The fact that 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree is unsigned with the month of September nearly over is newsworthy even without any specific developments.
And, so, allow us to report that there are no specific developments.
More specifically, a league source tells us that two weeks have passed with zero communication between the team and agent Eugene Parker.
There’s also a rumor in league circles that Parker is now telling people that there’s a team willing to pay Crabtree $40 million over four years, which would match the contract Parker negotiated in early 2008 for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
So maybe the Niners will be filing a second tampering charge at some point.
Jerry Jo–
oops. I mean, I have no idea who that might be.
Unbelievable that a team would pay 40 in 4 years to a little douche bag.
Good job, Florio. I had assumed that Crabtree was signed by the lack of reporting on it but you set me straight.
Thanks for the exciting update on nothingness, you are by far the quickest to report the non news!
Second team?? Sounds like Daniel Snyder and his Redskins.Reported on NFLN last night that his plane was spotted in Denver, maybe dinner in Texas?
I’ll pay him $40 to go away……
Personally, I hope the 49ers hold on to him until he’s ready to sign. Then I hope they stick it to him with very little guaranteed money and the rest be performance based.
If the 49ers trade him, I hope they do it with a team going nowhere. Like the Raiders, etc.
What a stupid prima donna.
So if there is a team willing to wait and then pay him 40 mil for 4 years, why on earth would he sign for 5 years and 25?
You should not have to take less than someone else would give you, and just because the Raiders and 2 other teams wanted other players, it does not mean they will be or even are right now more valuable.
The draft should only give you the right to match other offers, not give you control of a player just because they want to play pro ball and it was your pick.
“And, so, allow us to report that there are no specific developments.”
Another story about no story?
Another slow news day?
Even Snyder wouldn’t be stupid enough to pay that kind of money to a receiver who’s never played a down in the league and is quite obviously going to be a problem child if/when he actually does enter the league.
I’m surprised teams still deal with Parker to be honest.
From what I heard , his manager/agent says Crabtree is not hurting for money because of the endorsements he has in place. I guess he can wait for the BIG paycheck next year.
Why not call their bluff? If Crabtree signs next year with any team and they give him an uncharacteristically out of slot deal, then they are the ones who tampered.
ZZZzzzzzz…huh, what…Crabtr….Zzzzzzzzzz
Harm City Homer:
You are advocating that we get rid of the NFL Draft completely, you realize this right?
Harm City Homer = Eugene Parker
Dude, go away, nobody is buying into your crap argument. You get paid according to your slot. Nine teams passed on Crabtree, and he was selected in the 10th spot…which means he is worth EXACTLY 10th money! Crabtree is an idiot, and so are you.
On a side note, I hope that Goodell pulls his head out of his ass, and actually comes down hard on EVERY team that is tampering…trying to steal another team’s draft pick should get you banned from the NFL.
This just in. I’m not talking to Michael Crabtree either.
who cares
Huge Niner fan here and we’ve been discussing this on our Blogs for months…
This makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO sense.
Why would a team who COULD HAVE traded up to Draft Crabtree in this Draft… wait ONE WHOLE YEAR… risk tampering charges and league credibilty… to go back and Trade/Draft him for $40Mil??? It’s a BUNCH OF BS!!! 9 teams passed on him… nobody made a move and he fell to 10. But now out of nowhere there is supposedly some team willing to pay him $40MIL when they could have gotten him for $20 this year???
BLUFF BLUFF BLUFF all the way to bank Crabass. I look forward to have you serve me my McD’s at a Drive through douch
You just needed a post didn’t you Mike.
“There’s also a rumor in league circles that Parker is now telling people that there’s a team willing to pay Crabtree $40 million over four years.”
Look for CrabDiva to be traded in March 2010
I’m sure there are three teams telling Eugene Parker and Crabtree that. The Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams.
And then they start laughing hysterically because Parker and Crabtree actually believe them.
If ANYONE was willing to pay that type of money for him, they would have traded up in the draft to get him.
what a piece of crap. Crabtreeva
“trying to steal another team’s draft pick should get you banned from the NFL.”
So should salary cap cheating.
I would like to see Craptree never play an NFL Snap for his entire life for being a.. Well. thats as much as I will say.
Harm City Homer = Michael Crabtree’s mom
So what if Parker is right? Crabtree would be stupid to sign with the Niners. Does anyone even think that might be possible? The NFL spin machine has been downplaying this because they don’t the arbitrary slotting system broken.
I don’t know what is happening and neither does anyone outside of Parker & the 49ers. One thing should be said. Eugene Parker is the most powerful AA agent and he has many All-Pros under him. Crabtree’s inner circle has a group of powerful and successful Black men advising him.
There must be more to this story. Parker is considered to be one of the best agents and I bet he has an ace in the hole.
Not to bring up another vulture….but Scott Boras does the same thing…he always talks about “mystery teams” willing to pay his clients more money. The difference between Boras and Eugene Parker…Boras SOMETIMES is telling the truth….and because of that…when he does BLUFF….some teams are afraid to call his bluff. Eugene Parker is NO Scott Boras…..all he does is bluff..thus no one believes a word out of his lying mouth.
nobody is paying that much money or they would have already tried to trade for him. This is Parker trying to get the 49ers to increase their offer. San Francisco isn’t dumb enough to take the bait.
Seriously the guy wasn’t drafted by Oakland because he came off as a jerk during the interview. As much as we all make fun of Oakland, it looks like its them thats laughing now at this situation.
If he sits out the year and he goes back into the draft, hes going at the bottom of the first round or into the second round. then he won’t even get the money San Francisco originally offered. San Francisco could have easily been 3-0 at this point, it looks like theyre not exactly hurting without him anyway
What does Brett Favre know and when did he know it?
Vox, ok, well if you feel that way, then comment about it on a story that has relevance to your position. In case you didn’t know this, there is nobody employed by the team from those days, and the owners have since changed…damn you are such a broken record.
qawagstaff2009 — Parker is also known for holding out his clients. He’s just a big a douche bag as Crabtree.
It’s almost too late for him to play this year. If he signed tomorrow he’d have no chemistry with the team and he’d probably ride the bench. And of course he’d be getting less money than he would be now, which he doesn’t seem to want in the first place. The niners aren’t gonna waste much more effort on this. Unless they get a really kickass offer they won’t trade him and they’ll wait to see what happens in the draft next year. Guaranteed he’s not going lower than #10 next year, which is gonna mean less money than is on the table now. So if a team comes and blows up the bank signing him it’s evidence of tampering. And then SF will have grounds. If a good offer does come in they’ll also have grounds. Basically Parker is hoping that a team won’t call his bluff, that any trade offer would be too good to pass up, all in the environment where nobody trusts him. Good luck with that.
Crab douche Tree
I heard Crabtree is going to be on Dancing with the Stars doing a combination of the Cabbage Patch, SuperBowl Shuffle and Deion’s TD dance. All the while wearing Hammer Pants!!!
I think the most hilarious solution would be for the 49ers to squat on him if he refuse to sign, not trade him, let him go back in the draft, and draft him again. This would especially work if they got any first rounders back for tampering. Then if its higher than it was this year, they can offer him the same contract, or if its lower, cut the offer. That’ll teach the little douchebag to be an idiot.
I don’t understand why any team would give into this TURD!!! Are they so desperate that they don’t understand the message they are sending to this stupid rookies who have done nothing and do not deserve anything?! I hope we never ever sign this lame excuse for a football player! Let him be someone elses burden!
If any owner/team is willing to pay this stupid kid that much money they are going to find out, and very quickly, that he is not worth one cent!!
I think much of this goes back to Singletary saying he almost made Crabtree cry! Bruising ego’s to someone who already has a very large one can definitely facilitate an “I’ll show you” attitude.
Crabtree EATS IT….like Rooney
I can only wish that the NFL and PA can hammer out a new CBA with a rookie salary cap (5 year deals, minimum for all, incentives for performance only, no options, etc, etc) – that would teach the spoilt rotten little brat a thing about not being greedy… On top of that, have the 49ers draft him again.
I’m a Raider fan, I hate the 49ers, but this crap goes well above and beyond the passion for the game – it’s greed, pure and simple…
Come on DeMaurice and Goodell, make it happen.
Hmmm, anybody really believe another team is willing to pay Crabtree the same amount as the best reciever in the NFL? Really? Especially, given that the Cards arn’t willing to pay Boldin, a much much more accomplished player than Crabtree, the same amount. Well saying that you are going to pay somebody 40 million, and actually doing are not the same. The Niners arn’t gonna trade him to another team and they are likely to let him reenter the draft. So when this happens, what leverage can he generate with that second team? Oh you promised me 40 million over 4 years, and now you arn’t paying me. If you don’t pay me 10 million a year, I will sit out for a second year year in a row. Those powerful advisors mentioned in another post better figure out that is not leverage.
mike says: September 29, 2009 5:29 PM
If the 49ers trade him, I hope they do it with a team going nowhere. Like the Raiders, etc.
The Raiders don’t need to trade for him. They already passed on his bitch ass. The guy they took instead sucks, but at least he’s suiting up.
Allow me to help *qawagstaff2009* with the middle paragraph of his comment. My additions are in CAPS:
“One thing should be said. Eugene Parker is the most powerful, EGOTISTICAL, MONEY-GRUBBING AA agent and he has many All-Pros under him. Crabtree’s inner circle has a group of powerful and successful, IDIOTIC, MISGUIDED AND DELUSIONAL Black men advising him.”
You’re welcome.
I hope he sits out the entire season and the 49ers refuse to trade him. He is apparently the Prima Donna he was reported to be prior to the draft. Now, Eugene Parker has him so turned around that he thinks he will actually be better off holding out while his team gets off to a terrific start. Ricky Williams can finally say that he did not have the worst agent in the history of the NFL. Master P is smiling somewhere right now.
“Vox, ok, well if you feel that way, then comment about it on a story that has relevance to your position. In case you didn’t know this, there is nobody employed by the team from those days, and the owners have since changed…damn you are such a broken record.”
The relevance is cheating that deserves banishment. If paying players under the table doesn’t qualify, nothing should.
But did I specifically mention the 49ers? No, I did not. But since YOU did, let me educate you on your team just a little bit. The Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. has owned the 49ers since Eddie transferred ownership against NFL rules in the late 80′s. Denise Debartolo-York, Eddie’s sister, owned an equal share of the Edward J. Debartolo Corp. with Eddie, therefore she owned an equal share of the 49ers. Eddie was the face of 49ers ownership while Denise stayed in Youngstown and tried her best to keep Eddie from bankrupting the corporation. The owners haven’t changed. One was removed from any stake in the Debartolo Corp., and as a result he lost his stake in the 49ers.
no team is going to pay him 40 million, certainly not this year… the Niners can’t trade him until the off-season… he had to fit into the rookie salary cap space and that signing date and allocation for another team is long gone… it’s sign with the Niners or sit out.
either Crabtree himself, or his agent, have totally blown this one because all money paid this year is going to be pro-rated against games he’s missed and next year, based on what happened this year, you would hope all money would be performance based.
I still can’t believe he has a sponsorship deal that wasn’t tied to him actually being active on a team and playing… that sponsor got burned big-time and that deal won’t be renewed.
mike crabtree is the next mike irvin, he belongs in dallas with his hometown cowboys, imagine him and roy williams coming at you with full speed, WOW!!!
the cowboys have a surplus of RBs they could easily trade tashard choice and marion barber, and promote felix jones to the #1 position and re-sign tyson thompson and keon lattimore.
This may not be exciting to anyone else, but it is for me. I’ve never ordered fast food from a former college standout. The prospect is so exiciting, I’m already planning out my orders for each of his potential future employers (McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, A&W, etc…)
40 Million Dollars, LOL. I’d give Crabtree 40 million kicks to the nuts before I’d ever let him in a locker room
What happens if the NFL owners and the NFLPA cut a deal in the next few months that puts a rookie wage cap in place? What happens then to your 40 million over four years? Not gonna happen you say Michael. Maybe, but Maybe not.
Even if a team has a deal in place for Crabcake, how does he get to that team? They plan to move up in the draft and take him. He sits out knowing that the rest of the league won’t draft him before his team can move up in the draft and take him? What if some team takes him before they do and isn’t in on this whole 40million dollar deal, what, he sits out again ?
And Harm City Homer makes less than zero sense if that’s possible. So the rich teams could just out bid other team for any pick and take their picks or force them to match outlandish contracts. And if the team that drafted a player can only match or not match. Teams would just include poison pills in contracts and take other teams picks.
Crabtree=Williams
as in Mike
I bet Vox would be the life of the party if he ever got invited to any…. what a bag of air… a douchebag of air….
Here is my dream………Crabtree doesn’t sign this year……….the Niners open up the trade talks……..let the Cowboys and Jets (……you know the tamperers) make their pitch……………..then trade his sorry ass to the Browns, Buccaneers, or Chiefs where he could waste away in obscurity with what little money they pay his sorry ass.
Damn, we could be sitting here with 18 yards over 3 games, but Al had other plans…….
It is ridiculous for any team to make a comment that they would pay him $40 mil. (1) He wasn’t their pick it was the 49ers pick. (2) Any team making such a claim either didn’t have a top 5 pick or they didn’t trade up to claim him in the top 5. If they had a 1st round pick they surely could have made a trade with the Raiders and picked him at #7. The Raiders (the idiots that they are) could have traded down and still got Hayward Bay, another second round pick, and for a lot less money. So if they didn’t make a deal during the draft they need to just shut up.
From the niners standpoint, if he doesn’t sign with the niners and there is a team out there that will to pay him higher than his #10 slot, the niners will likely end up with 3 #1 picks in the next draft. If not Crab genius might end up in going in the 3rd round. Because if someone doesn’t make a move with the niners for him just before the draft and no team makes a move for him in the top 7, he will drop like crazy because no team will want to waste a pick next year if they won’t be able to sign him in the slot he is picked.
One last comment Deion … with an F
Parker is bluffing. Why would anyone offer 40 mill for a WR who had inflated college numbers(Texas Tech passes 65 times a game). Crabtree interviewed poorly, developed a diva stigma and has no combine results.
No team in the NFL is going to break the bank for this chump. Craptree screwed himself. Should have signed, prove himself, then get that dough. Logical isnt it? but no logic in his camp..
A team owner/GM intelligent enough to prevent Crabtree signing with the 49ers is also intelligent enough not to pay him that much next year.
Whoever drafts him next year (by rule the 49ers cannot), he has to sign for whatever they offer. Which may be minimum salary. Sitting out twice ends the career before it even started.
He will sign with the 49ers this season. He has everything to loose and nothing to gain by sitting out.
He can veto any trade in March/April by not signing with his new team. Then he still reenters the draft.
If there is a team truthfully willing to pay that kind of money to Crytree, the logic is quite simple why they didn’t go get him in the draft. The 2 teams most in question, are the jets, and cowboys. Well, the jets desperately needed a qb, and traded up to get Sanchez. Dallas had already traded their 1st rd pick during last season, thus neither one had anything to negotiate trading up for craptree. My question is why file tampering on just the jets? Could it be that York knows Jones historically gives up just about anything to nab a player, and they are leaving dallas alone so they can wheel a hefty trade out of jones before the draft?
“Could it be that York knows Jones historically gives up just about anything to nab a player, and they are leaving dallas alone so they can wheel a hefty trade out of jones before the draft?”
Come on man, he’s a York. Born into money, he hasn’t a clue.
22 teams did not have a chance to draft him, and some of the teams that passed on him may have taken him if the guy they took was not still there.
The draft is not a true indicator of talent or value.
The market for “#1 WRs” has a lot more demand than supply.
Boldin and Marshall have not been able to get paid DHB money despite putting up multiple pro bowl seasons, but that does not mean they would not get that and more if they were able to hit the market.
I have no issue with some sort of salary cap and cost controls, but why should a player who put in all the work in HS and college to become a pro, only have the right to accept whatever offer one team puts on the table?
The draft does not need to be destroyed, but draft picks should be treated like restricted free agents, not the property of the team that picks them.
SF did not even prepare for the possibility of picking Crabtree before the draft, then when they did they acted like they got a top 3 player at the 10 spot, giving him the needed leverage for endorsments and a holdout.
Take your frustration out on the situation not the one caught up in it. Who would take 5 years 25 mil when you could get 4 years 40? Do the math.
There is no “slotting system” or there would be no issue. There is only leverage, that right now appears to favor SF, but in time will shift back to teh player who will no longer be the property of the 49rs after the season.
I hope my team gets him next year because 41 touchdowns is 41 touchdowns and the money does not come out of my pocket. Who cares if he has incentives or gaurantees, I just want touchdowns and players who want to play. If he does not want to play for what he is being offered because his agent told him it is a bad deal, how can anyone else tell him he is wrong?
Before the draft any team could have tampered. Maybe 4 or 5 teams tried to trade up and get him, but with guys like Raji and Monroe still available (who were also projected as top 5 picks) teams were not willing to give them up for standard compensation. Maybe 2 or 3 teams tried to trade with the 49rs while they were on the clock (like the Jets and that is why they accused them).
It is most likley a bluff to drive up the price SF will eventually pay, but that is the system the NFL operates under right now, and if the average NFL player only lasts 3.5 years, they would be making a huge commitment by signing a 5 year deal they are not happy with for more than a year or two. Look at how many guys this off season tried to get an extension but had no leverage left. Even Derrick Mason’s only option was to retire, and even then he would have had to cut the Ravens a check for 1.4 mil instead of collecting his 3 mil salary for this season (where he has already put up more production than Crabtree is likley to). Mason would be glad to sign for what Crabtree is turning down but the Ravens did not even offer him an extension. They let Ray Lewis hit the market to set his price, but Suggs got tagged because his open market value would have been even higer than the record setting deal he signed.
Who knows what another team would really pay Crabtree, but why should he be forced to sign for less? That may be how the NFL operates, but that does not mean that is the only way, just look at the NBA. They may have 99 problems but money is not one.
No need to sign a contract. Crabtree’s got plenty of endorsement money. Masengill, Summers Eve, …
This is going to end badly for Crabtree. He will be lucky if he is able to play anywhere next season. Teams are not putting up with these players or their agents anymore.
Have fun never playing in the NFL, you twat!
mr.kush says: the cowboys have a surplus of RBs they could easily trade tashard choice and marion barber, and promote felix jones to the #1 position and re-sign tyson thompson and keon lattimore.
Problem is… Felix is injury prone (see MNF) and Choice is not an every down back – plus he’s still unproven. And why would Dallas trade Barber after he just signed a new deal last year and he’s one of the most feared RBs in the league?
I believe Dallas will not make any attempt at dismantling this3-headed monster (RB committee).
Parker should have his license revoked. this guy has no business advising anybody.
one of the biggest laws governing that profession is to do what is in the client’s best interests. If Parker thinks this was better for Crabtree than signing a fair-value contract based on draft position, then he’s a moron. aaaaand has no business representing or advising anyone.
i really hope this tanks Parker’s business.
You’re a broken record, Harm City Homer. No matter how many times you repeat it, it still doesn’t make sense.
“Take your frustration out on the situation not the one caught up in it. Who would take 5 years 25 mil when you could get 4 years 40? Do the math.”
Okay. I have done the math, and you are correct: I would not take the lesser offer. But…exactly what makes you think he could get the 4 year/$40 million deal? This arrangement is utterly out of line with what a recently injured, unproven rookie WR taken at #10 should expect. The only reason he might think he could get such a deal is…wait for it…if another team indicated that is what they would pay. And if another team did that, then they tampered with the 49ers’ exclusive negotiation rights.
And has been pointed out so many times that you absolutely have to know this: the rookie salary pool prevents the 49ers from making the kind of deal you are suggesting.
If it is a bluff, as you suggest, then Parker must consider the 49ers, the fans, the commisioner, you, and me to all be completed idiots. If it is true that he is claiming that another team is willing to offer Crabtree the deal in question, then Parker is using flagrant tampering as his basis for negotiations. Parker would be in as much trouble with the NFLPA as the tampering team.
Now, as to the original rumor in Florio’s post:
“There’s also a rumor in league circles that Parker is now telling people that there’s a team willing to pay Crabtree $40 million over four years, which would match the contract Parker negotiated in early 2008 for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.”
I simply don’t believe this rumor. The 49ers have already filed tampering charges. If Parker NOW is “telling people that there’s a team willing to pay,” then Parker is out there admitting to the tampering, even after the story has gone public. I don’t like Parker’s style nor the way this negotiation has gone, but I don’t believe he is stupid.
DKD wrote: “If it is true that he is claiming that another team is willing to offer Crabtree the deal in question, then Parker is using flagrant tampering as his basis for negotiations. Parker would be in as much trouble with the NFLPA as the tampering team.”
If a club tells Parker what they are willing to pay that’s tampering. And the club breaks a rule. In that case, Parker does not break a rule, though.
Dirk:
Before I get too far into this, let me state again that I do not believe that Parker is out there spreading this information or rumor. He is described by those who have negotiated with him as being stern but thoroughly professional, and spreading this kind of shady information would be quite unprofessional.
Now, I am not a lawyer. However, a quick review of the NFLPA regulations (you can find them here:
http://www.nflplayers.com/user/template.aspx?fmid=181&lmid=231&pid=520&type=c ) indicates that all certified agents are subject to discipline by the NFLPA, up to and including decertification.
If Parker indeed is knowingly using an actual instance of tampering in pursuit of a contract for the same player with whom the tampering has occurred, I have a feeling that the NFLPA would take a very dim view of Parker’s behavior and could subject him to penalties.
Below is a part of the NFLPA regs taken from the site listed above.
—————————-
ARTICLE VI
NFLPA AGENT CERTIFICATION
Section 1. Exclusive Representation: The NFLMC and the Clubs recognize that, pursuant to federal labor law, the NFLPA regulates the conduct of agents who represent players in individual contract negotiations with Clubs. The NFLMC and the Clubs agree that the Clubs are prohibited from engaging in individual contract negotiations with any agent who is not listed by the NFLPA as being duly certified by the NFLPA in accordance with its role as exclusive bargaining agent for NFL players. The NFLPA shall provide and publish a list of agents who are currently certified in accordance with its agent regulation system, and shall notify the NFLMC and the Clubs of any deletions or additions to the list pursuant to its procedures. The NFLPA agrees that it shall not delete any agent from its list until that agent has exhausted the opportunity to appeal the deletion pursuant to the NFLPA’s agent regulation system, except: (i) where an agent has failed to pass a written examination given to agents by the NFLPA or (ii) in extraordinary circumstances where the NFLPA’s investigation discloses that the agent’s conduct is of such a serious nature as to justify immediately invalidating the agent’s certification.
O.k., so I’ve been a lurker on this blog for the past month, watching/reading how the Crabtree soap opera will play out. And, after reading a lot (and I mean A LOT!!!) of credible sources, I’ve come to this one solid conclusion:
Michael Crabtree will sign with the 49ers before the signing deadline of 19 November. Period…take it to the bank.
Now, what makes me the expert here? I’m really no expert, per se, but there are just some immutable truths to this case (these are the facts of the case; I’ll get to my opinions later):
1) Crabtree was drafted #10 in the 1st round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Therefore, he should be paid what the #10 pick gets in the NFL slotting system. Follow me on this one: I once was asked by a realtor what I thought my house was worth. I figured it was worth about $250-$260K. He told me, “No, it’s not.” Before I could start to argue/plead my case, he quickly stated, “It’s worth WHATEVER someone is willing to pay for it!!!” That is a cold-hard truth; speculation gets you know where. *Nine* teams had the chance to take you higher than 10, Mr. Crabtree, and pay you a larger sum of money than what you feel you are worth. But, for whatever reason–and the reason(s) is irrelevant–they did not. You are only as valuable as someone willing to pay you. This is not a vendetta against you, Mr. Crabtree, so I’m sure you aren’t taking this personally. But, you will not get anything higher than #10 money from any team now or in the future (more on this in a minute).
2) I do not know you personally, Mr. Crabtree, so why all this resentment towards you, you might ask? Why are people “playa-hatin’” and not supporting your efforts to get the “crazy cash”? It’s plain and simple: you are the only one making a huge scene. Every single player taken in the 1st round of that draft feels that a) they should’ve been drafted higher because they are better than so-and-so, and b) they should be making more money because they are *still* better than so-and-so (Exception: Darrius Heyward-Bey). When Mark Sanchez was drafted at #5, I’m sure he probably thought, “Well, I’m as good as Matthew Stafford, so I should’ve been drafted #1 or #2!” Of all the players in the 1st round with arguably the BIGGEST gripe about being taken so late, Percy Harvin should easily take the cake. That boy is quickly turning into a Offensive Rookie of the Year contender…and I’m sure being taken so low drives him to be better. The point here is that EVERYONE, in some way/shape/form, feels like they could be earning more. The difference between them and you, Mr. Crabtree, is quite obvious. They are all currently playing, demonstrating that fact…or proving that they are actually overpaid. You are doing neither, Sir, and this is leading to the opinions being generated about you.
3) Now, back to why I believe the 49ers will sign Crabtree this season. A former agent and colleague of Eugene Parker’s summed it up best. He logically walked through all possible scenarios for this and came to the same conclusion. First, the obvious: Crabtree will not come close to earning the same contract next season. The questions surrounding Crabtree have only quadrupled. No one knows how fast he is. He hasn’t “battle-tested” that ankle yet. His attitude apparently is an issue, and like any good receiver, he is turning out to be quite the diva. And let’s not forget the whole year of sitting out of a professional sport. When you add that all up, does THAT scream “Top 10 Pick” next year? Absolutely not. But, more importantly, getting past that fact, there are two lesser known facts of this case that most people aren’t talking about. IF the 9ers cannot sign him, and then decide to trade him after the 1 March start of the 2010 fiscal year/season begins (the next possible time to enter trade talks for Crabtree’s rights), any team trading for Crabtree will *have* to sign him from their *2009* rookie salary pool! That is a fact (look it up). Now, I’m told that most teams will completely use up their rookie salary pool each year (usually only having roughly $100k left in that pot of money). Seeing how every 1st round pick has been signed (with the exception of our guy here), I’m guessing (this would have to be substantiated) that NO team has remotely CLOSE to enough money left in 2009 rookie salary pool money left to pay Crabtree even close to what he’s after. Translation: no team will be able to trade with the 49ers for Crabtree’s rights because there is no legitimate way to sign him. Well then, that leaves the 2010 draft as the only option left. As mentioned above, that is the gamble for Mr. Crabtree. The rumor on the table is that someone is willing to pay him what he wants. BUT, to do this, the “mystery team” will be the ones to break the slotting system next season to do it, and oh by the way, come under great scrutiny for having done that very thing, but also draw the ire of a NFL tampering investigation. That alone guarantees this scenario’s death.
NOTE: for all those people out there that think it would be hilarious if Crabtree re-enters the 2010 draft and ultimately redrafted by the 49ers…this cannot happen. There is a rule on the NFL books that is a player re-enters the following draft, the team that drafted him in the prior year cannot draft him again. If Mr. Crabtree enters the 2010 draft, only 31 teams are eligible to select him. That’s a fact (look it up).
4) Bottom line: Eugene Parker is attempting to maintain the illusion of leverage in these negotiations. Deion Sanders tried to help out his “brother from another mother” earlier this month by doing this very thing (alluding to the fact that other teams are willing to pay Crabtree the top dollars) in a vain attempt to drive the negotiations. Kinda backfired on you there, Primetime; you might be out of a job soon. These rumors will persist, but the fact of the matter is that it’s all smoke-and-mirrors…and the 49ers know it. Also, keep this point in mind: do you think the 49ers just decided to target the Jets with tampering charges? Did it EVER occur to anyone that the 49ers targeted a specific team here, so maybe there is MORE to the tampering charge than you think? Remember, the 9ers were accused and convicted of the same charge only two years ago, so I’m pretty confident that they are aware what it would take to prove a tampering charge. I know I’m in the minority here, but I’m betting this tampering issue gathers speed soon enough and actually becomes larger than you might think.
O.k., so at this point, I would like to interject a strong opinion of mine and support it with facts in this case. I believe the person to blame for all of this Crabtree drama is…wait for it…the Arizona Cardinals! Well, specifically, the way they handled the rookie contract of Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, a client of Eugene Parker (remember this guy??), didn’t demand large bonus(es) or even high base salary. No, Parker was more interested in beefing up the Not Likely To Be Earned (NLTBE) escalators. For those that don’t know what these are, this is where the “real” money comes from. Let’s say that Crabtree negotiates a clause that says if he plays in 50% of the 49ers plays this season, he gets $2 million bucks. This doesn’t sound like a difficult task with him being the #1 pick for the 9ers, so it’s probably attainable. Well, if you string together too many of these NLTBEs, but they are, in fact, attainable, well, not only could you make a LOT of cash…but you can also begin to crush your team’s salary cap. Fitzgerald’s rookie contract was LOADED with NLTBEs…but a large majority of them were easy enough to get…and all of a sudden, the Cardinals paid Fitzgerald enough money to make his contract count for $20 million of their salary cap…unless they renegotiated the contract early. *THIS*, my friends, and nothing more was the pressure point that forced the Cardinals to tear up Fitzgerald’s rookie contract and negotiate his current 4-year, $40mil contract. Parker wants this to happen for Crabtree! He’s convinced that if the 9ers will simply beef up the NLTBEs, and Crabtree lives up to his hype, his contract could mushroom out of control. Well, other teams took notice of the Fitzgerald situation, as well as other agents. Parker is no dummy. He knows that Crabtree cannot sit out this season and expect more next year. There is a reliable source who backs up this belief. Mike Lombardi, former NFL exec, personally talked to Parker just last week, and Parker said something very interesting: Crabtree is willing to compromise as long as the 49ers are willing to. What kind of compromise is Parker after??? You guessed it: beefed-up NLTBEs! That’s it. Parker will, in fact, negotiate these NLTBEs to be lower thresholds, of course, so that Crabtree can actually achieve them. The balancing act for the 9ers is to keep them high enough to warrant “good production”.
For those out there that simply think that Crabtree doesn’t want to play for the 49ers, chew on this: why would he actually move to the Bay Area, attend all the rehab treatments in the 49ers facilities, participate in OTAs with the 9ers, if he never intended to play for them??? That does not make sense. John Elway never wanted to play for the Colts…he said that very loud and clear before the draft…and the Broncos swooped in to pick him up. Eli Manning said that he would never play for the San Diego Chargers…and while the Chargers did draft him, the Giants and Chargers ultimately swapped their draftees (Philip Rivers for Manning), the rest is history. Professional sports is littered with people NOT wanting to play for a particular team, for whatever reason. Do you think J.D. Drew moved to Philly after they drafted him? Hell no! He was NOT going to play for them…so he sat a year and re-entered the draft. Mr. Crabtree has done everything that suggests that he is ready and willing to play for the 9ers this year…if the money is there.
I will end with this warning, Mr. Crabtree. Even if you have a promise on the table right now that some team next year is willing to pay you the $40 million you covet, keep in mind that the NFL landscape is constantly changing; the game waits for no man. You can have a handshake, a wink, a promise, whatever today…but the reality only occurs when that draft begins. You learned that to be true this year, when you believed that you should’ve been a Top 3 Pick…only to realize that you were a Top 10 Pick. Granted, the 49ers did not believe you would last to #10 (did anyone, really?), but the reality is you went #10. That still makes you an elite athlete in my book, and as a diehard 49ers fan, makes me long for the day you are suited up, helping to return this once-proud organization to dominance and excellence. Negotiate the contract you think you need…take the NLTBEs…and get on the field and start earning them! I’m convinced that if you are even half of what you showed in college, you should easily be able to make your money. Get it done, Mr. Crabtree.
It might take till 18 November, but Mr. Crabtree will come to his senses and sign on the dotted line. If the NLTBEs are a win-win for both parties, the contract will get done. The alternatives make no sense at all for either party.
Just my opinion…I could be wrong.
“Take your frustration out on the situation not the one caught up in it. Who would take 5 years 25 mil when you could get 4 years 40? Do the math.” First, let’s correct the obvious. Any deal he signs after the season has to be considered a 5 year deal: yes this year counts. So it would be 40 million for 5 years. Second, the niners have offered 28.5 million over five years. So the “obvious” choice is the one that exists: the 28.5 million over 5 years. The first deal doesn’t exist. A telephone call with an offer is not a contract on paper. So basically: THE FIRST OFFER DOES NOT EXIST.
Hey J.P. – zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
are you done yet? Lotta slow minded people on these blogs, you can’t post disertations and keep everyone’s interest peaked – what did you say again?
@IWanttoPunchFloriointheFace:
I had a lot to say and didn’t want to spend hours/days/weeks getting into a long, winding thread.
I am done now. If there are any slow-minded people, then they can go back and reread to their heart’s desire.
Just wanted to throw some facts and opinion out there for others to check out.