What do you think about Ratto's column today, Matt? The 49ers are defending a system that will likely be obsolete next year anyways, and are sacrificing the development of a player they must feel will help the team now and in the future.

Matt,

If Crabtree holds out into the season, does the "per game" portion of his pay start to suffer?

Crabtree is laying a crabbie patty! Obviously he did not listen to Jerry. This is not indicative of a team player and is more a reflection of the typical me me me syndrome. Mirror mirror on the wall, whose the prima diva of them all?

Thanks for the updates, Matt. The funniest thing about Crabtree's agent's argument that he should be paid like a top 3 pick is that nobody wants a top 3 pick because the price to sign him is so high! The best way to deal with a top 3 pick would be to trade his rights for anything you can get or if you can't get anything let him sit out the whole year and re-enter the draft so at least you are not stuck with that cap-eating contract and you can go and sign proven star players who know will make the team better with the money you saved. Let the Mike Williams comparisons begin!

I knew the last post had been just to generate some polemics on this site...
"I wrote earlier today that Smith has placed himself in position to win the job. By the same token, Hill has done well enough to do the same. It will all come down to the exhibition games."
Nobody has the lead, however, Hill has the lead form the last season and because he has proved he has "it" when it comes to game day.

Hi Matt,
Do you know how the 49ers offense & Jimmy Raye will be handling opposing blitzes? Will they be using hot routes or putting it all on the OL as they did before Martz? Thanks! -Mike

Matt,
Hey how do you feel about crabtree personally? I am let down big time. I thought he would be in camp at the start and be working his tail off. It makes me sad he cares more about money than playing. I feel he has a long uphill(no mike's peak pun intended) climb to earn the respect of the fans back. He is really embarressing himself in front of the 49ers, fans, and NFL as a whole.

I'm intrigued by Singletary's comment that Adam Snyder is "much improved." I am curious, how does a veteran
journeyman like Snyder suddenly show improvement? Guy like that, I generally figure we already know everything he's got to show us. But maybe not! What is going on with him, Matt?

Play of the day

The Alex Smith-to-Isaac Bruce touchdown mentioned above takes top honors. I’ll give an honorable to mention to Singletary, who took it upon himself to demonstrate a tackling drill. Singletary is 50, but looked half that age when he fired his feet like pistons and wrapped up Jeff Ulbrich with perfect technique to show how it’s done.

-- Dan Brown

Random note of the day-- Dan Brown

Singletary’s star power has generated national media attention here this week. The ESPN empire dispatched two reporters, Mike Sando from the web site and Chris Jones from the magazine. Sam Farmer from the Los Angeles Times was here yesterday. Charlie Casserly of the NFL Network was here today. Skip Wood from USA Today is expected this weekend.

...perfect day for A.Smith to get his groove back,......maybe finally the media will give him some slack........

Question: Hey how do you feel about crabtree personally?

My response: I have not spent enough time with Michael Crabtree to form any kind of opinion of him personally. --Matt M.

Hi Matt, Very few QBs come in and light it up. In most cases they have dues to pay be it injuries, turnover in staff, no receivers to go after it and just bad teams. Alex has put up with all the above and then some. Let's see how he does now.

Matt,
Thanks for answering my question. Who is your favorite player on the team right now? My favorite is alex smith.

I personally am rooting for Hill as starter for so many reasons that seem obvious. first off i feel like everything i read as to to with the potential of Smith, "making all the throws." He is throwing a good deep ball but the reality is i still have heard negative things about his short game. Therefore are we willing to hold our breaths for a deep ball while we pain thru more three-and-outs? With Hill, you have short passes, long drives, ball control, less mistakes, all things you want from the style offense we are implementing. How is that not the perfect fit. Plus i think Hill has already earned it. When will this guy finally get his chance when he has played very well and very TOUGH, another staple of what this team is trying to do. I hear hill cant stretch D's, nonsense. this guy cant throw a 20-25 yard pass? come on. 50 yard passes arnt what stretches Ds, a deep out is 15-20 yards a throw hill CAN make. It just seems like he is excatly what this team needs right now. and i hate to see the guy not get a chance and then watch hill over throw short routes, get antys in the pocket(which well see how good those deep balls look in live action) and throw balls away.

and furthermore its still ideal to start Hill, say you do get a good year or 2 out of him and smith really comes along, in 2 years he is only 27... i think young was 28 when he got his start, what the problem with that?.... LETS GO HILL!!!

by the way i meant dont wanna watch smith... sorry

Good to see Hill and Smith seem to be having a hard fought TC! At least so far.
Crabtree could be damaging his rep with a lot of 49er fans. I don't think that it will last if he signs within these first two weeks.
It seems to me that it is his agent doing all the talking and posturing, and to me, it might show that Crabtree is immature in handling what is taking place right now. Crabtree himself, needs to come forward and say some things, not negative by any stretch, but at least say what he feels about this holdout. It just seems that his being quiet clearly shows no effort on his part to show some maturity. And he's going to need a lot of maturity if and when he signs and gets out on the playing field. A LOT of maturity.

Great point Erik about 3rd pick money. Crabb's agent is completely delusional! No way the 49ers give in so Crabbtree is going to have to make up his mind pretty damn soon here.

The Niners need to stick with the pay system that has been in place and only pay Crabtree what the 10th pick should get. Otherwise, every year players and their agents will know they can simply hold out and get more money. The Niners credibility with their current players would also be shaken, creating the potential for future veteran holdouts. When they sit down with guys like Patrick Willis in the future, they need their credibility intact. If you reward holdouts, you get more holdouts. You can't let one player dictate how you pay. It's too bad Crabtree isn't in camp, but its his choice.

Hill is the man! Smith gets nervous in games. Wait til pre-season and Smith has to wear white pants. You'll see. He gets scared. I'm with you Shane! Hill for QB! Let's start a winning movement!

As I've said before, the 49ers don't need Crabtree as much as they need a few other positions filled. While it appears that it was great that he fell to the 10 slot, and we're all jacked up about the next great 49er receiver, we have no idea as to whether Crabtree will be great or just OK, or worse.
I say play hardball now, before he's missed so much camp that he's not able to show what he can do this season. Make him a good offer, like the same money he would have gotten from the Raiders at #7. If he turns it down, trade his rights (or sign him knowing you'll trade him, to a team that's desperate for a "star" receiver. Wouldn't it be great to have 3 #1's next draft? Or a proven nose tackle or a proven pass rusher or........

Matt,

Is it possible for the Niners to set a firm deadline for Crabtree? Can they tell his agent that if he is not signed by "X," that they will not sign him as his ability to help the team will be diminished?

Is there any precedent for anything like this?

I do realize that he has not been holding out all that long and eventually the sides will probably meet and all of this will be forgotten.

Thanks,

Boz

I'm not surprised that Coach Sing was impressed with Snyder.In his first game he was better than Harris and played solid RT in 06.The brass gave him a contract extension amazingly fast,so it must have been impressed with his play.He's extremely versatile but when being bounced to different positions this,obviously,hurts his strength as a potential starter With the potential of our young receivers ,imagine the kind of money they would,understandably,expect if Crabtree got above#10 money and was outplayed by them.At this point,he is so far behind the curve, thiis is a likely outcome.

I wouldn't be so quick to conclude that Hill can hold onto the starting job just by completing a high perecntage of passes thrown underneath. That stuff works well in a 'West Coast' offense but it will stifle a power running game by shrinking the field and keeping the safety in tight. Smith, on the other hand, can open up those running lanes by providing a viable deep threat, even if it is with an understandably lower completion percentage.

Crabcakes should just tell his agent to match the Raiders #7 offer, and get his act in TC.

Matt, I think someone wrote somewhere that Crabtree's Family pushed him into the draft this year.

My nonfactual opinion is it was so he can yell "show me the money"

With the threat of a rookie salary cap coming into play with the new CBA that could, in effect, begin next year. Crab's and his family did not want him to wait another year and only get minimum pay so they pushed for him to come out this year.

Now they (crabs and agent) are "pushing" for as much money as possible. (More than realistic in most peoples eyes)

All this leads me to this thought.

Don't the 9ers have more leverage in this deal that a lot of writers and people are missing?

If:
a. Crabs holds out a whole year ... Possible
and
b. Salary cap for rookies is initiated ... Likely
then
C. Crabs wont have anything close to what the niners are currently offering this year after he "re-enters" the draft next year. (Assuming the new CBA immediately instigates a salary cap for rookies)

Matt, I was also wondering...

Do the 49ers get any type of compensatory pick or something in return for losing their #10 1st round pick if Crabs holds out and reenters the draft next year next year? I do not think I have heard of this happening before so I don't know the answer.

I realize its more likely that the commish steps in and intervenes first but I am wondering along the lines of "what if"

It is also interesting to note that 2 of the last 7 unsigned picks are with this same agent. Agent issue?

The system is crazy, but the NFL & NFLPA sign it. Guess what we won 5 super bowls without a cap. Eddie always spent big bucks & won! Pay him and get him on the field.

Matt, what's the view looking like with the QB coaching thus far?

Are you seeing any benefits?

Alex getting rid of any bad habits with regard to his mechanical concerns?

We only won 4 Superbowls in when there was no salary cap. Our fifth SB was in the first year the cap existed.

you guys need to chill out on the crabtree criticsm....he hasn't said anything but you all are speculating as if he had a press conference.....just do us a favor and SHUT UP....

On Snyder, he's a young player, drafted in 05. He has played some, but in different spots. He was told to focus on LG last year, then after Nolan left, was moved to RT. This year he is totally focused on RT. No reason to think he can't get better over time.

oneniner, that's a good one, you saying you are tired of people going on and on about one subject! Just do what I do with most your posts, skip over them.

Seriously, of the top 12 picks, only 4 have signed. Crabtree and his agent aren't doing much different than 7 other players/agents. Certainly, it is annoying, but it is also common for top 15 picks to be the last to sign. It probably shouldn't be this way given the slotted system, but that is just how it works.

The way things are slotted, Crabtree "should" sign a deal for 5 years, $26.75-37 million, $17.8 million guaranteed. This is the average of the guy picked 2 spots ahead and 2 spots behind. There is a little wiggle room, but that is about what he should get. It will be interesting to see what he actually ends up with. Some think he will eventually get what Bey got. I think he ends up with slightly more than the deal I mentioned at the beginning, probably slightly less than what the #9 pick gets.

Thanks for the Updates Matt. This whole Crabtree thing is really starting to get under my skin. With Crabtree being labeled as a diva going into the draft, This holding out to get more money thing isn't helping his image at all. And if im Crabtree I have to be able to see that. How could you not? I understand he probably should have been top 5. but i don't think he understands that he landed at 10 probably because of the whole diva thing and his injury. Which i dont know about you, but as a "pro" he hasn't showed me anything yet.aside from reading the play book. granted the foot thing played a major part in that,I understand that. but what if he goes out on that practice field and cant produce like he was in college?What if he has lost a step or 2 because of the surgery? I mean what has he shown to deserve this huge pay out, especially since he hasnt been able to do the mini camps and OTA's? I'm afraid I'd tell him, look kid you are behind everyone else. you want your big contract then show me you deserve it. until then take you slotted amount and get your butt on that field!

DONT TELL ME SHOW ME!!!!

And if its all his agents doing, then maybe its time for crabtree to put his foot down and take control back of his career.

Source: Parker tells Niners that Crabtree will re-enter draft

....ok...this is getting out of hand...

...if he re-enters the draft - what if there is a lockout season or a rookie salary cap?

This agent is a moron.....and Crab better bring his a game to ninerland..

....i swear if he turns out to be a bust i am starting my own "teabagging crabtree blog"

didn't Bo jackson drop from 2nd to 7th the year he re-entered the draft?.

plz MM....wht will happen to the niners if he re-enters the draft?

Wow, I just read that piece. If this is true, Goodell needs to step in and do something about this. This agent's agenda is unfair to the 49ers and Crabtree.

Let's face it the whole system is insane. It is so subjective anyway. The best player from the Draft a few years out is often out of the top 5, but a player's lifetime compensation in the NFL is determined by the subjective analysis of team needs of those who are drafting high on that day? The poorest teams?

The NFL Draft violates competition. It is a controlled market and limits choice. Let the NFL have a signing season and spend what they want on a player. If owners can't keep their purse strings in order or make bad choices let them suffer the consequences. The Niners sure did under the last regime of Donahue.

Why should we worry about 32 Billionaires and what they spend?

If this actually happens, I know one team that would FOR SURE vote for a rookie salary cap next year...hint; they're a team in the Bay Area not named Oakland.

Matt: Call me "optimistic", but i really feel 49ers can achieve a record of 10-6 or better this season, and they will build on this foundation for the next 4-5 yrs.

these are my reasons:
1. Coach is letting the assistant coaches do their jobs, especially on defense and QB.
2. QB (I don't care if smith or hill) will be protected by an improved OL and will have time to find receivers
3. A potentially devastating running attack, on focus on offense.
4. Improved WR corp. Crabtree will be contributing next year and beyond.
5. Coach Singletary will make the difference this year. A great hire by Jed and Scott.

Hey guys please share the info link on Crabtree redraft. thanks

Here's the link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4381335

Do it, Crabtree, do it! As previous commenters have pointed out, there is a good chance a rookie salary cap would be implemented and he'd get a fraction of what he would get by taking the 49ers offer. And that's assuming he would still be drafted as high, which seems extremely unlikely since this would add way more baggage to him, both in judgment and in taking a year off of football. I hope he does it and the 9ers use the cap space to get a stud D-lineman.

Here you go truth,

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/06/source-parker-tells-niners-that-crabtree-will-re-enter-draft/

when is the latest that we can sign crabtree before he re-enters draft & how long is crabtree expected to be out with the injury?

...this is really getting messy....

San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree is prepared to sit out this season and re-enter the NFL draft in 2010, David Wells, Crabtree's cousin and adviser, said Thursday. "We are prepared to do it," Wells said. "Michael just wants fair-market value. They took him with the 10th pick and you have Darrius Heyward-Bey [the seventh overall pick by the Oakland Raiders] getting $38 million? This week is crucial.

....i say let him seat out - and re-enter

Wow I hadn't read that article yet. That Wells cat, Crab's cousin and advisor made some D-bag statements if I've ever seen any. It really seems like Crabtree is caught in the middle on this one, and people around him are speaking on his behalf. I hope he speaks up and stops letting these clowns dictate his career.

...yup looks like some family members have stuff on layaway.....

......how can your cousin be your advisor?..

The latest we can resign Crabtree to keep him from reentering the draft is week 10.

Once week 10 is over it is a done deal he cant be signed.

Bo Jackson was actually drafted #1 overall!!!! and then dropped to the 7th round the next year!

Of course Bo Jackson already had a multi million dollar contract with the Royals when he reentered the next years draft and wouldn't be playing football until after the baseball season so its not really the same.

With Dez Bryant and Arrelious Benn coming out next year he would be foolish to think he is automatically going to be drafted higher than he was this year, especially sitting out an entire year. By his logic should guys who were taken earlier then they should have been get paid less? I have no problem with the 49ers not budging on this. I also would have no problem giving him a "little" more to get him in camp but top 3-7 money is just ridiculous IMO. There is a reason he slid so far, maybe the "prima donna" pre-draft rumors about his attitude have some validity? I really like this kid but this is a bit much.

McGm decision to sign Jones.....looks very good right now...

We really don't need crabtree ....until next yr...

Can someone plz giv info on what happens to the niners....what are their options if refuses to sign or re-enter the draft?...

Any smart advisor should know better not to make dumb comments like that in public....i dont see how that benefits crab...

i say we wait till all 1st round picks sign.....

...yup looks like some family members have stuff on layaway.....

While unfortunate, this is probably very very very true. This kids coat tails are probably draggin' like crazy.

Sign him. Crabtree is a special player. He has great hands and catches the ball away from his body. Once it is in his hands he creates plays. Most NFL receivers are divas. He reminds me of Rice after the catch. Time will only tell, but he has all the gifted ability you want

Kiper and others had Crabtree rated the # 1 or #2 best football player in the draft. The only reason he wasn't drafted higher was that injury which prevented him from running at the combine.

Screw the NFL "slotting", pay him the money. Nobody is guaranteed to be a success, but this kid has game! We would be fools to not sign him. He is a special circumstance that fell inro our hands because of a foot injury.

Oneniner - Here is a summary below of what could happen. I would also think every single agent would use this against Parker in future pitches for players services. Its a horrible last shot desperate card the Crabtree camp is trying to play. Secondly, I believe the Commissioner would not let it go this far:

As multiple sources have advised us in the wake of our report that agent Eugene Parker has told the Niners that Crabtree is willing to take his chances in 2010, there's a problem with that plan.
The 49ers will continue to hold his rights up until draft day.
And so, without the permission of the 49ers, Crabtree can't go to the Scouting Combine. He can't work out for any teams. He can't meet with any teams. He can't talk to any teams.
It's not a CBA term, but a league rule. Thus, the union might try to challenge the ability to keep Crabtree from properly re-positioning himself in the next draft.
Moreover, nothing will prevent Crabtree from working out for the media, or from issuing press releases (or tweets) regarding his speed in the 40-yard dash, which wasn't measured this year due to his foot injury.
But most scouts will want to cut through the possible B.S. and see for themselves how fast Crabtree can run, and whether he can do all the other things that the scouts like to see before using a first-round pick on a player.
Even if Crabtree were able to work out, some teams would shy away from him due simply to the fact that he created so much havoc for the 49ers.

Parker is going to be very difficult to play hardball with. After all, "He has been named by Black Enterprise Magazines top 50 influential blacks in sports. Parker was also ranked 45 in the Sports Illustrated list of the top 101 most influential minorities in sports" (Taken from his Wikipedia entry). Parker became famous for engineering such deals as Deion Sanders' (Both his rookie contract with an unheard of signing bonus for the time, then his followup contract which was the largest ever for a defensive player) and Larry Fitzgerald's (highest paid rookie ever at the time) huge money contracts. It looks to me as if he is wagering his professional reputation and his corresponding ego on getting Crab more money than his draft spot. The way I see it, this has the potential to be very very ugly and unfortunately very very drawn out.

thks..for the knowledge...

please explain further -

The 49ers will continue to hold his rights up until draft day. ?.....does that mean after next yr draft he his free to sign with anyone?

Do the niners get compensated if he signs with another team after their hold expires?....do we get another 1st round pick next yr?

..i just dont see how this benefits him

..i say the niner wait till everybody else signs before commenting on the issue...

i agree this guy is a special tatlent and everyone wld love to have him. However you cant just pay him because thats what he wants. This would set the worst kind of presedent possible, and make us the joke of the NFL. It would ruin salary structure, contracts, this is huge. Its more than just being a diva at this point, this could impact the entire future of how contracts are set in the NFL...F this guy. Furthermore we have ALL the leverage. as we have all been beating this dead horse the fact remains we have depth at the WR position, if he re-enters the draft, he will absolutly fall and he will lose MILLIONS, and lose a year of time, and there cld be a rookie cap. He needs us we dont need him, screw this dumb-a$$

His foot is one reason he was't drafted earlier. I'm certain there is another.

Seems like another 1st rd. pick just went down the drain.

I'm all for "Getting what your worth" but this IS ridiculous... this is the epitome of Pro Football at it's worst. Dude hasn't even ran a route or caught a pass and is threatening to hold-out?!?

Let his sorry *** sit out and watch from home. This is def not fitting into Sings "Team" mentality and is more then likely going to push our top receivers even further.

Mr. PrimeTime (Deion Sanders) sure built Crabs head up way too BIG

The thing about crabtree thats most disappointing is how stupid he is. How can he not see that none of these ppl are looking out for him, they dont have his back, specially that rat of a cousin he has. they are cuasing him to lose millions of dollars and valuable playing time in a game you "are suppose to love". you wld think any smart person (specially one so cocky) wld say listen give me what im suppose to make with realistic insentives in it, and ill go make it happen. The guy must be an idiot!

Also at least the Giants can be the joke of the NFL for a while giving Manning that contract. Can you imagine a world where Eli Manning is the highest paid player in the NFL, he is barley a top ten QB!! why i bring that up is its the same situation as far as setting a pace. can you imagine what Brady, the good manning, brees, warner, rivers, Roethlisberger,and every other Better QB with better ratings is thinking. When they go to sign their new deals is gonna be outragous. Thats where the G-man front office has to reach into their pants see if they feel a buldge and say there isnt a snowflakes chance in hell we are giving you that kinda money.

....if he re-enters the draft next yr.....do we get our 1st round pick back?

....do we now have 3 1st round picks next yr?

You are all allowing yourself to be manipulated by Florio the lying sh*t's hate campaign against Crabtree. All white, shiny suit, greasy haired, former ambulance chaser lawyer Florio has figured out that stirring up hate against black wide receivers translates to page hits and dollars in his pocket.

Go look at Florio and decide whether you would buy a used car from this guy before you decide that he's an oracle of truth.

Look back and you can read Florio's campaign against Tim Brown for being a racist that ran until Florio's sponsors told him to shut the f*k up.

For the record: none of Crabtree, Parker (his agent) and the 49er front office have said that Crabtree will sit out the season or is asking for top 3, top 5 or top whatever money. These are all lies.

Fact: most of the top 10 drafted players have not signed. Crabtree is one of them. He is not any more a diva, a douchebag, a selfish person, a bad player or a bust, than any of those of any other players this year or in previous years that have taken their time signing.

Remember Singletary missed part of his first training camp because he wanted more money. Now why don't all you armchair critics go call HIM a douchebag diva and see how far that gets you. MM can pick you up when he's done.

I am a diehard Niners fan like many of you. But I think regardless of what Craptree can bring to the team we shouldn't give it in. Niners should not allow this bullying by the punks like Parker and Crabtree.
If the Niners sign him at his terms they would be laughing stock of the NFL. Next year every punk will claim that they belong in top 5 and demand money like that.
HELL WITH CRABTREE.

....i never take florio the liar seriously....this was reported on ESPN - which am not sure is really reliable anymore

Question: if he re-enters the draft next yr.....do we get our 1st round pick back?

My response: No, the 49ers would not get a mulligan. The 49ers used their first-round pick in 2009 on Crabtree. If teams got those picks back, there would be some teams every year that just would not sign their draft picks so they could stockpile them for the future. --Matt M.

No guarantee Crabtree can get drafted as high again. Bo Jackson went from #1 overall to R7 the next year, as Brekkon pointed out. He didn't even have the same baggage our diva has.

Mike Williams, the USC WR, did end up with top 10 money after sitting out a year (different reason), but his & Maurice Clarett's stillborn NFL careers just showed how taking a sabbatical could totally ruin a rookie's competitive edge.

We do own the NFL rights for a year but I doubt it is as stifling as MikeinSF claims. (If it is, the player union may petition to the Commish.) Basically, all the drafting team has is exclusive negotiating rights.

The "Week 10" deadline for rookie signings is if they're to play this year -- won't yet free Crabtree to reenter the draft by itself, as Brekkon said. Any deal finalized thereafter (till the next draft day) is still possible, but only applicable for future seasons.

Of course, he can also choose to sign with the UFL (if any employer there is willing to show him the money) but I believe the NFL has tightened the loophole of unsigned draftees reentering this league later too. If correct, SF shall own Crabtree's NFL rights for 3 years if he does this.

Agree with Matt that we won't get our R1 pick back. Tampa didn't get any when Bo Jackson chose to play football. Heck, Leon Bender died before ever playing & the Raiders didn't get a special pick either. Albeit, both took place in different CBA frameworks.

This is practice and training camp practice at that.So all this really means very little. But if you MUST compare the QB,well,Hill is doing better in just about every way so far. When Smith completes 5 of 7 then Hill completes 6 of 7 or Hill completes 90% and Smith 40% etc etc etc. (and we don't keep hearing about receivers NEEDING to jump high for Hill passes,lol). Hill IS the starting QB and Sing has said Hill has the edge over Smith even before camp started because he came in as the starter and has a winning record as the starter. If Smith starts doing better than Hill in practice (hasn't happened yet and that is a shock,since Hill is nototious for stinking up practice),then Smith still needs to out play Hill in Preseason by a wide margin. It could happen,who knows, but Smith is still far behind.