aspen Sterzer had goals for the Rebels (27-22-4). Giants goaltender Payton Lee kicked out 26 shots, one less than Red Deers Patrik Bartosak. --- THUNDERBIRDS 5 SILVERTIPS 3 SEATTLE — Justin Hickman scored twice and added an assist to lead the Thunderbirds past Everett. Mathew Barzal, Alexander Delnov and Robert Lipsbergs had a goal apiece for Seattle (33-16-5). Brayden Low, Joshua Winquist and Ivan Nikolishin countered for the Silvertips (26-20-8). Danny Mumaugh finished with 34 saves for Seattle, while at the other end of the ice Daniel Cotton allowed all five goals on 22 shots. --- ROYALS 7 HITMEN 2 VICTORIA — Austin Carrolls hat trick led the Royals to a bruising win over Calgary. Logan Nelson, Logan Fisher, Axel Blomqvist and Braden Oleksyn also scored for Victoria (35-16-3), while Coleman Vollrath stopped 24 shots. Brady Brassart and Connor Rankin scored in the first period for the Hitmen (32-15-6). Calgarys Chris Driedger allowed six goals on 39 shots before being pulled late in the game. Mack Shields took over with just 11:49 left and gave up a goal on seven shots. ' ' '