The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... HC Sean Payton indicated Graham wouldn't be participating in the team's offseason workout program while the tight end and the team still haggle over a new contract. "I think it's pretty normal," Payton said of Graham's status Wednesday. "Everything the first week was pretty much as expected."

Diehards Line: Graham and the Saints have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term contract. If the deadline passes without such a deal, Graham would play the 2014 season under the franchise tag, which the Saints placed on him Feb. 28 at a price of $7.035 million. There's still the question of whether Graham will file a grievance to contend he should be franchise tagged as a wide receiver ($12.3 million base salary in 2014) rather than as a tight end. The report of an April 22 deadline to file a grievance was incorrect, so the most important deadline remains July 15. Graham said a couple months ago he had a contingency plan this offseason if contract talks remained stagnant. He's working out in Miami with former Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma during negotiations. ... Stay tuned.