Crabtree discussion continues
Over the past couple weeks I've spoken to dozens of individuals - none of whom wanted their quotes attributed to them - about Michael Crabtree and the 49ers. There was a theme that quickly developed.
In my talks with agents, NFL executives and former NFL executives, not one person supported Crabtree's side in the contract impasse. I wrote an article for today's newspaper: "Crabtree still on outside looking in."
Here are some quick-hitters that either did not appear in the article or address frequently asked questions:
--Q: When will Crabtree sign with the 49ers?
A: Nobody knows if the contract impasse will end tomorrow, next month or never. If Crabtree decides he wants to report to the 49ers, he can sign the contract at any time. But all indications at this point are it could last a while. At this point, the sides aren't negotiating. They've agreed to disagree.
--Q: If Crabtree settles for the 49ers' offer, how can he justify missing all these practices for a contract he could have signed in late June?
A: That's the big question. One agent speculated that Crabtree would have to fire his agent, Eugene Parker, and use him as the scapegoat in order to sign the deal. But others believe Crabtree and his family are driving the bus more than Parker. But Crabtree has not said a word publicly about his demands. Therefore, if Crabtree does sign a lesser deal, he can take the high road and remain neutral.
--The only public comment from the Crabtree camp came from cousin/adviser David Wells, who said in an interview with ESPN that they are prepared to have Crabtree sit out the entire season. He suggested the Raiders' contract with seventh-pick Darrius Heyward-Bey was a good starting point for negotiations.
--If Crabtree is, indeed, willing to sit out the entire season, perhaps a story of equal significance is that the 49ers appear willing to allow him to sit out. League sources are certain that the 49ers will not cave in and give him a lot more money to avoid the possibility that Crabtree will re-enter the 2010 draft.
--Q: What have the 49ers said publicly?
A: Not much. The only quote that directly relates to contract negotiations came from Mike Singletary on July 28: "I don't know his agent. I don't know all the other stuff. I do know that we have been fair."
--The 49ers have not had any problems getting rookies into camp on time, so it seems as if the 49ers have been fair with draft picks in the past. But, the problem is, they're being fair for a No. 10 pick. Crabtree's side is not willing to acknowledge he was the No. 10 pick.
--Q: Why was Crabtree getting blamed for the fact that other first-round picks have yet to sign?
A: Some of it is because the agents who represent players in front of Crabtree were terrified the 49ers will cave in to Crabtree's demands, thus making them look weak for negotiating deals in which the 10th pick received more than their clients.
--League sources said that another reason the signings have been slow is because the Raiders messed up the process by giving Heyward-Bey an incredibly generous 20-percent raise over what the No. 7 pick received last year. Small-market teams - such as
--Q: Why don't the 49ers just pay Crabtree like Heyward-Bey?
A: Because that's not how this works. As I noted in the story, with young executives Jed York, Scot McCloughan and Paraag Marathe, it could have disastrous ramifications for their careers. Also, the precedent would be set. Any first-round draft pick would just hold out until they cave in. The 49ers have two first-round picks next year. Everybody with whom I've spoken said they are convinced that the 49ers cannot - and will not - pay him more than anyone drafted with the first nine picks of the draft.
--Q: Do wide receivers get more money because of the position they play?
A: Not in the draft. The only position that receives any kind of premium is quarterback. That's just the way it's always been.
--Q: Is Crabtree's side waiting for those other first-round picks to be signed?
A: No. They're waiting for the 49ers to up their offer. Heyward-Bey's contract is the only one that matters.
--Q: Do we know what the 49ers have offered?
A: Not exactly. But the sources with whom I've spoken believe the 49ers' offer is approximately an 18-percent raise from what the Patriots awarded linebacker Jerod Mayo, who was chosen in the same spot last year. That would mean Crabtree has balked at approximately $16.2 million in guaranteed money on a five-year deal or $19.5 million for six years.
--One agent who deals closely with the 49ers told me there is an $18 million difference between the sides on the total package of the contract.
--Q: Can the 49ers trade Crabtree?
A: Yes, the 49ers own Crabtree's rights until next draft. UPDATE: The answer is "No." The deadline to trade an unsigned rookie passed on Aug. 14. Now, if Crabtree plays in the NFL in 2009, it will have to be with the 49ers. Team president summed up the situation as saying the 49ers are "all in." He expressed confidence that something will get done, but added he's not sure when it might happen.
--Q: But is there a team that would give up a draft pick (or two) to the 49ers for the right to begin negotiating with Parker?
A: That is very doubtful. After all, if such a team were out there, why didn't that team trade up to get Crabtree with one of the top nine picks in the draft.
--Q: If Crabtree does not sign as the regular season approaches, will the 49ers lower the contract they've already offered?
A: That's highly doubtful. The 49ers believe they have offered a fair contract. They think Crabtree will eventually come around and accept a deal worthy of a No. 10 pick. They fell in love with Crabtree for his ability to catch a football. Those personnel evaluations have not changed. They still expect Crabtree to be a big part of the team's future, and they don't want this thing to turn contentious. They'll patiently wait.
--Because the 49ers own his rights, he would be prohibited from working out for teams to answer questions about his speed. And he would be unable to visit teams to answer questions about his personality and character. He could stand to lose a lot of money. It's highly unlikely he would go in the top-10 again. Also, there's a slight chance that the owners will get together and revamp the system for paying draft picks. (In all likelihood, if that occurs it would be in 2011.) But Crabtree would also be one year further from free agency - and the possibility of a second big contract -- if he does not compile an accrued season this year.
--Q: If the 49ers are unable to sign Crabtree, do they receive compensation?
A: Absolutely not. There are no mulligans in the NFL draft.
* * *
Just say the worst thing happens and 49ers and Crabtree don't agree and he re-enters the draft. Do you think other teams would stand behind the 49ers and not draft him? I know this maybe collusion and illegal.
my guess is crabtree will sit out all of training camp and sign his deal before the opener. thats sad because he could have had an awesome rookie year. i hope he can contribute to the niners future.
Matt, if Mr. Crabs reenters the draft next year would not the prevailing theory be that he would not only lose a years worth of pay, a year lost in the NFL as well as football skills diminished but also that he would not be drafted in the 1st round and could quite possibly fall well beyond? Can the kid really be that ignorant?
Yaaawn....
"Can the kid really be that ignorant?"
No, and as a matter of fact he seems reasonably bright. But this is a free country, and he is entitled to ignore what's right before his eyes.
Once again a one sided treatment of the subject with some highly dubious assertions and assorted rumor mongering.
Fact is that the millions the Yorks are keeping in the bank by not signing Crabtree will not help the Niners to the playoffs. Jed promised us the playoffs so let him put his money where his mouth is and get the best WR prospect in years on the field.
What's more important, a better 49ers team or the Yorks getting an even bigger profit margin??
Crabtree will sign and make a bundle. After his first TD the fans will cheer and love him.
That's how it works.
At some point the person who is paying his bills will revolt. Right now he's got IOU's for 8 cell phone bills, 8 car payments, food, clothes, movies, all that stuff that 24 year olds blow money on without even thinking. There is no way on God's green earth that the person (Mom? Dad?) holding all those IOU's is going to give him the green light to sit out for another 10 months. As someone recently wrote, he'll sit out the preseason and then sign in time to collect his first game check. If we're lucky, he'll be as good as advertised and be useful sometime in the first month. If he pulls a hamstring on day-1 we'll know that Year-1 of the Crabby era is a bust.
just want to say crabtree got his head so far up his own butt its really sad. glad to see that his negative attidude hasnt affected the team. even if he signs right now he wont help our team much till later in the season. he has really rubbed me the wrong way and im so disappointed in him. he has a major hole to dig out of for me to like him again.
-anthony
RealFan, the only "dubious assertions" are yours in trying to cast this off as a money issue with the Yorks. That's nonsense. It's a league wide slotting issue, pure and simple.
Hey Matt,
I've asked you this before and didn't get a response.
One thing you don't touch upon in too much detail is the $18 million spread between the two sides. Also, Wells noted that DHB's contract was for $38million. Both of these things suggest they're focusing on total contract, not just guaranteed money. This provides the inevitable "out" for both sides.
The way out of this is for the 49ers to stand firm and offer Crabtree the slotted amount ($16m/5 or $20m/6)...but pair it with generous performance incentives that allow the total to hit his target contract ($50 million?), but could only be reached if he quickly becomes a perennial pro-bowler who shows up, works hard and doesn't hold out or ask for a trade or a renegotiation down the line.
Let's face facts: Recent history has shown us that he and his agent are willing to do whatever it takes to get him paid what they think he deserves. If he's as good as he thinks he is, he'll be pulling a Boldin in a couple years. The 49ers can avoid this by inserting smart incentives and behavior guidelines in the contract.
So give him the slotted guarantee and make it so the performance incentives are commensurate with his performance and behavior. The 49ers make a flexible contract that keeps him in-line, happy and a 49er. He gets the opportunity to be paid like a top receiver if he performs like one. That's how contracts and performance incentives are supposed to work...to reward performance.
Most importantly, both sides save face and can claim victory and get on with the business at hand.
What happens if Crabtree is caught working out for another team before next years draft? What is the consequence for both Crabtree and the other team?
Louisiana49er | August 13, 2009 6:15 PM |
Just say the worst thing happens and 49ers and Crabtree don't agree and he re-enters the draft. Do you think other teams would stand behind the 49ers and not draft him? I know this maybe collusion and illegal.
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It's not collusion if other NFL teams pass on him next year, it's common sense and good business.
Who would be dumb/ballsy enough to spend a high draft pick, and more than $20m guaranteed, on a player who has been sitting a year and is a proven ego-maniacal malcontent? Two: Al Davis and Jerry Jones.
Other teams would consider drafting him, but not at 10 or higher...and not for $20m guaranteed.
There's a reason even Jerry Jones cut T.O. There's a reason Al Davis passed on Crabtree and traded Randy Moss for a third round pick. There's a reason why Mike Vick is only making $1.6m this year.
Personality matters.
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To paraphrase Coach Singletary:
I would not tolerate players that think it's about them when it's about the team. And we cannot make decisions that cost the team. I believe this: I would rather play with 10 people and get penalized all the way until we've got to do something else. Rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it.
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If he sat out a year, he'd get less than what the 49ers are offering him now in guaranteed money...but probably a bit more in performance incentives.
El Dorado | August 13, 2009 7:57 PM | Reply
What happens if Crabtree is caught working out for another team before next years draft? What is the consequence for both Crabtree and the other team?
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That would be tampering. He and his agent can't even talk to other teams about the draft or a possible trade without the 49ers' permission...let alone actually working out for them. The team would lose draft picks, which the 49ers would receive.
There is, however, easy ways around this. Say, for example, Crabtree is filmed-- Olympics-style, running a 4.4 40, running crisp routes on a practice field on a DB represented by his agent (or his buddy Deion Sanders), catching passes from a QB represented by his agent. Say this film winds up on YouTube in all its HD glory. No team requested the footage and the agent didn't talk to them or send them a physical video.
They get to see him hold his own combine without colluding.
Crabtree's agent probably wouldn't agree to this, since YouTube won't pay his client. I could envision him doing the same virtual workout with Deion and T.O. on his reality show, though.
Bring ya popcorn!
Sorry=
That should read "They'd get to see him hold his own combine without tampering."
(from the comfort of their own home office)
Lets get this kid in here already!!
Probably charges of tampering will be thrown around, but the NFL is East Coast biased, it's unlikely the Niners will get anything out of it.
Comment: I've asked you this before and didn't get a response. One thing you don't touch upon in too much detail is the $18 million spread between the two sides. Also, Wells noted that DHB's contract was for $38million.. . .
My response: I'm not sure what your question is, but I'll try to address what you wrote about. The main thing is the guaranteed money. The 49ers want to keep the contract slotted. I'd fully expect Crabtree's deal to have a reported maximum value more than Raji's. There will probably be a lot of backloaded fluff in such a deal to make it look bigger than it really is. But, as one GM told me, the 49ers have to avoid doing for Crabtree what the Cardinals did for Fitzgerald. The Cardinals had so many incentives in that deal that Fitzgerald's pay jumped up to $17 million in the back end of the contract. It makes it very difficult on the team to negotiate a long-term deal off of that number. --Matt M.
So when we don't make the playoffs we can all sit back and say no big deal, as long as league wide slotting is still in place we're happy??
Gimme a break. True fans want the team to win and want the owners to do everything they can to make that happen. That's why we love Eddie D.
My guess this situation had more to do with young Jed's ego & old John's parsimony than anything else. Of course the bay area media won't explore that angle, they're too busy kissing team butt. Kawakami might have but he's unusually decided to sit on the fence. Probably afraid of upsetting his pal Jed.
Realfan49 has lost all credibility on this board for now on. Everyone please note that.
Both Realfan and MadDog have gotten completly emotional over this Crabtree issue. There is nothing to negotiate, Crabtree has the most to lose and in a big way. Personally I would turn up the pressure. Some people just dont understand the value of PRINCIPLE (dont want to spell check).
During his workout yesterday at College of San Mateo, he insinuated the possibility of not signing at all, due to concerns about the passing game. No one there wanted to be quoted either, but he left a bad impression of his ability to grasp the situation.
Thanks Matt.
That was basically my question-- why the 49ers don't just make the guaranteed total the slotted amount and give him an annual maximum contract (steady, not back-loaded) in the $9m range (only achievable if he performs like a top-10 receiver).
The guaranteed amount is what they have to hold fast to the slot guidelines. The performance incentives should be designed to appropriately compensate him if he becomes the next Randy Moss.
Thanks again for giving an insight to where the compromise might come from.
Time to talk trade. If what your saying is true. I would let him know we are seeking a trade if he doesn' sign and if we can't get a trade feel free to end the discuss and sit out so he can be drafted in he middle of he first for half the money.
Gimme a break. True fans want the team to win and want the owners to do everything they can to make that happen. That's why we love Eddie D.
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Eddie D. didn't have to deal with the salary cap. And when he did, he and Carmen Policy blew it up and screwed up the team.
Al Davis does everything he can to win. I'd rather have the Yorks, the 49ers and some sanity than Al Davis and the lowly Raiders.
Told you all that it was going to be a mistake to draft Crabtree...
1st Players don't hold out for incentives, they hold out for guarantees (read real money, cash in hand). A good negotiator might be able to close a small gap with a few easy to reach incentives, but it makes the next contract more difficult.
2nd The person paying the bills is most likely his agent as a loan against expected income.
Funny odd thing no one has mentioned. Call it the "nuclear" option. A player could theoretically, if motivated, not sign with the NFL and instead ply his trade with the UFL or the CFL. The team that drafted him would own his contract for two seasons, but everyone could see how he performs and evaluate him later. The UFL combine is coming up pretty soon and there's nothing stopping a player from working out there.
RealFan you are an idiot!! im sorry but dude seriously please become a raider fan. i dont like to bash my fellow niner fans but jesus!! you can not be that simple minded. your way to fix everything is to give these unproven rookies everything they want? dude seriously?? why on earth would we wanna show that we are yellow? why should we miss up the system just to give crabtree what he wants? this guy isnt gods gift to football. nor do we need him. we have plenty of talent at WR. yes it would be great to have him in camp to help out the threat we already have at our passing game. but not by cavin into his silly demand. it sounds like you dont get how this whole thing works. and maybe you are only reading what you want to hear. If we say pk crab, have what ever you want. thats gonna reflect on how this whole thing is done and mess it up for everyone. not to mention more then likely, we will find ourselves in the same spot next year. the rookies will have this idea of hey we can get the niners to eat out of our hands, look what crabtree got them to do. it aint about the money for us, its about paying how he should be paid. how everyone else has been paid.
i want to be in the playoffs just as bad as you, but not if that means making the 49ers look like a bunch of *******!
I have an idea. The 49ers should let Crabtree re-enter the draft. Nobody is going to want to sign him. Then the 49ers could let him fall to them and they can select him with their second 1st round pick. Then they won't have to pay him "top five" money. There's nothing Crabtree's agent can say then.
Not to mention NFL wages are funded by TV revenue.
Cheapstake NFL owners can't really underpay draft picks due to the annual rookie allocation pool, the current "cap within a cap" salary control under the CBA -- & which both clubs & agents reference in their contract negotiations.
I'd mentioned it.
To follow up, the UFL is proposing a salary cap of maximum $20m per team, way more than the CFL model but still unlikely to attract marquee players. While someone like Vick can definitely headline that league as a million-dollar QB, a greedy punk like Crabtree is delusional if he thinks he can make DHB money ($23.5m g'teed) over there.
Right on for the excellent insight MM.
I agree w/ the 49ers and the rest of the league on this. Don't budge, plain and simple. Be fair, but don't be wimps. IF Crabtree sits out the season, I think this is a golden opportunity for Morgan, J.Hill, Zeigs, and Spurs to shine. These young dudes have ability, and proven they're worth the reps.
Does anyone think Crabs or Parker would demand a trade at any point? If so, I say call Jerry Jones and tell him to give up their next yrs 1st rounder for this shining Texas propsect.
Great article Matt,
Question: Are these two sides still talking or has it just been left to a stalemate?
I can't be more proud of the 49ers front office on this situation. If we let a 22 year old kid put our tail between our legs it could estabilsh devistating consequences.
1. Future draft picks will hold out. Why woudn't they if it gets them more $$$.
2. Making a contract lodaded with too many incentives makes it very difficult to draft a fair second contract. From what we've seen from this guy shows us it may be difficult to keep Crabs in a 9er uniform. I don't want him to play for 4 years, reach is potiental, then leave to FA.
3. Why fold on his bluff when we're holding all the cards? As said by others there is no way he would get drafted higher than 10 if he re-enteres the draft. I see him as a late 1st which would cost him millions. (Plus he may lose his Nike Contract among other potiental endorsements)
Frankly, I'm sick of hearing about Crabtree and his non-situation. Until he signs, gets traded or decides to quit, he's dead to me. As far as I'm concerned, he's not a player signed to play for the team, so there's no point in thinking about it.
Realfan49 & the rest of you CEMENT HEADS that actually think that Crabbs is going to just sit out the season LOSE MILLIONS of dollars that he will not get back by Re-entering the draft next season. You guys need to go seek PROFFESSIONAL HELP! Matt CLEARLY laid out that scenario of holding out the entire season & you guys STILL think he's actually going to do it? Sorry but I'm to call you out as being as intelligent as RAIDER FAN. How embarrasing is that!
You know what I like about your columns, unlike many other sports writers, you do not spend a lot of time giving your opinion...most of what you write sounds like facts...it's refreshing.
On Crabtree, I am starting to wonder if his injury was pretty serious (no workouts since the injury), and he knows this may be his only opportunity to to sign a contract of this size.
On the other hand, I wonder if he has issues with SF...after living in Texas for about a year, there are a lot of assumptions Texans have (both educated & uneducated) about SF and the Bay Area (mostly driven by political and social commentators).
You have absolutely no idea what your talking about. NFL teams don't have a pot of gold in a back room somewhere they dip into to pass out millions of dollars to players. NFL teams are run just like any other business with appropriate financing lines and banking relationships. You completely miss the point of why the 9ers simply can not cave to unreasonable demands. I think Matt put it best when he said, "with young executives Jed York, Scot McCloughan and Paraag Marathe, it could have disastrous ramifications for their careers. Also, the precedent would be set. Any first-round draft pick would just hold out until they cave in."
Like I said in the NFL NFLPA bargaining agreement there is no term called "slotting." It sure seems to me that is collusion by 32 billionaires.
Time to end the NFL Anti-Trust exemption.
Let's face it; Scabtree alone will not make the difference between playoffs or not for the Niners. If his ego is so large that he wants to sit out this season, than so be it. At this point just seeing the guy in a Niner uniform will make me want to puke. I believe that the longer this issue is going on, the more Niner fans will begin to feel the same way. Scabbie better wake up and take a good long look in his Pink-Diva mirror.
Marco,
Do you also believe the draft should be abolished?
Pay him what the 10th pick merits, no more no less. Why all the focus on Crabtree, what about the other 4 or 3 unsigned picks? I hear their agents don't want to make a mistake and jeopardize their recruiting effort for next year. But it seems to me they are doing just that. Monroe can recruit based on the fact that the other agents take their direction from him. Why not sign with Monroe and eliminate the middlemen agents? These other agents need to grow a pair and get their clients signed and into camp. When Crabtree is the lone holdout, then the discussion should restart as to the absurdity of his position.
Man, can't wait to see those old/new uniforms on the field.
Is the slotting system collusion, or is it commons sense? It's hard to say, even though I want to agree with you.
Common sense dictates that, the more valuable the player, the higher in the draft the player would go, meaning each draftee's value and worth, in terms of common sense, is less the player picked before.
On the other hand, every player should be paid exactly what their worth, even if they're picked later in the draft; this is why some players are considered steals, and others busts, because the amount of money spent on them for their services is not proportionate to their contributions.
Personally, I say get rid of the slotting system and give every player drafted in the same round the same signing bonus, then have a strict universal salary and performance bonuses system. Then, players would all get paid exactly what their worth, so busts won't have such a big cap impact while steals still can earn their worth.
Ooops, in my previous comment, I meant Parker, not Monroe. Got my Eugene's mixed up.
Matt- Your article was helpful in that it mentioned something I hadn't heard or read anywhere else; that there are big career implications for the 49er execs on this issue. Of course ownership wants to save money. The League will support that because its made up of owners.
But is this The Axis of Evil? Are any of our employers evil for trying to maximize our productivity against our compensation? If you're a boss are you evil for doing that? Nah. Every one of us tries to get as much as we can, but if we overplay our hand like Parker/Crabtree we risk talking ourselves out of money. If I demand too much an employer might hire somebody else even if he likes my work better.
The slotting system is not collusion in itself, just a reference point for the negotiations so that the agents & teams & players don't have to re-invent the wheel every year.
I hope the guy signs, but its already a disaster. If he re-enters the draft its just a worse disaster than it is now, but survivable.
I also don't think this is the Yorks conspiring for cheapness.
I also don't think Health Care Reform is trying to kill my granny.
I also think Obama was born in Hawaii.
Crabtree is lucky the 49ers picked him so he didnt have to look like Brady Quinn. Hopefully this isnt stemming from Coach Singit yelling at him to get off the field, that would be really immature. If he had signed with the raiders he would have a fat bald spot on his head. Seems like Deon's go get your money influence is soaking in, even if he is injured and didnt go to the combine or even practice. But looking at last year with jamarcus russel, he was in a similar situation although he did sign but he was gearing up for this year. Crabtree deserves what a 10 overall WR pick deserves then he should invest with a good return rate and then hell have his 10 million more in about 10 years.
Anyways, the game against denver should be a good practice for the players and the coaches goind against Nolan D and Patriot like offense. They gotta gear up for survival mode when the season hits since their schedule is a tough 1, its going to come down to which team is the hungriest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak2SQiRiA6g
This isn't about player ego or diva behavior or Crabtree putting himself before the team. This is about money. Crabtree has a once in a lifetime shot to, in his mind, potentially earn an additional $18m. Are any of you seriously telling me you wouldn't sit out 1 training camp of your career if you thought you could make $18m by doing it? You know how many training camp practices Crabtree has missed? The same number as Patrick Willis. I know he's a rookie, it's important blah blah blah...whatever. Rookie WRs barely produce in their first year anyway. Let him fight for his check, the same as you would. I swear, half the people who read this blog are bigger divas than Crabtree.
Welcome to the new Village Idiot Realfan. Dude stop making yourself look like a fool. Just go away because nobody is buying your lame anti Jed rant.
By the way, we have a game today. Anyone want to talk about who actually is on the team and playing?
StevenG... no one is forcing Crabtree not to fight for his money. It's just that his fight is ill conceived. He has no chance in winning "his fight" because it is the old rule of supply and demand. What crabtree supplies, is in demand up to a point, if he wants more than what people are willing to pay, than they won't. It's like trying to sell 5,000 usd tickets for a game. You will have just very few people in the stadium, this does not mean the game is not good or worthy of our time, but not for 5,000 usd.
Now, on this issue, as Saint Crabtree is allowed to fight for his money, the Evil Owners can fight for their money also. As someone said, there are other leagues, you don't like this one, go the CFL or go and make one in Europe or whatever. The truth is Football is extremely popular and profitable TO A CETRAIN EXTENT. It is what it is. There is no more love of the game, it is what it is.
SB
FYI - from -- Matt Barrows
The following was waiting for me in my e-mail basket when I woke up this morning. Is there anyone on the team or otherwise who can help out Maj. Hogan and his band of 49ers followers?
Matt,
My name is Major Eric Hogan, and our battalion of reservists deployed out of Mare Island, Vallejo in January 09. We are 49er fanatics (2 are season ticket holders), and are REALLY looking forward to this season, especially the QB duel now going on (Go Alex). Only problem is that AFN (the military's television network) will not show any 49er games. I have almost 100 soldiers who would give anything to be able to see the games. I am trying to find someone in the 49ers organization who might be able to send us a DVD/blue-ray of the games so we could watch them. We actually have a large conference room with a huge plasma we could use for this (we even have a Blue-Ray player).
I would be happy to pay for anything that this would cost, but I really need to know who to ask, and I am thinking you probably know the right people to put me in touch with. Anything you could do would be very much appreciated. I know this would be a HUGE morale booster.
Respectfully,
Major Eric Hogan
My point is that the blog divas want to demonize Crabtree or the 49ers front office or both. It's garbage. The reason the 49ers players aren't affected by Crabtree's absense is that they know there is a business side to the game. Do I think Crabtree succeeds at getting that 18m? No, but I'm not mad at him for trying. If my agent, the person who has significant experience negotiating deals in an arena to which I am brand new, tells me I can potentially earn $18m by missing training camp, I follow his advice. I'm also not saying anyone is forcing Crabtree to do it; it ultimately rides on his shoulders. He is gambling on his salary and if I were him I'd take the same gamble, no matter how small the odds. It is a once in a lifetime shot to earn MILLIONS.
That said, Crabtree is an NFL talent and will get paid an NFL salary (at worst, at slot 10). He isn't going to the CFL, or getting traded, or sitting out the season. He'll sign by the first game of the season, mark my words.
Matt,
This off the Crabtree subject but, this is the wierdest QB controversy I've witnessed. The fans are raging at each other, heels dug in while Hill and Smith seem to be like brothers. Heck, Hill was in Smith's wedding party! It looks like whoever wins the starting position, he will have the other's full support. I've seen a lot of Niner games (my Dad took me to the first game ever in 1946, and I used to usher at Kezar in the 50s) and every other QB battle was just that,a battle, with some seething animosity. Maybe we should learn from these two guys who are thinking of the team and their friendship first.
There's an idiom: "Half a loaf is better than no bread." Quite appropriate, since "bread" is a slang term for "money".
Sure, you can get a shot of getting that extra 18 million, but, at the same time, you're risking not getting signed at all. Something is better than nothing, particularly when the future isn't promised today. Let's say, hypothetically, Crabtree gets ran over by a car and can never play football again due to injuries; if he had already signed the contract, at least he'd have the guaranteed money to fall back on, whereas right now, he'd come away with nothing.
Am not sure niner fans are raging against each other....niner fans are more civil than most other nfl teams fans.....we do whine alot
....and to be honest we kinda both have valid arguments behind our opinion on who should start...
....and we all agree the pre-season should decide who starts...
His "half a bread" IS guaranteed. He doesn't risk "not getting signed at all." As Matt wrote, the 49ers won't lower their offer as the season nears. The only thing Crabtree loses is practice time.
Also, you're not seriously suggesting that getting hit by a car is a reason to sign a contract, are you?
It all comes down to whether you want to win more than you want to save a few millions. Al Davies gets a lot of criticism but it's very clear that he puts winning first. Same with Eddie D. Win first and let the money take care of itself.
It's not like the Niners are one of the top spenders in the league. They are not. They have a ton of money to spare.
Without Crabtree, this is a run first team with a below average passing game. Watch teams concentrate on stopping Gore. Stop him and the game is won.
Except for the Cards, they just plan on outscoring everybody.
What’s this, a rational and focused thought? Where's the oneniner we all know and love?!
Quite the contrary, his "half a loaf" isn't guaranteed until he signs on the dotted line; he risks not getting signed at all because death and hospitalization are both very real possibilities in any person's future; even though the 49ers won't lower their offer, if he ends up on the hospital in what is a career ending injury, the Niners are under no obligation to continue offering the contract to somebody who can't play ball.
I'm not suggesting getting hit by a car is a reason to sign a contract; I'm suggesting that an unpredictable future and the fact he currently has nothing is.
I have always had this opinion.....most of you just refuse to see my point cuz ur opinions are clouded with false facts....
...when i say the other side (for HIll) has valid points that does not mean your 7-3 record is a valid point.....
Yes - there are valid points to why Hill should start but MM and some posters on here keep defeating their argument by always bringing up the 7-3 record or that cuz he finished the season as the starting Qb....
...those are not valid arguments for Hill to start the season...
..i wish MM would do a better job of arguing why Hill should start....but then again he does not want to sound bias so he gives us his "smart money" opinions that makes him sound/look objective on the subject....
...FYI .....i recall MM spent so much time on "A.Smith might not return to the 49ers or A.Smith might get cut by the niners"......without any facts supporting this premise....
thinking back at those reads - where those assumptions really necessary?
trust me - I will not forget...
Your use of the phrase "I'm not suggesting getting hit by a car is a reason to sign a contract" doesn't make up for the fact that the rest of your post argues that he sign his contract because he might be hospitalized or die.
All I know is the 49ers play the Broncos tonight and I'm freaking psyched to watch. Go Niners!
No I get it, trust. I'm glad you're a Niner fan because if you had the same passion for any other franchise you'd be the perfect fan to hate.
I think a QBs win-loss record is valid, but should not be the sole justifier. It's clear that Hill has just earned it; it's in the numbers. Compare his starts to JTO's and it's obvious who should've been the starter at the beginning last year.
MM wasn't the only one to say that Smith's days as a 49er were numbered. If he hadn't been injured last year while losing the starting job to JTO, he would've been released. McCloughan said it himself. If Smith didn't become the starter, or restructure his deal he would probably not continue his career as a Niner.
"All I know is the 49ers play the Broncos tonight and I'm freaking psyched to watch. Go Niners!"
Ditto
He would almost certainly be re-drafted, but it's highly unlikely he would be drafted any higher than he was this year. That's why him sitting out all year is highly unlikely, that would be just plain stupid.
Then again, if he DOES do that -- good riddance, don't need that kind of retardation playing for us. Saves us a boatload for our two #1's next year.
I'm only pointing that I think the chances of him getting hit by a car is higher than the Niners relenting and agreeing to give him the extra guaranteed money he wants, and at the moment, he doesn't even have what the Niners have offered.
Psyched to have the pre-season opening for the Niners as well; if it weren't for having to watch, I'd watch the game myself.
Whoops, meant "work".
GO COWBOYS!!!!
NOW GET OFF MY LAND YOU &^%$*&&%$!!!!!!
So no Crabtree = no playoffs? That's funny....last time I checked we won the majority of our final games last year and have solid WR prospects in Morgan, Zieg, etc. And assuming Crabtree signed today, he wouldn't see the field for weeks for missing so much time.
Ultimately, you're talking about terrible precedences being set not only for the league, but specifically the 49ers if they caved and gave him (for example) #7 money.
I don't think it would be a huge deal if they sweetened the pot with an extra mil or so, but they absolutely cannot give in to his "top 5" demands. If the reasoning for that isn't clear to you, I suggest actually reading this article which outlines it in pretty plain english.
Exaclty. The premise that Crabtree's presence will make the difference between making the playoffs or not this season is silly. The moment he signs he'll be #5 or 6 on the depth chart . . . he could work his way up to #4 by the end of the season. His presence will be felt in 2010 after the contracts for Bruce and Battle expire.
Of course my argument doesn't fly if you don't think that Crabtree will significantly improve the team. I happen to think he will and presumably so do the Niners who drafted him with their #1 pick.
While I'm here, what are all these bad things that would happen if the Niners offered more money? MM suggests two things: the rest of the agents & teams would be upset, and the careers of Jed York, Scot McCloughan and Paraag Marathe would tank.
Both seem ludicrously trivial to me. Scott's career depends totally on how well the team performs. Jed's an owner & Paraag is a gofer. As for pissing off other teams. Of course they don't want the 49ers to get better. Jeesh. And we care about agents all of a sudden?
Nah, Jed needs to get off his high horse and go offer Crabtree more money and he needs to be quick about it. If I knew him, I go give him a swift kick in the pants.
And then you'd be arrested for assault.
The slotting system, revenue sharing, draft, and salary caps are all collusion. They are only allowed because of a dispensation from the federal government. No one knows the value of any rookie in the NFL because it is not a free market, it is instead a highly managed market intended to reduce the amount of risk for the owners.
Haiken, you're weighing only half of the risks. The major risk is accepted by Crabtree when he signs a contract. Football is a game of violence, that's why upfront cash is so important.
"I'm only pointing that I think the chances of him getting hit by a car is higher than the Niners relenting and agreeing to give him the extra guaranteed money he wants."
Touche HaikenEdge...touche. =)
I am new to this site and your comments stand out. It seems you are living in the past (hero worship for no-cap, Eddie D) and also have a real h--d-on for the Yorks. I am not a fan of their ownership but... I have seen some improvement. The long term effects of caving into Crabtree are huge. He was drafted 10th and right or wrong that's where he will get paid... that's the reality. You are the only guy I know who has this strong of an opinion for signing Crabtree. As for your obsession with the Yorks..."got off the cross, somebody needs the wood!"
Should have been "get off the cross...."