As the third week of the 2009 regular season prepares to commence, with the 2-0 49ers hoping to leave Minnesota with a 3-0 record, San Fran’s first-round draft pick continues to be unsigned.
Word is that Michael Crabtree, who left the Bay Area a couple of weeks ago, is now working out in the Orlando area.
We’re also told that there’s a perception that agent Eugene Parker now has zero sense of urgency to resolve the impasse.
With the Niners dug in and refusing to budge from the slotted deal that the tenth overall position in the draft dictates, the thinking is that the least desirable outcome for Parker at this point would be to accept a deal that has been on the table for more than two months. If Crabtree were to do so, the holdout engineered by Parker would have done nothing other than prevent Crabtree from having an impact as a rookie.
So the other alternatives are believed to be more desirable for Parker at this point, even if the ultimate outcome is that he gets fired.
And even if he were to be fired, the problem is that NFLPA rules would prevent Crabtree from signing with a new agent until five days have passed. Thus, if Crabtree wakes up tomorrow morning and realizes that he wants to join the many who are cramming their way onto the Mike Singletary Bulging-Eyes Bandwagon, it would take nearly another full week before Crabtree would join the fold, because he’d likely have to fire Parker and hire a replacement first.
Meanwhile, the drop-dead date for joining the Niners is approaching. Absent a signed contract by November 17, Crabtree will be required to sit out the entire season.
What a dumb ass. I hope he falls coming out of a mcdonalds and breaks his legs and face. I honestly hope he never
plays a snap in the NFL and ends up a worthless crack whore
Well good for him. To make everything right in the world, I would like to see the NFLPA and the NFL get an agreement signed in February which puts into place a rookie wage scale much like the NBA. I can see Crabtree ending up with a 3 year 10 million dollar deal. That sure would suck the cockiness out of him.
Maybe this will spell the end of Parker and his legion of holdouts.
I look forward to watching him fall to the 2nd round next year.
“the thinking is that the least desirable outcome for Parker at this point would be to accept a deal that has been on the table for more than two months.”
I would think, with Crabs being able to have virtually no impact this year, that the offer has been reduced.
How cool would it be if this giant tool hurt himself during his hold out and had to watch his millions fade away like a Bernie Madoff investor ? Kudos to the Niners for have having a pair.
and by 1/16 every week…
or more.the irony of it all is i bet he isnt as fast as he used to be and is just a system wideout anyway.
he will make some team very underwhelmed eventually.
Please dont sign this year Mr. Crap…. Not because I hate or like any of the people involved. Simple because I want to see “What if?”. My guess is 2nd round pick next year, but the league have to make sure they dont reward a rookie hold out, or it will happen way to often. He should not be picked until the last day of the draft.
It is theoretically possible that Crabtree could fire Parker and sign a contract without an agent. He could retain an attorney to read the contract if he wanted an independent viewpoint to protect his interest.
To me these actions say :
1) Crabtree does not want to play for the 49ers
2) There is some one who has committed to give him more or equal money
3)Crabtree camp believes that the 49ers will trade away his rights in March rather than lose their frst round pick completely
The pressure is on the 49ers, not on Crabtree. If the 49ers don’t do something by November 17th, then they got nothing for a 1st round draft pick, and someone who is willing to pay him gets him next year without having to compensate the 49ers. The 49ers can’t walk out of this deal with nothing.
You think Jerry Jones is not aware of Crabtree’s talent, since he played his games just a couple hours from Jerry’s new stadium?
The 49ers have two options: sign him to the money he wants, or sign and trade him to someone who is willing to pay the man. Crabtree has all the leverage – he knows that there won’t be anything wrong with his hands or legs one year from now if he doesn’t use and abuse them all season. In fact, he’ll be better off for getting the year of rest.
at this point, as a niner fan, i don’t want him. if he signs, he has missed pre season, dosent have a copy of the playbook, so he will have zero impact. if he did play, he will probably get hurt. plus, he has already shown to be a giant pain in the ass. after 2 years , he will want a new deal, especially if he plays well. let him sit, reduce the offer because of reduced production due to the holdout, then trade him to the Bangles for their # 1 next season. 49ers already have 2 # 1′s next season . can you say DEZ BRYANT and Sam Bradford. sounds good. FU
Crabtree is ballsy, just like Curt Flood was when he was the first ball player to challenge Baseballs’ reserve clause; just like Cassius Clay when he went to jail rather than be drafted. Both were big time gamblers but only Clay went on to be Muhammad Ali and rake in millions.
Which will it be for Crabtree as he attempts to destroy the slotting scale?
I do want to find out, hopefully next April.
The huge difference with Crabtree and Flood is that this slotting system is bargained. The MLBPA did not have the power in Flood’s day that they do now. Also Crabtree has never indicated this hold-out is a noble effort to destroy the slotting system and free his future rookie brethern; it’s purely him thinking he’s better than Heyward-Bey and that he should have been a Top 5 pick .
Crabtree could also make an under the table agreement to “fire” Parker, make a deal sans agent and then “rehire” Parker soon after or after he has a good couple of seasons and wants to hit his big money FA contract with Parker advising him all along but getting to save face when Crabtree accepts the standing offer.
ItalianArmyGuy, richardb – no, thanks to the rookie pool, Crabtree is screwed.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Possible-Crabtree-scenarios.html
Assuming Brandt is correct that the rookie pool will still be in place next season, Crabtree will have to be selected within the 1st 7-8 picks in order to make up the additional year money wise b/c only those teams will have a “pool” large enough to pay him that kind of money.
With all the Juniors likely to come out b/c of the fear of a rookie scale in ’11, it’s doubtful that Crabtree will be selected by then – and it’s almost a certainty that Parker will be looking for a 4 yr deal (meaning another likely hold out) in order to get to that 2nd contract in a timely fashion.