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Saints News, 7/8/14: Bucs Drafted Mark Barron Specifically Because of Jimmy Graham

Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com got his hands on a portion of the testimony generated during the Jimmy Graham franchise-tag grievance hearing and is finding some interesting little nuggets of info. Florio writes, "Testifying as an expert in support of Graham’s position that he should be regarded as a receiver for franchise-tag purposes, former Buccaneers special assistant to the head coach Butch Davis said that the team’s draft strategy in 2012 was fueled directly by a desire to stop Graham. 'We took [safety] Mark Barron in the first round simply because of Jimmy Graham,' Davis said of the team’s decision with the eighth overall pick that year...The testimony ultimately was turned against Davis on cross examination by the NFL’s lawyers, when Davis was forced to admit that the Buccaneers didn’t draft a cornerback to cover Graham — and that the Bucs never would have drafted a safety to cover Lions receiver Calvin Johnson."

Al Messerschmidt

Tweets

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>At Jimmy Graham grievance hearing, Butch Davis testified that Bucs drafted S Mark Barron specifically to stop Graham <a href="http://t.co/lr0o4X3bPL">http://t.co/lr0o4X3bPL</a></p>&mdash; ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/statuses/486533032439214080">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Buccaneers?src=hash">#Buccaneers</a> assistant Butch Davis: Barron was drafted because of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash">#Saints</a>&#39; Graham, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk">@ProFootballTalk</a> <a href="http://t.co/SoRKwmn8Qm">http://t.co/SoRKwmn8Qm</a></p>&mdash; Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeTriplett/statuses/486596576140222464">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Let them know <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash">#Saints</a> fans RT <a href="https://twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL">@EAMaddenNFL</a> Which team will have the most dangerous pass-rushing duo in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madden15?src=hash">#Madden15</a>?</p>&mdash; New Orleans Saints (@Saints) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints/statuses/486603402126700544">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Who y&#39;all got in the Brazil vs Germany game? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash">#WorldCup</a></p>&mdash; Pierre Thomas (@Pierre_Thomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pierre_Thomas/statuses/486593272736149504">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Too close to call so far on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash">#Saints</a> top play voting. All three plays within 6 percentage points <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLMostMemorable?src=hash">#NFLMostMemorable</a> <a href="http://t.co/Ul4uRCWCBs">http://t.co/Ul4uRCWCBs</a></p>&mdash; Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeTriplett/statuses/486584709619544065">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Can&#39;t wait for this Germany vs Brazil match!! I&#39;m locked in like </p>&mdash; Terron Armstead (@T_Armstead72) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Armstead72/statuses/486569780007022592">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Headed to go get this work in!!!</p>&mdash; Terron Armstead (@T_Armstead72) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Armstead72/statuses/486567045392130049">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>You shut your whore mouth, <a href="https://twitter.com/SaintsForecast">@SaintsForecast</a>! The Who were awesome. (cc <a href="https://twitter.com/bradleypw">@bradleypw</a> ) Also, Ambush was a lucky break. Shouldn&#39;t have worked.</p>&mdash; Grandmaester Warg (@moosedenied) <a href="https://twitter.com/moosedenied/statuses/486566368029192192">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Respect yourself to the standard you want to be respected</p>&mdash; Terron Armstead (@T_Armstead72) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Armstead72/statuses/486564892942422016">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Today&#39;s Best of <a href="https://twitter.com/blackbluereport">@BlackBlueReport</a> interview: Joe Vitt during the NFL Draft (AUDIO) <a href="http://t.co/5QmQDZ0kuX">http://t.co/5QmQDZ0kuX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash">#Saints</a> <a href="http://t.co/ODXcHeHMEq">pic.twitter.com/ODXcHeHMEq</a></p>&mdash; New Orleans Saints (@Saints) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints/statuses/486540699538427904">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Drew Brees MVP odds: 11/2 via <a href="https://twitter.com/BovadaLV">@BovadaLV</a>. Second behind Peyton Manning at 3/1.</p>&mdash; Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarryHolder/statuses/486523931965542401">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Please tell me it&#39;s called the Boeing Donkadonk RT <a href="https://twitter.com/verge">@verge</a>: The world&#39;s largest aircraft will blow you away <a href="http://t.co/2hp26Uc8he">pic.twitter.com/2hp26Uc8he</a></p>&mdash; Grandmaester Warg (@moosedenied) <a href="https://twitter.com/moosedenied/statuses/486512397826273282">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Well I&#39;m gonna go about my daily activities now. This one is done! 5-0 in 30 min! Germany a machine I swear&#10;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FifaWorldCup?src=hash">#FifaWorldCup</a>&#10;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BrazilvsGermany?src=hash">#BrazilvsGermany</a></p>&mdash; Mark Ingram (@MarkIngram22) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkIngram22/statuses/486608588391985153">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Speechless... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BrazilvsGermany?src=hash">#BrazilvsGermany</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup2014?src=hash">#WorldCup2014</a></p>&mdash; Garrett Hartley (@GHartley5) <a href="https://twitter.com/GHartley5/statuses/486608379629285378">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I step away for 20 minutes and it&#39;s 5-0?!?!?!</p>&mdash; Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarryHolder/statuses/486608568737882112">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisConnelly">@ChrisConnelly</a>: Mercy rule. Let&#39;s all get some pizza.</p>&mdash; steve gleason (@TeamGleason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGleason/statuses/486609022108573696">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: World Cup Announcer One German Goal Away From Comparing Match To Holocaust</p>&mdash; Onion Sports Network (@OnionSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/OnionSports/statuses/486610702434828289">July 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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The testimony ultimately was turned against Davis on cross examination by the NFL’s lawyers, when Davis was forced to admit that the Buccaneers didn’t draft a cornerback to cover Graham — and that the Bucs never would have drafted a safety to cover Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.

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