Originally posted by GNielsen:
Originally posted by Rsrkshn:
Now, why exactly do "most of us agree" that Crabtree will not accept the Niners' offer (if one is made)? And does this "most of us agree", in fact, make it a fait accompli? Why don't we wait and see.
If it comes down to it, Crabtree will at least test the market first. He may well find out that the market for his services are not as strong as he anticipated. Remember: No probowls. History of injuries. The Niners are not a cheap-skate organization. They will pay you value if you are worth it.
Okay, let's just say that I think Crabtree will not accept what Baalke has in mind for compensation. Just my opinion. That doesn't mean I don't like him, but as far as I'm concerned, he's already proven with his original holdout that money is more important than chemistry and that's fine. Yes, he'll test the market. Let's just leave Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Mike Wallace out of this for a second. Do you think Crabtree thinks he's as good as, say, Dwayne Bowe, Devin Hester or Vincent Jackson? I think he sees himself as equal to those guys and they all have contracts making over $10 mil a season. Percy Harvin, Jackson and Bowe all average over $11 mil a season. With the money the Niners pay for defense, and with Kaepernick, Iupati and Aldon Smith needing to get paid, I just don't think Baalke will want to pay over $10 million for Crabtree.
Crabtree is a fabulous receiver, but he's a possession receiver. He's not a stretch the field kind of player. I think they're hoping Jenkins, Lockette or Moore become stretch-the-field guys and Patton becomes a dynamic possession receiver similar to Crabtree. On top of that, I think they feel McDonald can be a classic possession TE to compliment Davis and James/Hunter can be the Darren Spoles type guys. With all that on their offensive plate, I just don't see them putting out $10 mil a year for Michael Crabtree.
It's all very well what you say, but you're overlooking one very significant factor: It doesn't matter how good Crabtree thinks he is and how much he thinks that he's worth. It only matters what the guys holding the purse strings think. If noone is offering him $10million a year, how is he going to hold out for that amount? You mean he'll just not play unless someone pays him $10 million? There are two giant assumptions that you are making:
1. Someone out there will pay Crabtree $10 million a year. I'm saying this is far from a sure thing given his history of injury and production. Teams place a premium on speed. He lacks that in his repertoire. Cruz is way faster than Crabtree and he only raked in $7million a year. All the guys you mention are stretch-the-field kind of players. BTW I didn't know Hester was pulling down $10 million +. Really?! Wow! Chicago is also talking about releasing him though.
2. That Crabtree will not be satisfied with a fair offer that the team makes before he hits FAcy. If they in fact do decide to make this offer, given Crabtree's injury history.
You talk like you know (i) what kind of offer Baalke would make Crabtree, and (ii) that Crabtree would only accept a $10million + offer. You don't KNOW either. I'm saying let's wait and see, because the scenario you're painting is not a sure thing.
Personally, I like Crabtree a lot. I hope he stays. But the one thing we agree on s that the Niners shouldn't break the bank over him. They may not have to, I'm saying.
