If NFl execs want to point the finger at the 49ers for not getting Crabtree signed then I say the 49ers bust the slotting system and pay Crabtree whatever he wants.

It appears now that getting the crabs was a no win situation.
Niners saved about $25 million this year with out signing that diva. We win on Sunday. Getting the Crabs isn't even going to matter one bit. And BTW who was looking for sympathy. Who give a crap about a bunch of execs that don't sign the checks.

See how much junk they have to talk after that...lol

Geez Matt give it up already with the GPS thing. It's kinda tired.

I'm loving the play of "Cowboy". Amazing what happens when teams have to account for him and Paryse. All of the sudden one of them is in a one on one situation.

Props also need to be given to Kentwan Balmer. He exploded off the line on that last play and took two blockers with him which allowed Justin Smith to swing behind him untouched and sack Warner for the game ending "walk off Sack".

Hindsight is always 20/20. Had the 49ers passed on Michael Crabtree and taken Michael Oher, I think the fan uproar would have been defning. This would have been very similar to when New Orleans took Mario Williams over the much “sexier” pick of Reggie Bush, which cost Casserly his job as the GM in New Orleans.

3 years later everyone agrees Casserly made the right pick and people now commend him for having the balls to do it. With that, he still lost his job at the time and that cannot be changed. I don’t’ see how Scot could have passed on Crabtree. He just couldn’t do it.

Oh yeah, let's just show our potential two first-rounders next year that if you push hard enough, the 49ers will give you whatever you want. That's a great idea!

Did these execs really foresee the problems with Crabtree, I wonder, or is it 20-20 hindsight?

I don't think the Crabtree holdout was reasonably foreseeable. What he's done is extremely rare. And when players fall lower in the draft than expected, the explanation is not usually sinister, e.g. Aaron Rogers. Sometimes bad things happen without anyone being to blame.

In any case, I think the thing to do is learn whatever lessons there are to be derived from this mess and move on. Crabtree is a headcase, and the 9ers are better off without him.

anyone notice that that j york has 'asked' to talk with crabs and apparently got no reply? and that numbers 'guru' prahag has been the niners point man in negociations? does pra have some video of 49ers brass? who is this guy? and why hasnt jeb stepped in sooner?

Mike in SF #2, I agree. Niners had to take Crabtree or else every so-called expert would have deemed their draft a failure! But the team you were referring to from a few years ago was the Houston Texans not the New orleans Saints. Even with hindsight being 20/20, I still believe the Raiders and their fans would draft Crabtree if they could go back and pick again, now that they have seen Heyward-Bey can't even catch a cold!

Matt,

Pashos has a lot more experience as a starter in the NFL, and is in his prime for an OL, having just turned 29. He and Snyder are the same size (6'6, 325-6 lbs), according to the roster. Have you had a chance to look at his play for the Jaguars? He seems to have a very legitimate shot at replacing Snyder as the starting RT.

How long would you guess that he needs to get acclimated? Is there a chance he could be on the field a lot within the next couple of games?

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against the way Crabtree has handled the situation. However, not being more flexible with Crabtree only deprives the Niners of a very talented player. The only winners are the other teams in the NFL because the slotting system remains in place.

IMHO I think Crabtree will eventually be a special player in the NFL. I don't like his attitude so far, but I do agree that he was a top three player in the draft, possibly the number one. If he can help the Niners win then I say screw the slotting system...pay the man! If the Niners happen to have another top three prospect fall to them in next year's draft (highly unlikely) then pay him too!

Signing Crabtree for more than the slotted amount doesn't mean next years two number one picks can argue on the same grounds as Crabtree. Crabtree was a victim of Al Davis' stupidity, I doubt that will happen with either of the Niner's two first round picks next year.

I totally agree ... this unnamed NFC North executive who is quoted in Charles Robinson's article sounds like a complete tool ....

“If you can’t find a way to sign a draft choice, it puts you in some bad company,” the aforementioned NFC executive said. “Somewhere along the way, you really [messed] up.”

This is a crap argument. Crabtree having a rep as a "diva" is one thing, but I'm going to give the Niners the benefit of the doubt and argue that it would have been impossible for them to uncover in their pre-draft due diligence that Crabtree would make such absurd contract demands. What he's doing defies all logic and could not be predicted.

Also, like Mike in SF #2 said, the organization would have looked ridiculous for not taking Crabtree at #10. The Niners are on the right side of this situation .... it just sucks what a mess it has become.

Funny how this story surfaces as York is preparing to meet with said tool and his tool agent.
If Jed caves then we really look bad. Curry put faith in his agent and to some extent so did craptree because rumor has it, Parker guaranteed him that he'd be a top 5 pick. Since that backfired I suppose the tool figured, top 5 money would've been just as good.

I would've liked Oher as well but that would've been like playing in a professional Hold'em tourney and folding on trip jacks because you believe a guy has higher trips. If it works you look like a genius.

I agree that if McC hadn't picked Crabtree at #10 every "expert" and most fans would have blasted him. But I don't think it hurts much if we don't sign him. He wouldn't have helped much this year. We have good depth at WR. We can spend the money to extend Willis and look at FAs in the off season. Plus it still may turn out to be a pretty respectable draft with Coffee, Davis and others.

The much more important immediate issue is, can Snyder play better this week against Seattle? The coaches thought he looked good in the preseason, so he may bounce back.

Like I said several months ago on this blog, the Niners haven't had a D-lineman with a motor like Justin Smith's since the days of one Charles Haley. They play at 100% until the whistle blows. We sure could use atleast one more on the d-line. He's fun to watch and he's earning his big money.

Did you guys see Crabtree just now on the ESPN halftime segment "Dr. Lou"? He was asking how players should deal with agents.

Lou Holtz told him to negotiate for his self

First off... F Crabtree. It's dead now... if he signs great but we have games to win.

Couldn't agree more about Smith... HE IS A BEAST!!! I see our D lighting it up Sunday!!!

I'll go on record right now saying that we don't want to sign him now. Why? Because if it was him instigating the hold- out for more money does anybody really feel he's going to be happy signing? If he's a bust, the Niners lose. If he does turn out to be good I can smell another holdout for a renegotiated contract . He'd have a lot more leverage since he proved he's got more than just potential. It's lose - lose now as far as I'm concerned. We've already had TO in his prime at a much lower price and he wasn't worth it. It was already a mistake to draft him, let's not compound the problem by signing him so as not to be totally embarassed around the league unless the Niners can get some guarantees.

I think the kid is being led wrong by his advisors. He had Dilfer throw him balls a few weeks ago to keep ready. He came on the show asking about how to deal with his agent. And Eugene Parker has the most to loose by him meeting face to face with York. Crabs will know his agent is greedy, and only looking after his commission. Im as pissed as anybody. But if he signs I'll cheer.

This is the Bay Area, land of protest. I say 49er fans flood Eugene Parkers agency with phone calls and clog up their system until Crabtree gets into uniform!

"Like I said several months ago on this blog, the Niners haven't had a D-lineman with a motor like Justin Smith's since the days of one Charles Haley."

Bryant Young?

Below is the information for Eugene Parker's agency. Fans should call write and fax this fool until his client gets on board!

Maximum Sports Management
6435 W. Jefferson Blvd., #197
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Phone:
888-494-3330

Fax:
800-631-4380

Thats awesome!

I think we need an arbitrator. Dr. Lou is available.

Shaun Hill will be on "Jim Rome Is Burning" tomorrow @ 1:30pm. Get your Tivo ready.

I think the sources for the article Matt provided for us on Yahoo are exactly right! At first I believed Crabtree was entitled to ask what he thinks he was worth. But reading how things have gone over the last 2 or 3 weeks, the 49ers should have known Parker and this kid were going to be trouble because that's their business to know these things! Especially the GM! But there's obviously been a learning curve going on with the team since the franchise started it's drop from perennial winner, to, well you know!
Now I see why Crabtree fell so far in the draft. No teams wanted to mess with Parker and they were able to figure out the lousy, conceited attitude of Crabtree.
It's a natural inclination, especially among business people, to love to see your competitors squirm. And I think the article's sources show that to some extent. It's also true that hindsight is 20/20, but this obviously was a train wreck coming, and the youth and maybe some ineptness of the 49er front office created this mess. And maybe we should all see that point of view.
Parker and certain other agents are obviously "bad news" for NFL teams. And the 49ers should have realized he was in charge of representing a spoiled "Mr.Big On Campus" attitude of a player.
The good thing is maybe the 49ers will learn from this experience and move on no matter what happens. I'm sure they'll do their homework and think twice before they take their next exam next year!

"Currently, each team is assigned a rookie pool that comes out of the salary cap that is based on how many picks it has and how high they are in the draft. But, as Goodell says, "it's violated." Between signing and option bonuses, escalators, incentives, teams can pretty much pay what they want."
http://tinyurl.com/m8aozt

Don't buy the PR spin from the Niners.

Chilo Richal is on of Parkers clients

You'd prefer the PR spin from Deion Sanders? LOL.

Parker represented the #3 pick, Jackson, also.

As much as I like BY and I wish we could get another one of him, I'm still thinking Smith's motor is still several RPMs higher and that's no knock on BY pardon the pun. J. Smith has been doing it with less help. Remember, BY had Stubblefield right next to him early on and more talent around him later on. Manusky's comment is something I noticed in part last year. I've been a Niner fan for a loooong time and Smith just really stands out to me. This guy just plays each play like it's his last. I will say if we had Smith and BY, in his prime, playing side by side, no one would be worried about a lack of pass rush.

Jackson went higher than expected so he was happy for what he got

matt,
there is a rumor you going to get a job at espn? this true??

One thing that needs to be asked in Parkers defense, how come all his other players are signed, sealed and delivered? He apparently wasn't unreasonable with their interests. This smells more of someone else's influence. Had Crabtree signed when he should have, Parker would have been paid, had his money in the bank and be worrying about his taxes this year. I think his reputation takes a big hit on this fiasco too. If it's not Deion or another one of Crabtree's posse, it's Crabtree himself. Either way, Crabtree's got his head screwed on backwards. Way too much trouble.

Parker is known as a difficult agent to work with. He has a history of hold outs and hard ball. It seems he would have answered York as a professional courtesy.

Smith is a freakin' terror.

Douchetree is a......*yaaaawwwwwnnnn*

I understand he has a history of holouts but were those draft picks or current players seeking extensions? The current player scenario is where you usually play hardball. More leverage there. The slotting system is not brand new so this to me smells of outside influences. Parker knows the Niners can't budge, especially with two 1st rounders next year. I agree about the professional courtesy comment but then maybe he's being told to ignore York's request.

Hi Matt, Snyder, IMO, is a backup. Give Pashos a shot he can't be worse than what we've seen. Like everyone else I've read the Chris Robinson article, it's amazing how bright people become after the fact. There is no way anyone could've seen this coming. If a guy can produce no matter if he has a rap sheet, violent past or whatever you choose to fill in he's draft material. As soon as Crabtree makes his first highlight reel all is forgiven. The NFL has a very short memory.

I heard that on KNBR tonight that Crabtree went on with Lou Holtz on ESPN. Holtz does a bit as Dr Lou or something to that effect. Crabtree asked Lou.....How should a player deal/pick and agent when trying to go into the NFL?

If you didnt see it or hear....you should find it. I laughed!!!!

Niners basically forfeiting their #1 pick in the 2009 draft for the sake of saving the NFL slotting system. Foolish. Niners should put winning first.

I was telling the post about Dr. Lou and Crabtree earlier

Here is a link to the video

http://video.aol.fr/video-detail/dr-lous-advice-for-week-3/2396720940

It's time to get serious about looking into the Crabtree tampering .... Craptree tampering..... then begin looking into getting the best deal trading him to the ....Raiders? That's where he would have gone in the first place? It's very sad that it has come to this for the Ravens.....I mean 9ers.....sorry, Ravens could run the ball. I have to admit, I'm offended and I don't want that punk around anymore. Truth is, this is likely a big coverup for Crabtree's necrotic bone disease in his foot.

"Sing wants winners, not Crabs.". T-shirts coming soon! :-). Crabtree tampering case is escalating behind the scenes. May e he did not like it that Sing yelled at him in camp?

... Justin Smith is going to the pro-bowl this yr...

GilroyAl - "Like I said several months ago on this blog, the Niners haven't had a D-lineman with a motor like Justin Smith's since the days of one Charles Haley. "

...And you call yourself a niner fan, you are obviously clueless - YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF NOT TO REMEMBER BRYANT YOUNG......

Given what we know, it's hard to blame Parker for Crabtree's bad judgement. His other clients signed, and he has a lot of incentive to get a deal done. Once things sort themselves out, no doubt a lot of people will tell the "inside" story about what is happening.

Rich- I could not disagree more, with two picks in the first round next year the team cannot pay more for a player that has not proven he can compete at the next level. If Crabtree wanted to play football he would be with the team, maybe he does not have "heart".

This week's game is going to be great. But the half time will be even better.

49ers are houring Eddie.

I can see the whole stadium shouting EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE for the entire half time.

I can't wait!!!!

And once again don't let the facts get in the way oneniner. I was talking only about Smith's "motor" not about his skill sets or any other attribute. I haven't seen J. Smith long enough to compare those but I stand by my statement: Smith stands out because he plays each play like it's his last. The last player on the Niners that stood out this much motorwise WAS Charles Haley. Unlike some people we know, oneniner, I try to look at things objectively and don't develop man crushes on players. That's why as a true fan, I was able to enjoy watching the transitions from Joe to Steve, Clark to Rice etc. That's what true fans do. Oneniner you just don't seem like a very happy person.

Crabtree already appeared to be a me-first guy before not responding to Jed's call. As a fan, this represents a beyond-the-pale show of disrespect for the team and the organization. I would now be disappointed to hear that he has signed for any amount. I can't root for this guy (unless he became the 2nd coming of Rice, which he probably won't).

Let's learn from this, trade him for a 2nd rounder in the Spring and move on. And draft McCoy

Please be an honorable man and honor the bet you lost by leaving this blog for the year.

...BRYANT YOUNG was a constant leader on the field and in the locker room when he was with the team...

...i dont recall anyone EVER questioning his "motor" ....BRYANT YOUNG played like every down was his last down....

I'm going to have to disagree with you guys on the fan uproar of not selecting Crabtree... and the loss of Scott's GM position. We had and still have gaping holes in line play on both sides. Taking the safe pick this year and letting Jones and Morgan develop in a run offense would eventually have become accepted.

Unfortunately the Marvel Smith signing, which Pitt fans laughed at b/c they knew (and the 9ers should have known) was a bad decision. A false safety net that allowed the 9ers to gamble with Crabtree. This gamble could still pay off, but I think we will come out ahead with the extra cap room.

My quote from one of my comments above: I'm still thinking Smith's motor is still several RPMs higher and that's no knock on BY. Honestly, oneniner, does that sound like I'm questioning BY's motor. You need to start watching the players on the field, not just looking for Alex on the sideline. You just might learn something about the game, not just who looks better in those tight pants.

No, I specifically said in earlier posts I don't believe either side. I just think it is too easy to buy the PR Spin that Crabtree's agent is or Crabtree is a bad guy, etc etc.

I believe there is more at play in this negotiation that we are not hearing about.

...nice try .....keep backing yourself into a corner...

...this is what you wrote...

"Like I said several months ago on this blog, the Niners haven't had a D-lineman with a motor like Justin Smith's since the days of one Charles Haley."

...let me blow it up for you...

"HAVEN"T HAD A D-LINEMAN WITH A MOTOR LIKE JUSTIN SMITH"....no hard feelings dude....

maybe it was a mistake or it skipped your mind.....just say that instead of looking ...u know

P.S. Don't be ashamed if you need a remedial reading class oneniner, just do it!!!! You wouldn't have such a big problem understanding what people write. Please consider it. For your own sake as well as ours.

Come on, guys, stop feeding the trolls!

Crabtree has only played two years at wide receiver and performed better his first vs. his second year. He did well in the spread offense, but what NFL teams utilize the spread offense? I think he's scared and knows he will be a bust.

The guaranteed money is his one shot, and no second contract will be forthcoming.

......"You need to start watching the players on the field, not just looking for Alex on the sideline."......

*outch*

At this point in time the 49ers are better off without Crabtree. He comes off as a blend of TO/Vernon Davis (pre-Singletary). If he signs and has a decent year he'll probably holdout next year, anyway.
The position stated by other NFL gms is almost laughable. The 49ers are being held hostage by Crabtree because nine other teams didn't draft him?
If you want a cool reaction from these bozos have the 49ers draft out of the...oh...25th slot next year and sign the player the next day for projected Top 3 money.

Crabtree has only played two years at wide receiver and performed better his first vs. his second year. He did well in the spread offense, but what NFL teams utilize the spread offense? I think he's scared and knows he will be a bust.

The guaranteed money is his one shot, and no second contract will be forthcoming.

I still say the niners should pull the entire contract off the table.

What a bunch of Yahoo by Charles Robinson. He should tell the 9ers who he talked to and charge em for tampering. These anonymous executives are just saying this for hopes it might effect the team. But if they said the 9ers shouldve known what there getting into makes me wonder if there are any teams that would pay him top 5 money, but again what a bunch of yahoo.

The 9ers gott be prepared for Kerney since he has a moter almost as good as Justin Smith, maybe the RTs should practice against Smith. Seahawks have a fast D but a light one, maybe screen plays might work. Running the ball looks like it might be tough against them, maybe they should try using the TE in the passing game to open up the run

Do the honorable thing and honor the bet you made and leave this blog for the year.

(Para phrasing from Jed's interview this morning on KNBR).

If there any validity to the claim that the 10 NFL execs stayed away last year, imagine how many execs will stay away from Crabtree next year when he re-enters the draft.

Which is why I still feel that Craps's agent may already has a deal in place to get him to Cowboys next year which is why he is gambling with Niners this year. Or he is the biggest moron in the history of mankind.

NOT SELECTING CRABTREE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE SAME LEVEL AS BRIAN SABEAN SIGNING EDGAR RENTERIA FOR 11 MILLION....ONE OF THOSE WTF!!!! MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU WANT THE GUY FIRED. CRABTREE IS BEING USED BYU HIS AGENT TO GET A BIGGER BONUS BEFORE HE GETS SCREWED WITH THE CBA LIMITING SALARIES FOR ROOKIES AND BY HIS COUSIN WHO MOST LIKELY WILL BLEED HIM OUT OF MONEY ANY CHANCE HE GETS....TOO BAD, GOOD TALENT WASTED BY BAD JUDGEMENT BUT HTEN AGAIN THE GUY IS STILL VERY YOUNG.

The whole thing about the 9ers compensation for Cribtree, not getting anything is understandable, but for him to re-enter the draft doesnt make sense, he already got drafted, they should list him as a free agent if it doesnt work out

Unfortunately the Marvel Smith signing, which Pitt fans laughed at b/c they knew (and the 9ers should have known) was a bad decision.

Ain't that the truth. Personally I put far too much faith in the "they know what they're doing" concept with the Smith signing. I said well before the draft that you build championships by controlling the line of scrimmage. That is OL and DL.

I admit that I fell into the best player available concept when Crabtree came up at 10. He still may become a special player, but that won't change the fact that the 49ers, to be a viable championship caliber team, have to get their OL/DL up to snuff.

Do any of us think about Al Davis in all of this stuff? Look! Davis is way past his time and borders on senility! I know he was a good friend of Bill Walsh but this guy has a trck record of doing things to anyone or anything he hates. A good example is what he did to Marcus Allen in his prime. And I remember a SB he won and everyone waited to see what he'd say and how he'd react to Rozelle the Commissioner of The NFL, who Davis hated because he thought he was the better man for the Commish! And Davis smirked at Rozelle and acted like he didn't exist while he held up the SB Trophy! In his mind, he made Rozelle squirm!
It's always been known Davis has, to say the least, a dislike for the 49ers. Davis thinks he should own the Bay Area, among other stupid things he has in his head.
So everyone wondered why Davis picked Bey over Crabtree! Even though ready for the retirement home, Davis' deviuos mind may have been working overtime realizing that Parker, being Crabtree's Agent and Crabtree being what he is, could lead to possible problems for young Jed and his GM.
Now this may be a stretch, but this guy Davis, above any owner, would LOVE to see the 49ers squirm. EVERYBODY knows Crabtree was a sure choice above Bey. But in his mind, he took the chance, took Bey who he thought was the equal of Crabtree, and dreamed of what could happen with the 49ers!
Sure, the 49ers could have drafted someone else but thought Crabtree was unbelievably available. And the rest is a Soap Opera. And guess who's watching the situation and having his chuckles? The SNAKE who came from the Garden of Eden...Al Davis!

Do any of us think about Al Davis in all of this stuff? Look! Davis is way past his time and borders on senility! I know he was a good friend of Bill Walsh but this guy has a trck record of doing things to anyone or anything he hates. A good example is what he did to Marcus Allen in his prime. And I remember a SB he won and everyone waited to see what he'd say and how he'd react to Rozelle the Commissioner of The NFL, who Davis hated because he thought he was the better man for the Commish! And Davis smirked at Rozelle and acted like he didn't exist while he held up the SB Trophy! In his mind, he made Rozelle squirm!
It's always been known Davis has, to say the least, a dislike for the 49ers. Davis thinks he should own the Bay Area, among other stupid things he has in his head.
So everyone wondered why Davis picked Bey over Crabtree! Even though ready for the retirement home, Davis' deviuos mind may have been working overtime realizing that Parker, being Crabtree's Agent and Crabtree being what he is, could lead to possible problems for young Jed and his GM.
Now this may be a stretch, but this guy Davis, above any owner, would LOVE to see the 49ers squirm. EVERYBODY knows Crabtree was a sure choice above Bey. But in his mind, he took the chance, took Bey who he thought was the equal of Crabtree, and dreamed of what could happen with the 49ers!
Sure, the 49ers could have drafted someone else but thought Crabtree was unbelievably available. And the rest is a Soap Opera. And guess who's watching the situation and having his chuckles? The SNAKE who came from the Garden of Eden...Al Davis!

Since his chances of getting a first contract with more guaranteed money than the 49ers current offer is very, very small, then his best option is to sign right away, before the offer goes away. At least that would be a logical approach.

As for having a better offer from Jones, I'm sorry, but I have a lot of trouble believing that anything firm really does exist. Handshake? In writing? Parker may be a wad, but he is a rich, successful, and intelligent wad. I really do not believe that he thinks his client is going to get 20+mil guaranteed from the Cowpokes.

That's what makes this whole thing so difficult to fathom. Parker is not stupid, but Crabtree very well may be. To me it looks more and more like Crabtree is the problem now, more than Parker.

On being an exec--to be good at it you learn to accept credit and delegate blame. These guys talking in the past-tense means nothing

How dumb is Scot McCloughan for not drafting Micheal Oher? I got kicked off the SF Chron site for blowing my lid when the Niners drafted Crabtree, but the junxtaposition.... yeah, "junxtaposition" of the Crabtree holdout and Adam Snyder struggling perfectly illustrates why only dumb GMs call their teams, "Best Player in the Draft," teams. I understand it if the guy's a Jerry Rice, Patrick Willis type who is a slam dunk, but Crabtree, coming from a spread offense, smaller school, with a foot injury and speculation about his overall talent was not a slam dunk. Mangini even brought other issues to light.
Scot McCloughan is just a dumb GM. Micheal Oher was elected, or nominated, to be the rookie of the week last week. We have incredible speculation about our O line and its effectiveness, and we had Josh Morgan who's got all the same skills Micheal Crabtree has. I mean, I'm dumbfounded as to the selection. Scot McCloughan nudged Singletary after the ninth selection, "Mike, that's your guy." Thanks Scot. I think you've done enough already with Balmer, Vernon, Manny and moronic trades of 2nd and 4th round picks. I'm going with Oher. No matter how great Singletary becomes, the Niners will not be a success until the Yorks find a true personnel guy who can evaluate, and more importantly, understands that the trenches are where it all begins. Scot McCloughan must go!

Terry, I don't think Al Davis has anymore dislike for the Niners organization than the rest of the NFL. He and Carmen Policy probably aren't best friends though. Remember, he was in court for years fighting the NFL after the move to LA. I think he has a problem, like the rest of the Raider Nation, with the Niner's success in winning 5 Superbowls since the last time 'Tha Raiders' won one. He took Bey because he loves speed over hands always has, probably always will. His M.O. for a long time. Remember Cliff Branch?

Good points! You make a very believable and concise argument. Thanks!