Michael Crabtree, the first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, woke up a sleepy news day in the NFL when his cousin and adviser, David Wells, announced that Crabtree is willing to sit out the entire 2009 season and re-enter the draft in 2010.
This was news was to Crabtree’s agent, Eugene Parker, who has since denied that such a demand exists.
APMichael Crabtree
While the wide receiver and his people sort out the confusion, I want to re-state what I’ve written here before at the NFP: Rookie holdouts are pretty much the norm in August. We expect them, we see them, and then their teams deal with them in time. The pick eventually shows up to camp, and it becomes an old story once he starts producing in a game that means something.
But this — this latest attempt by Crabtree and/or his cousin — is going to be frowned upon by the veterans, and by the head coach of that 49ers team.
And I’m not sure if Crabtree knows what he is getting into.
Remember, this is a player who hasn’t even practiced in an NFL environment, and yet he’s making demands like this?
Trust me, from my own experience in the league, rookie holdouts who miss even a week are treated differently once they arrive in the locker room.
And rookies who threaten to hold out for an entire season because they don’t get their way? Man, that sounds, well, unprofessional. But that’s exactly what I think about the entire situation.
Because his teammates are practicing right now in Mike Singletary’s training camp, and from what I’ve heard, this isn’t the type of camp that you tip-tope around in. It’s physical, it weighs on you mentally, and coach Singletary is looking for guys to show up and compete on a daily basis when their bodies feel like they’re about to shut down.
Sure, I want ever player to get paid in this league because it’s a job, and it doesn’t last long. Get as much as you can while you can, but let’s be real, folks. What Crabtree and his adviser/cousin are doing right now is trying to get the front office to panic and give in. It’s all a ploy, a cheap ploy, and if I’m the Niners, I call their bluff.
Let’s see this rookie sit out an entire season — with no NFL paychecks.
Forget about the guys on the field right now who’ve been practicing the past week, and forget about the amount of time he’s missing (which can kill a rookie season). And forget about being a player this season.
Because if this continues, this standoff that was leaked to the media for a purpose, then Crabtree will be the equivalent of a redshirt freshman for the Niners this season. Maybe a big play here or there, but dependable? I doubt it.
But just for conversation’s sake, I asked our draft expert, Wes Bunting, to give me five names of college players who could come out in the 2010 draft and have an impact on the first round.
APArrelious Benn
Here they are:
Arrelious Benn, Illinois, junior
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas, junior
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, junior
Damian Williams, USC, junior
Brandon LaFell, LSU, senior
Five names of rookies, 2010 rookies, who could actually be drafted ahead of Crabtree if he followed through on his supposed threat to the Niners.
Look, I understand that Crabtree is still upset that he slipped in the draft, and upset at the money Darrius Heyward-Bey got for going No. 7 overall to Oakland. But this in the NFL, Mike, and there will be a lot tougher things to deal with in your career than the size of your first check.
My advice: Get this done and get into camp — practice against NFL talent for the first time in your career, make some plays consistently on Sundays and then ask for some more money.
That’s what the pros do.
Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41
Is there a line in Vegas on how long it will take Singletary to make this guy cry once he does show up? I want the under.
As a niner fan i'm really not bothered by Crabtree at the moment, rookie recievers so rarely make a big impact and the recievers we have are adequate for the time being. Once we have settled QB situation then the team can focus on who they throw to. Isaac Bruce is a proven vet who may have lost a step but is reliable and Josh Morgan shows flashes of real potential so even if Crabtree signs he is not a guarenteed starter in his first year.
Stupid negotiating tactic. Now the Niners front office has to play real hardball with this knucklehead or they look like his bitch. His original "idea", that he should get top five money, was dumb, but this takes the cake. What looked like a value pick has turned into another wasted opportunity for the Niners.
Nice article Matt, as usual I like the perspective of how veteran players will treat the rookies.
This whole slotting system is pissing me off, considering the logjam that has been created at 8-12. It really shouldn't matter that much. Make the rookie's salary the average of the top 15 players at his position in the league, make that standard for 1st round picks, and then get on with it.
Trade his loserness to arena football. If was singletary i'd use this loser rookie as a focal point to get the rest of my team playing. I'd make him quit the NFL...oh wait he's already doing that. nice...
Have fun going against Nate when you finally do show up... I am sure he will take it easy on you
We always want the team to call the player's bluff and make the player sit out all season -- unless it's your own team. I think some people are waiting for Singletary to snap and say something to the media about it that really brings juice to this holdout. Not sure it will happen, but it would be something to liven up this training camp and give us something else to talk about than Vick/Favre.
Mike Singletary is partially at fault here. As a player, he was renowned as one of the "tough guys", and I always respected that. In the beginning of this fiasco, instead of either taking a hard-line stance or alternatively keeping his yap shut, Singletary decided to reminisce about the 2 times he held out as a player. FAIL. Then I get to read how so many 49er fans think that Mike is going to exact some revenge when the diva Crybabytree finally does roll into camp. Sure.
Al Davis' physician is partially at fault here. Had he kept the old guy's dosage properly monitored, DHB would have not been taken by the Raiders in the first place, and once drafted certainly wouldn't have been overpaid, especially in light of the "reach" nature of that selection. Put him on an IV drip, doc.
T.O. is partially at fault here. These young wide receivers all seem to aspire to the same narcissistic model of behavior.
Matt Bowen is partially at fault here. Oh yes, we all remember what Matt has written on the subject of draft picks and them getting "paid". We suspect that Crabtree's cousin got someone to read Matt's articles to Crabtree.
As a Packer fan FLIPPING OUT because my pick isn't in camp, I am on the case regarding the culpable parties...lol.
Boston College is partially at fault here. B.J. Raji was not given the benefit of anything approaching a decent education,as evidenced by the fact that he missed the part about fallacies of logic, so he is hitching his fate to that of Crabtree's, (and apparently Crab's cousin) at least partially. Let me take this opportunity to advise B.J. that when you autographed those press passes at BC, you might have taken the time and trouble to learn that it is "Soar Eagles", not "Sore Eagles". Call me nervous. (j/k btw)
I suspect a long, long wait. It is everyone's fault but mine. I'm working on all of the reasons and will get back to you on that...in the meantime, here are a few more...
Parker: You are the best
Crabtree: Ya, I am the best
Parker: DHB can't carry your jockstrap
Crabtree: Ya, DHB can't carry my jockstrap
Parker: You deserve top three money
Crabtree: Ya, I deserve top three money
Dunn: You are the best
Raji: Ya, I am the best
Dunn: Crabtree can't carry your jockstrap
Raji: Ya, Crabtree can't carry my jockstrap
Dunn: You deserve more money than Crabtree
Raji: Ya, I deserve more money than Crabtree
The guy that wrote an article for the SF Chronicle is partially at fault. (You 49er fans can fill in author's name) Instead of being used by the team in the PR battle, he got used by the Crabtree "camp". He applied pressure via that piece on the 49ers to pay Crabtree DHB money or better. Amazingly, within about 24 hours of that article hitting, we get this holdout threat from diva and co.
Thank you for publishing my rant. I feel better now.
Back to your regularly scheduled, far more coherent commentary.
:)
Although the Crabtree 'holdout' is at least a little more unique than your normal everyday holdout, aren't these holdout articles pretty much the same from year to year? Take out one player's name (last years) & replace it with this year's player or players.
Without doing a web search, which rookies held out prior to the 2008 season & what effect did it have on them as players and/or their team? Few can answer because holdouts are generally a non-factor in any analysis of said player or team. It's ludicrous to think a player's career hinges on the first few weeks of his 1st TC.
Only the media would lead the fans to think 'holding out' is a major story.
GO RAIDERS! Thank god we got DHB.
Rookies can't "hold out", they aren't under contract. They have no reason to rush it. Wait it out Crabtree, you can get top 20 money next year.
I'd expect no less from someone who was mentored by Deion Sanders.
Dude is a complete dork. Unless he is the next coming of Jerry Rice, I say let him sit out the year. Say hello to Mike Williams part 2.
I want more money. I got drafted lower than I thought I should be so I deserve more money. I will not play unless you give me more money.
This is so far off the believability charts you have to assume that the press is trying to make "news" out of a quote from an "adviser" that has no credibility. If this is credible enjoy the show. It's hard to be an NFL bust without ever actually being in the NFL.
On a side note that pop up on the bottom of the page is extremely annoying. Yes I know I can x out. Why was it added in the first place?
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Aug 06, 2009
04:58 PM
Until I heard such a demand from Parker or Crabtree himself, I wouldn't take this too seriously. But if I were Singletary I would love the chance to call his bluff and create a different environment in the SF locker room.