HighRollin8s Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 49ers’ Crabtree conducts convoluted holdout By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports the unpredictable football decisions of Al Davis adversely affect only the team he owns, the bumbling Oakland Raiders. The NFL’s other 31 teams often benefit from his strange personnel moves, which allow talented draft picks and free agents to slide to them. In April, the cross-bay San Francisco 49ers rejoiced when the Raiders selected wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey(notes) seventh overall. It allowed the Niners to select Michael Crabtree(notes), a pass-catching machine out of Texas Tech, at No. 10. Predraft hype rated Crabtree higher than Heyward-Bey. Other Popular NFL PostsAccuser of Steelers QB getting harassed? How much $97 mil contract is really worth for Eli More From Dan WetzelChildress has a mess to clean up at QB Jul 28, 2009 Honeymoon under way for Owens, Bills Jul 25, 2009 ADVERTISEMENT Now the Niners’ dream pick has turned nightmare. In a convoluted strategy, Crabtree is threatening to sit out the 2009 season by negotiating off mock drafts which didn’t occur rather than the real one that did. Crabtree has decided that he shouldn’t have to be paid less because – based on all the made-up, predicted drafts – Al Davis made a mistake. He wants to be paid more than Heyward-Bey, demanding his contract reflect that it was actually he who was the higher selected receiver. It’s a ground-breaking, if intellectually bankrupt, concept. Crabtree’s camp said Thursday that he is even willing to sit out the year and re-enter the draft next spring unless he gets more than the $23.5 million the Raiders guaranteed Heyward-Bey. The news was first reported by profootballtalk.com. Anything less than that stratospheric number is “unacceptable.” “We are prepared to do it,” David Wells, a cousin of Crabtree, told ESPN. “Michael just wants fair market value. Michael is one of the best players in the draft, and he just wants to be paid like one of the best players.” The ridiculousness of a guy who’s never caught a professional pass deeming $20-something million “unacceptable” is a testament to the troublesome way the NFL pays its rookies. A sense of youthful entitlement combines with a flawed structure so that the unproven rookie often makes more than the veteran All-Pro. While NFL players tend to earn their money – a disturbing percentage leave the game as near-cripples dealing with neurological problems – Crabtree would be best served getting to camp and focusing on the tens of millions he will earn rather than the few more he may not. More intriguing, however, is what Crabtree is trying to pull. Contract negotiations and holdout threats aren’t new. This is. It isn’t just an unorthodox attempt to bypass the traditional (if unofficial) slotting of rookie salaries. It’s putting real value on the unreal speculation that surrounds the buildup to the draft. Crabtree is trying to get paid off perception, not reality. Pre-draft hype has grown exponentially over the years. What was once the domain of only hard-core fans has taken on a life of its own. All forms of media dedicate enormous resources to it. The Internet is awash in mock drafts. The draft itself has become a major event in its own right. Next April, the first round will move to Thursday prime time – where it will, no doubt, pull monster television ratings. Still, as fun and harmless as it is to follow the various prognostications, all of it remains conjecture. Perhaps Crabtree isn’t aware that even though ESPN will deem sportswriter speculation on “Who will the Raiders pick?” a “Cold Hard Fact,” it is, in fact, not. Not only is none of the pre-draft coverage “real” – there is no reason to believe it is accurate. Since there is virtually no benefit for a team to publicly disclose their honest opinions of players, teams blatantly lie about their plans. Why wouldn’t they? Everything you hear should first be assumed inaccurate, not something you can later use in contract negotiations. The rest of the coverage and discussion that lead up to the draft is opinion – opinion based mostly on pathetically thin research. Crabtree may indeed be a better player than Heyward-Bey, however much of the public and media sentiment to that regard is because Crabtree played on a high-profile Texas Tech team and scored a dramatic touchdown to upset Texas. Heyward-Bey, meanwhile, played on a fairly anonymous Maryland club. Just because fans and media – very few of whom watch even a smidgen of tape, have access to team scouting reports or even comprehend the game of football all that well – were more excited about Crabtree means absolutely nothing. Even if you could prove (and you can’t) that 31 NFL teams felt the same way, it wouldn’t matter. The draft isn’t about consensus opinions; it’s about the decision of each individual franchise. In this case, the Raiders believed Heyward-Bay was better than Michael Crabtree and they put an oversized contract behind it. That was the only actual, factual thing that occurred. Whether everyone disagreed with Al Davis or whether his recent track record is sketchy doesn’t matter. The pick is the pick. Crabtree apparently operates in a world ruled by Mel Kiper. He wants to be paid based on what was wrongly predicted to occur rather than what actually did. In his mind, he was the first receiver drafted, even if he wasn’t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimblat Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 He is going to be another wash out like Vince young was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie2008 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I think he's surrounding himself with people that want a piece of the pit and are leading him in the wrong direction. He has a good agent but the fact that he and his cousin are talking out there to the media is making the environment much more difficult to get a deal done. He does realize that if he doesn't sign with the 49ers he gets no paycheck for a year, right? He's not going to be drafted as high if he gets back in the draft, and frankly I don't think GMs would risk taking him in next year's draft if he chooses to sit out. One thing is clear, though. Mangini was dead-on when he called Crabtree a primma donna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramsn03 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 See not all knuckleheads go to OU. :thumbdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeatNavy Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I bet coach Michael Singletary is fit to be ties. He was high on Crabtree from a team perspective. But ya know, I think Singletary will just say, enjoy yourself during the season as you sit out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcpride Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Does he expect to sit out and magically be a top 5 pick in next year's draft. He hasn't played a down of NFL football and he expects some Huge amount of money he isn't due. I think all of the unsigned rookies need to get their contracts done and start making connections with their teams. I mean the season is coming soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1stSuperScot Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 How much does the 50th pick in the 2010 draft make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 What a moron...... :thumbdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdawg16 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I agree with you guys. No way he sits out a year and comes close to what he would get paid this year...besides isn't there some sort of rookie cap on the way or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagleborn Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Show me the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEVODIDIT Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Sounds like a T.O. in training. What a moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etos10 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 As a Red Raider I am embarrassed for Crabtree. What stupidity and who is the moron who thought of this strategy? If I were the 49ers, Crabtree would not be worth the headache, even though he is good, as others have noted, he has proven nothing to show he is worth the 1 million more (or whatever) Simply amazing how stupid athletes become when $$$ is waved in their face. Geez. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimblat Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 It makes me sick when u see these amazing athletes now these days just playing for the money. Money Money Money Money. I wonder what all these althetes would do if their salaries were cut off. No one plays just for the love of the game any more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighRollin8s Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 Can you imagine the bulls eye Crabtree has painted on his back from this? I mean rookies have to pay their dues enough as it is but with this attitude, EVERYONE is going to want to tear the kid apart! I mean, I understand the strategy to get as much money as you can. If it's there, hey go for it but don't be stupid about it! I can just see guys like Ray Lewis waiting for Crabtree to make a play over the middle! He's going to be a target for the rest of his career now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRISTLE Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 It makes me sick when u see these amazing athletes now these days just playing for the money. Money Money Money Money. I wonder what all these althetes would do if their salaries were cut off. No one plays just for the love of the game any more! While I disagree with Crabtree's antics/strategy, and think he is simply bluffing for more $$, I also completely understand why these athetes only think about money, money, money as you put it. It is a job - simple as that. It is also a very, very cut-throat business to say the least..... These guys have a window in which to make enough money to support themselves and their families for the rest of their lives, and while there are a few who make tons, the majority will play for about 7 years (two contracts) and be done..... Then they will suffer physically and mentally from the beating they took.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Huck Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 ^ well he can always fall back on his degree like the rest of em. :shocked: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHardCubFan Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 eots - you shouldn't be embarassed for Crabtree you be embarassed OF Crabtree! What a moron is an understatement. Once again, you can take the idiot out of Dallas Carter, but you can't take the idiot out of the idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortal13 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 primadonna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluePirate Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 primadonna Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 If I was the GM at San Francisco I'd deal this primadonna for a 2010 1st rounder and a warm body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortal13 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 hey guys, cut Crabby some slack. Cocaine ain't exactly cheap these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanGreenDogs64 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Crabtree is just typical trash out of Dallas ISD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanginangus Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 hey guys, cut Crabby some slack. Cocaine ain't exactly cheap these days. “Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.” - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortal13 Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Lighten up Francis. It was just a joke :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLionWire Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Rather impressive for a Coke Head....wouldnt you say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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