Crabtree Discussion Thread

Colts GM Bill Pollian was just interviewed on NFL Network. He was asked about his take on the 49ers and Michael Crabtree situation. Did anyone watch it?

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Does anyone honestly (be honest now) believe that he would be thrilled to sign a 10th overall slotted contract, and would do so? Especially after seeing a temporary injury push him down the board, and get passed by DHB.

This contract problem was obvious a long time ago, so I don't see why people are so upset to this date. This is not a normal 10th overall selection, it surely wasn't on draft day, and it won't magically become one just because we want it to.

The Niners are going to have to craft a creative contract to get this done, and if not, I think he simply walks away.

P.S. Once again, I don't understand the anger. I think if you put yourself in Crabtree's shoes as one of the dominant players entering the draft, seeing your stock drop due to a temporary injury, personally knowing that you should have been the first WR picked if not for that temporary injury, see that player who undeservedly jump you receive a massively overinflated salary, only to see him stink it up in camps and preseason games, hear of interest from other teams who are willing to throw down big money on you, and are interested in you as their first rounder next year, and think that you can prove the doubters wrong....why would you want to sign a fully-slotted 10th overall contract.

People are way too overemotional. He simply thinks he deserves better, and I believe he has a good case.

Furious response in 5,4,3,2,1...go!

Wait, one final note: If Crabtree was willing to sign for one dollar less than DHB before Monroe and Raji signed, the Niners were the ones who screwed up. The 8th and 9th slots were not closed until late in the negotiation game. The Niners could have not "broken the slot" if they gave Crabtree one less dollar than DHB. Of course, we will never know what each side offered, if Crabtree wanted more, if the Niners offered something more than now before Monroe and Raji signed, etc.

Crabtree would have signed before either of those guys. He was intending to wait for DHB to sign so he would know how much to ask for.

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Does anyone honestly (be honest now) believe that he would be thrilled to sign a 10th overall slotted contract, and would do so? Especially after seeing a temporary injury push him down the board, and get passed by DHB.

This contract problem was obvious a long time ago, so I don't see why people are so upset to this date. This is not a normal 10th overall selection, it surely wasn't on draft day, and it won't magically become one just because we want it to.

The Niners are going to have to craft a creative contract to get this done, and if not, I think he simply walks away.

P.S. Once again, I don't understand the anger. I think if you put yourself in Crabtree's shoes as one of the dominant players entering the draft, seeing your stock drop due to a temporary injury, personally knowing that you should have been the first WR picked if not for that temporary injury, see that player who undeservedly jump you receive a massively overinflated salary, only to see him stink it up in camps and preseason games, hear of interest from other teams who are willing to throw down big money on you, and are interested in you as their first rounder next year, and think that you can prove the doubters wrong....why would you want to sign a fully-slotted 10th overall contract.

People are way too overemotional. He simply thinks he deserves better, and I believe he has a good case.

Furious response in 5,4,3,2,1...go!

Wait, one final note: If Crabtree was willing to sign for one dollar less than DHB before Monroe and Raji signed, the Niners were the ones who screwed up. The 8th and 9th slots were not closed until late in the negotiation game. The Niners could have not "broken the slot" if they gave Crabtree one less dollar than DHB. Of course, we will never know what each side offered, if Crabtree wanted more, if the Niners offered something more than now before Monroe and Raji signed, etc.

I see what you're saying but there was a reason teams passed on him. Whether it was because of his foot or him being immature and a drama queen. If all the teams knew he was that damn good they would've drafted him higher but he wasn't. He needs to know this is how the draft works, you're drafted where you are and that's that. Yes he's a hell of a WR and has a load of talent and he needs to prove that on the field instead of holding out for more money. Prove you're worth the s**t load of money on the field first.

Originally posted by PTulini:
Colts GM Bill Pollian was just interviewed on NFL Network. He was asked about his take on the 49ers and Michael Crabtree situation. Did anyone watch it?

Let me guess... "Michael Crabtree would be foolish to sit out the season" and "I expect him to sign in the next week" Just a guess, but it seems that all of these pundits are spewing the same info/opinion

NT Khalif Mitchell has been released by the Niners. They now have an open spot on the practice squad. They seem to be clearing a space on the roster. Maybe for Crabtree.....maybe not

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
defies all logic is right.

As others in the media have said, he has surrounded himself with the wrong people, but at some point, he has to use his head and realize that not playin' in 2009 is just dumb.

I understand that he is confident that he can get drafted in top 10 again next year, but it is such a risky deal. There are too many "what ifs" for him to leave 16 million dollars on the table in my opinion and if he can't figure that out, I'm not sure he is smart enough to figure out what it takes to be an NFL player on and off the field. Hell, what if he gets injured in march 2010 again?? The kid should have stayed in college because he is acting immature and lookin' at short-term goals instead of long-term.

if cashtree has no intentions of signing then why is he hanging around the bay area and not in his hometown in dallas?? dude will sign just dont know when

Originally posted by Ceadderman:
Unless something changed over the weekend that I haven't seen, trade the bum straight across for Denver's Marshal.

Problem solved.

~Ceadder

That's not a bad idea. At least Marshal is proven. Crabtree could still be a bust.

Originally posted by dirtysouthniner:
NT Khalif Mitchell has been released by the Niners. They now have an open spot on the practice squad. They seem to be clearing a space on the roster. Maybe for Crabtree.....maybe not

More likely they sign a tight end...

Originally posted by jimbagg:
The stakes are about to get serious for Crabtree. To this point, holding out has cost him nothing (except skipping Singletary's brutal TC). But beginning Sunday, September 13, he loses 1/17th of his potential 2009 salary. That's a big number. He can't replace those dollars with a comparable job.

I expect him to sign within the next 72 hours. All this bull from Deion Sanders, etc is a last gasp negotiating strategy. Time favors the Niners and seriously hurts Crabtree. McCloughan, Crabtree and Eugene Parker all know this.

The Niners are handling this perfectly. No negative comments directed toward Crabtree. I foresee a 2-part response by the club. First, sign Crabtree. Second, and ONLY after Crabtree is signed, the club will be ruthless in going after some draft pick compensation for the obvious tampering. But that is being kept under wraps for now, in order to maintain a positive environment for Crabtree to sign.

If Crabtree's holdout continues into the regular season, through Week 3 or so, it becomes more likely that the Niners would find a "pre-existing physical issue", so that they could PUP him through Week 6, then drop a player to add him to the 53-man roster. Crabtree could then have time to learn the playbook and be a productive contributor to the 53-man roster.

Oh, my friend, you are seeing things under one lens. I think Crabtree has the Niners equally in a bad spot. If Sanders is being truthful, and nobody seems to be claiming he is not, then the news that teams were willing to pay Crabtree a mega salary only undercuts the Niners' position.

The Niners are the ones in trouble, if this deal does not go down over the next few days. Crabtree seems like a proud guy, and he could use all of the negative press as a motivational tool to be ready for next year's draft, or sign off on a trade and mega salary deal before the draft.

The Niners have a mediocre WR group, and losing a top college talent like Crabtree would be a big blow to the organization, even if it meant saving face, and money. Saving face doesn't win games. And, their money hasn't produced a winning team.

I will say that I believe the league will secretly become involved in the contract negotiations in the next couple of days. The last thing they want is a nasty year, uncertainty going into the draft season next year, and all of the problems associated with potential tampering issues.

Originally posted by FredFlintstone:
if cashtree has no intentions of signing then why is he hanging around the bay area and not in his hometown in dallas?? dude will sign just dont know when

Maybe he likes the "fashion models"

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Originally posted by dirtysouthniner:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Does anyone honestly (be honest now) believe that he would be thrilled to sign a 10th overall slotted contract, and would do so? Especially after seeing a temporary injury push him down the board, and get passed by DHB.

This contract problem was obvious a long time ago, so I don't see why people are so upset to this date. This is not a normal 10th overall selection, it surely wasn't on draft day, and it won't magically become one just because we want it to.

The Niners are going to have to craft a creative contract to get this done, and if not, I think he simply walks away.

P.S. Once again, I don't understand the anger. I think if you put yourself in Crabtree's shoes as one of the dominant players entering the draft, seeing your stock drop due to a temporary injury, personally knowing that you should have been the first WR picked if not for that temporary injury, see that player who undeservedly jump you receive a massively overinflated salary, only to see him stink it up in camps and preseason games, hear of interest from other teams who are willing to throw down big money on you, and are interested in you as their first rounder next year, and think that you can prove the doubters wrong....why would you want to sign a fully-slotted 10th overall contract.

People are way too overemotional. He simply thinks he deserves better, and I believe he has a good case.

Furious response in 5,4,3,2,1...go!

Wait, one final note: If Crabtree was willing to sign for one dollar less than DHB before Monroe and Raji signed, the Niners were the ones who screwed up. The 8th and 9th slots were not closed until late in the negotiation game. The Niners could have not "broken the slot" if they gave Crabtree one less dollar than DHB. Of course, we will never know what each side offered, if Crabtree wanted more, if the Niners offered something more than now before Monroe and Raji signed, etc.

Crabtree would have signed before either of those guys. He was intending to wait for DHB to sign so he would know how much to ask for.

DHB signed early, and the other two later. The window was opened for a massively inflated 10th overall salary that would not have "busted" the slot.

this thread will definitely hit 100 before he signs. Unless he signs in the next 5 minutes...

Originally posted by PTulini:
Colts GM Bill Polian was just interviewed on NFL Network. He was asked about his take on the 49ers and Michael Crabtree situation. Did anyone watch it?

Bill Polian said he is very suprised that Crabtree's holdout has gone on for this long. It is not in Crabtree's best interest to sit out. Also, Polian says he cannot speak for the 49ers because he is not in their situation, but (in his opinion) Coach Singletary and the 49ers Front Office have appeared to move on without Michael Crabtree.

At this point if Crabtree doesn't sign I'm okay with it. The guy is too much of a distraction.