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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- 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." Miralem Pjanic Juventus Jersey . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. Gianluigi Buffon Jersey . "Its not done, but its a huge step," Hannover general manager Dirk Dufner said. Poor defending allowed the visitors to score in the second minute, when Leon Andreasens header from Christian Panders cross sent the ball inside the far post. http://www.juventusfcpro.com/Kids-Giorgio-Chiellini-Jersey/. Cleveland released the troubled wide receiver on Wednesday, an expected ending after Bess was arrested in January for assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport and other bizarre behaviour. Sami Khedira Jersey . - Mark Sanchez found out the New York Jets had acquired Tim Tebow on a conference call with team management. Emre Can Juventus Jersey . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick.Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Awtaad is likely to sidestep the Derby and head for the St Jamess Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Kevin Prendergasts colt claimed his fourth win from five starts with a magnificent display at the Curragh, seeing off Galileo Gold, winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.The veteran trainer said in the immediate aftermath he felt his Cape Cross colt was capable of stepping up in distance, but Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, expects him to remain at a mile for the time being. Gold said: It was a fantastic result and Im so happy for Kevin, for all his team and Chris Hayes.Kevin has been training for Sheikh Hamdan for many years without having much joy, so Im thrilled for him to get a horse like this at this time of his life. Hes an incredible man.I think we knew he was a very nice horse, but its always hard to equate the English form against the Irish form.I dont think there was any fluke about it. He wasnt a lucky winner - I think he won it fair and square.I had a brief chat wiith Kevin and Sheikh Hamdan last night.ddddddddddddMy gut reaction, which I think Sheikh Hamdan shared, would be to go for the St Jamess Palace.The Derby is a lovely idea, but youd be going up a considerable amount of distance in a short space of time.Im sure he would get further as he has a wonderful temperament, but he looks a high-class miler to me and after beating the English 2000 Guineas winner, I think youd be hard pushed not to go to Ascot.Hopefully hes going to be a stallion for the stud and hed look an even more attractive proposition if he were to win the St Jamess Palace.Well see how he is and talk about it during the week, but I think well be staying at a mile for the immediate future.Bookmakers Sky Bet are trading on the St Jamess Palace Stakes and quote Awtaad at 3/1 behind 11/8 favourite The Gurkha, with Galileo Gold 9/2 to exert revenge over Awtaad. 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