They should just say there are busy winning, and too come back during the bye week.

Wow. Matt, have you ever seen this level of posturing from any other agent, especially one with such little leverage??

If it does not happen now then it's over. Come on Jed....make your Uncle proud and get involved...get the deal done. As for oneniner....yes, Hill is a grinder. I see folks like this everyday......they just keep working it.

I really don't like what Crabtree has done/doing with this holdout & threats to sit out & the tampering charges. It is all terrible for not just the 9ers but for football. He has missed the preseason show down w/ heyward-bey & preseason home coming against dallas (his home area) & didn't get the chance to square off against percy harvin. This has been a COMPLETE MESS!!!!!! With that said I still would like him on the 9ers! I know I'm gonna get a lot of negativity for that but its cool cause I already do. I am not quiet in saying I want him on the team. The talent that he has and his upside is tremendous! With him, a healthy brandon jones or josh morgan, bruce & vernon davis. We would be able to stretch the field, open the playbook & stop defenses from stacking the box. Hate the kid for what he is doing but you can't help but think what kind of offense we would/could have with him...ok I'm done let the hatred begin.. .

I really hate playing these power trip games but I've had to do it in the past. 9er management really should establish a position of power before they meet with Parker, if in fact they do meet with Parker. When/If Parker calls to set a meeting, 9er management should say they are busy and might get to a meeting in a few days. Let Parker stew for awhile. Then they should kick off the meetings by announcing the offer has dropped. If he walks, then he walks and will NEVER remake the money he loses this year. Paraag and McC should set the tone early as to who is in charge of these negotiations. It's time to grow some cajones and take the risk of the player walking so future negotiations will be tenable.

Translation: Mister Parker can come hat in hand, trying to salvage *something* from Crabby's rookie season, but don't expect the 49ers to sweeten the offer.

Get on the bus or walk, Dude.

While watching the MNF, one thing is becoming really apparent. Our D is way better than the garbage the GreenBay has. Yet, all pundits continue to rate GreenBay way ahead of Niners

watching the packers d and o struggle against the vikes where the 9ers for the most part dominated the game while playing subpar. you have to sit back & think...the 9ers are a lot better than what most of the expert critics/so called fans (only a few) on here give them credit for.. .

Perhaps. But we already have three good receivers in Bruce, Morgan and Jones, in addition to a terrific possession guy in Battle. We also have Spurlock, who is supposed to have very good hands. We are not taking advantage of what we've already got, because the O-Line is still not there with its pass protection, and Jimmy Raye is not taking any chances.

On Sunday, even the Rams were consistently getting penetration into the backfield and getting pressure on Shaun Hill on 3-step drops. If your QB doesn't have the time on a 3-step drop, it doesn't matter what kind of receivers you've got.

Just see what happens to the Arizona Cardinals when Warner gets beat up - you need to look no farther than the 49ers' season opener in week one.

Notwithstanding that, yes, it would and should be a net plus to have a talent like Crabtree on the team. But only if the guy has his head screwed on right, and doesn't become a disruption to the great chemistry the team has going for it now.

I knew it was all a publicity stunt on Crabtree's team. From the Deion hints to announcements that they are on their way to Bay Area. Usually, you hear about it when it already happened -- the parties met already, etc...

Its going to get done, just a little while longer.

Hi Matt, I can't blame the guy for getting as much as he can taking into account the short life of an NFL career. I played little league ball fifty years ago and sat out one game because of ego, I still think about it and wish I had played. I'm sure Crabtree will think about it someday and regret it. Good thing the niners didn't get the chance to take AJ Hawk, Vernon is all upside.

It's gonna happen this week
What positive could come from this being a ploy?!? Absolutely nothing... especially the way their playing at 3-1 and #1 in the NFC West.

Crabs will be on the field this week

I know everyone is mad at this kid, but we sure could use another talent on offense to be elite team. He just better show and prove he was worth the wait. Also to let Patrick Willis aka(Captin Crunch) know him and the deffense played a hell of a game. The offense did play well also, but needs to make the big time catches.

true 49 Cents I agree 100% but on the same hand you have to look beyond this year & what he can bring for seasons to come. With the 2 first round draft picks they can address the o line if it does not get better this year. Having a wr threat will eliminate drafting, trading or free agency for that position. Bruce most likely will retire and although I like Battle he may not be on the team next year. Leaving Morgan, Spurlock, Hill, Jones, Davis & Crabtree if he signs. Do we need Crabtree? No! But we will need that type of wr threat. I want the 9ers to be great beyond this season. We need to get back on that Dynasty mode again.

Curious to see what transpires with the Crabtree show although I must admit I'm absolutely tired of the speculation,I also have my take on the matter but it is largely irrelevant. If Coach says he hasn't closed the door so be it.Much more interested in tampering charges and the possibility of being compensated in next years draft. Matt- any conjecture on who the practice squad candidates might be(Any chance your guy Bear Pascoe gets another shot)?

Our offense did more against the Vikings, than the Packers, whose offense I respect. We also did it without our best offensive player. Our defense did better as well. For all of you winers complaining. Get on board. We are the 49er Faithful, not the 49er Fearful.

I co-signs with that.. !

I agree that Crabtree will sign this week. Where there's smoke there is usually fire. I am sure Parker is not coming to the Bay Area just for sight seeing.

On the O line: Judging by his recent comments, it looks like Singletary has had enough of the worthless line play. I think we will see some changes after the Bye week. Somebody here floated the idea of moving Snyder to Guard and playing Pashos full time at tackle. I think that is a great idea. How about Pashos, Snyder, Heitman, Wragge, and Staley as starters. Get Bass and Rachal out of there. Wragge has always played well whenever he has been put in. I know Bass and Rachal were high draft picks, but at some point you have to admit you made a mistake in the draft and move on.

I want them to sign him, but I have to admit, I too am getting serious Crabtree fatigue. Though I find myself hungering and clicking on any Crabtree news I can find, a big part of me wishes that the entire media would just ignore these rubes.

Eugene Parker, you are a putz. There is no if, about that. You have the integrity of rat feces. I don't really know what that means, but it was meant as a total insult.

And as for the Pack/Vike game -- yes our defense looks waaaayyyy better than the packers. The vikings are all full of themselves, but Favretch will cough up the ball in a crucial situation to end their season. Then he will retire, and we can finally be done with all the announcers felating themselves over the guy. Over it!

Rick: Well put.

While Raye and Coach preach about "imposing their will on opponents with the run game" it hasn't happened and pass blocking has been poor at best. I agree that the guards are the weak link - they are getting beat regularly. In spite of that 'fact' the game plan seems to want to almost exclusively run between the tackles - not many pitches, sweeps, etc. Hill can throw an accurate short ball but he is rushing a lot of throws because the pocket is disolving so fast. The defense can't be expeced to carry the team the rest of the way outside of the weak sisters in the Division. I hope you are right about the line reshuffle over the Bye week.

This guy crabtree has just about pisted me off!! All this crap from this Diva is taking from the team and it's early accomplishments. What a jerk this nobody is! 9ers are kicking the heck out of people and are poised to become an elite team this season and what is everybody talking about?
A damaged good diva who has done NOTHING spoiled brat, punk! We have a huge game this weekend. And what are we talking about...somebody who has never even suited up for a game in the NFL. Who needs him any way? Our offense sure doesn't! Crystal don't fit into coach sings plans.

Worth reading:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/257264-getting-inside-the-crabtree-negotiations-by-andrew-brandt/show_full

Our hero, Mike Singletary, had this to say about Crabtree: "I haven't been wrong very often. ... I think he's a great kid."

So for those of you pissed off over the holdout and continually throwing the "diva" label out there, ask yourself these questions: Do I really know enough about Crabtree as a person to pass judgment? Is Crabtree pulling the strings in this holdout or his he just an impressionable, simple minded football player that is easily influenced by money hungry friends/relatives?

I, for one, trust Singletary's judgment and look forward to seeing the kid don the scarlet and gold. Watch this video and then say you aren't excited about his potential:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm9gAYutAwg

Hope we bring in a power OG for the PS, or maybe Matt Spanos if we still like him. Baas & Rachal are upgradeable, with only Wragge & Cody Wallace around as alternatives.

Two points re the on-going Crabtree soap opera:

(1) The 49er front office and Coach Sing have handled this thing about as well as it can be handled by leaving the door open and pointing no fingers. Kudos for intelligent management of an awkward situation. And

(2)--Has anyone else noticed that the the latest flury of activity (if it is a flury-??) comes immediately after Mark Sanchez of the (! SURPRISE !) NY Jets spent a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon looking like a plucked turkey while Shaun Hill and VD were doing the end zone dance?

What else would you expect Singletary to say; that Crabtree "is a spoiled punk who will bring nothing but headaches to this team"? Of course Singletary is going to put a positive spin on this whole mess. I personaly could care less about Craptree's potential. The diva has burned his bridge as far as I am concerned. I hope he never, ever, ever wears a Niner uniform!!!! Let's see how his smart ass does in the draft next year.

I agree. We need his YAC, if not this year, the near future. The team can put in a package of 5 or 6 plays for him. He can really help us in punt and kick returns though. Anybody who doubts that should look at the his highlights as a receiver.

I'm frustrated with Crabtree, but a few months can be atoned for, over the course of 5 years. Once he suits up, he is a 49er. He will receive my support and cheers. The veterans and coaches will discipline him. But we can really use someone who can make big plays from short catches. He has a reputation as a hard worker. Hopefully he will work even harder to prove himself.

If anyone actually believes that Crabtree could actually destroy the chemistry on the Niners you must be crazy. Have you all fogotten who the leaders are on this team. Mike Singletary is the coach!!! Patrick Willis is a 2 time all pro!! Takeo Spikes is on this team. Nate Clements is on this team! Justin Smith is on this team! These are all established All- Pro players that make more money than Crabtree( except for Willis and he will next year) Crabtree will get cracked in half. A very important point is Deon showing his credibility on the NFL network again last night by saying that Crabtree might be coming to the Niners soon. It just further validates his earlier assertion about 2 teams willing to pay Crabtree more money than we were. It just strengthens our tampering claim and validates his relationship with Crabtree and parker. I look forward to the tampering fallout. We're getting something out of it. Deon Sanders, the gift that keeps giving!!!

Also once Crabtree is on the team, he can spill the beans about who offered him a deal. This will help the team more than he hurt it.

Irrespective of whether (or when) Crabtree signs, he's done for this season. Singletary is not going to put him on the field unless he has learnt the playbook adequately, established some rapport with Hill, and has satisfied the coaching staff that he can block. A tall order.

Singletary is not going to put Crabtree in the game just to please the fans.

On the O line, I'm not giving up on Rachal. He's still learning. However, I'm not sure Baas is going to get the contract extension terms he perhaps is expecting.

Something tells me that McLoughan's philosophy of getting (and keeping) guards on the cheap is about to undergo a change in the heat of a Singletary glare.

Hey NINERS fans You do NOT need Crabtree's attitude. He was a system WR at Texas tech. Think about it he left tech after 2 years and did you hear any whining from Tech about him leaving ??? Much like when Ryan Leaf left Wash St one year early State didn't throw a big fit and neither did Tech. Aside from Wleker who is another system guy and TOTALLY BENEFITS from playing with Brady and along side Moss NOT too many Texas Tech guys tear it up.. WHY?? It is a system Crabtree may be a good WR BUT DUE to his STUBBORN refusal to accept 20 MILLION dollars fans may never see. Considering the economic situation in this country to see a priggish prima donna like this PUNK turn down a contract with a 5 time Super Bowl winning teram with a HALL OF FAMER at the helm makes me want to puke. I hope the 49ers stand tall against this guy. Maybe Crabman can hook up with his Texas TEch QB.. He isn't playing in the NFL either..... dot dot dot.....

Simply Coach will play him if he earns his way onto the field. Coach's strength is his credibility with his players, and expectations for playing your way onto the field. If Crabtree signs he'll have to strap up and work his way onto the field.

And he's also simply focused on trying to win, if he can help win then we'll all be good with it. If he breaks in quickly it will only mean he's been worth the headache. If he doesn't, well that's how it goes with rookie receivers and especially one who missed training camp etc.

Once this gets done all we'll have to talk about is upcoming games - hooray!

We have tried moving people around on the line, have tried and failed. Snyder talked with Sing in the off-season and said he feel more comfortable playing one position and staying there. I will agree we have to do something on the offensive side of the ball and I think Simms needs to go because that guy couldn't block his own mother.

Pashos was kicked inside with the Jags, so he's had some work there.

I'd consider using Wragge at LG and seeing whether Pashos/Rachal could rotate at RG perhaps? Leave Snyder on the RT side if he's comfortable there. Obviously the weak link should be Sims and Baas, but let's see what Sing comes up with when the BYE week arrives.

I smell a Trade and think Battle/Baas/Spurlock could be involved?

that video got you excited? that's just a bunch of WR screens against crappy competition that, no separation vs no name corners, no double teams, no wow plays or catches. YAC? it's not like he's breaking tackles or faking guys out.

go watch some DeSean Jackson or Percy Harvin highlights. just making college football players look bad (against better competition to boot).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW0-HYrRJLA&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQca0m1Pe4g&feature=player_embedded

so sad, i barely follow college football and i can pick WR better than our GM.

I wish Crabgreed and his idiot agent would stay the hell out of San Francisco.

Our team is ranked 9th in scoring. Imagine when our offense starts clicking.

Plenty of reason for optimism thus far highpriest333.

Once this OL gets on the same page and, Shaun can relax a little more behind them, the timing in the short passing game should improve dramatically too.

Yeah but you have to look at the teams we've played so far. Seahawks and Rams are crap. We lost to Minnesota.

Our offense had better start improving in a major hurry, we've got a tough series of games coming up.

We play three of those crap teams again. The Vikings are undefeated, but we have scored the most points on them this season. The Cardinals have only allowed more points to the Colts. The Seahawks have only allowed more to the Packers. I understand our team is a work in progress, but for the first time in years, we have progression.

Parker is coming to the bay area? All right. Does he come to visit the 49ers or the Raiders? Is it about Crabtree or another player? Everything is rumor and speculation.

I think the Niners filing tampering charges has put a damper on any potential wheeling & dealing by Parker. Now, whether Crabtree signs or not is still very debateable. I'll believe it when I see it. Would love to have him on the field...but that'll also mean a player gets cut. Ideally, they cut a rookie and hope he clears waivers to land on the PS. On the other hand, six WR's is a lot on the roster. If I'm Battle or Jason Hill, I might get a little nervous if Crabtree signs.

As for the OL, Baas and Rachal need to step up their game. Coach has said he thinks Snyder's ahead of Pashos at RT, so not sure he'd want to put Adam at one of the OG positions. No problem w/Wragge...so maybe Coach saying there might be changes gives Baas & Rachal the right motivation to play better.

Deion doing his best imitation of damage control IMO-

He's not saying, just saying -

He's well connected and can't help himself.

The Commish is not a happy camper with Us crying foul.

Two key stats 1/4 the way through the season.

+5 Turnover Differential
-2 Turnover Differential Last year through 4 games

A 7 Turnover improvement

Points allowed
13.2/game this year (2nd best in the NFL next to Denver)
24.2/game Last year through 4 games

Points allowed off Turnovers:
(Opponent gets TO then drives to score)

6 points given from Turnovers this year
28 points off turnovers Last year through 4 games

actually 3 stats

Since Rachal is young with upside, I think the move to make is to take Baas out and have Pashos and Wragge alternate quarters in the next game and battle for that spot, maybe over 2-3 games to make sure their motivation levels get the most out of their talents, and to see one of them develop into the position.

Meanwhile, get some retired former 49er OL great to at least mentor Rachal. Make sure he knows how important every little nuance of his development is to the team. Make sure he strengthens every muscle fiber of his body in the gym. Have someone feeding him subliminal advice as he sleeps. Have him go to bed every night watching highlights of great 49er guards during the dynasty years.

Also, meanwhile....develop some plays for Nate Davis. Lets confuse defenses by putting him in for longer passing plays, with sets that we can run out of also. That will clear out the box for Gore and let us see what Davis can do (and maybe he'll impress so much he can be weaned in this year as the starter).

I think Parker bet against Singletary and lost.

He thought that the 49ers - a sad sack franchise the last six years - would stumble out of the game, irregardless of the influence of their new coach. After all, its a "player's league", right? And the players were mostly the same...

Just wait a few weeks into the season for the losing to pile up, and desperation to set in. Make the team sweat and fold its card, handing over a big pot of gold to Crabs and a hefty commission to Parker.

Surprise...

Sing has this team playing far better.

Instead of Parker being in the Catbird's seat, dealing with an organization in disarray and desperate for help, he is coming to meet with a team that has every reason to see his client as a nice-to-have, but hardly essential piece.

All hoped-for leverage down the drain.

My guess is, if it doesn't get done this next few days, Crabs fires Parker and moves on to an agent who can get it done.

Either way, Crabs coming back to SF is a white flag. Barring some complete stupidity on his part, he is signed this week.

Crabtree again, I thought it was a dead issue the past week or so... oh well.

I don't think the Niners should budge. If he signs then fine otherwise send him home with the same contract. "You have until Nov." The reason being, he is going to be a problem for us. He will cry about not getting the ball/stats/money. This is what he has shown. People keep saying he has such great talent. Well the jusy is still out. Folks on this blog and elsewhere keep saying Jason Hil has talent, well WTF. It is all hype until you prove yourself.

Hold tight Niners... We don't need him. We need an OL. Look at the Browns. They have Edwards (who I think will always be better the Crabtree), and they can't even get him the ball. A receiver doesn't make a team.

For whatever its worth, Adam Schefter said on Twitter that the two sides are meeting today and he thinks something is gonna get done.

Good Morning Matt well it looks like Crabtree will be meeting with the 49ers today http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/06/niners-crabtree-meeting-today/ Hey Matt how do I ask u a question from twitter?

HOOOOLLLLLDDDDD TIGHT JED!!!!

Oh, and see if you can get one or two OLinemen

Matt,

Should Crabtree sign (my fingers are crossed he won't), who do you think will be the roster casualty?

What's your opinion on the Crabtree situation? They are doing just fine without him (and his large salary). Should the Niners sign him or save the money for next years draft and player's extensions?

I'd go totally the other way with Rachal. IMHO his problem is effort and not talent. If you have an effort issue the best and really only way to handle that is to bench the dude. There is no better motivator than taking his job away.

Also, there is no way in hell they are going to put Nate Davis in a ballgame. I'd love to see him play but it doesn't make sense to play Davis. Currently Smith is the backup. If you're going to play the #3 QB over the #2 QB then why even employ the #2. Davis might be very good one day but he shouldn't play this year unless they plan on cutting Alex Smith.

Hey, Crabtree... Percy Harvin is WAY better than you are.

I never thought we wouldn't see him and in fact both sides are meeting today.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/06/niners-crabtree-meeting-today/

So either:

McC didn't want to tip his cap as to the inner-workings of the team or:

He didn't know a thing about it because Eddie D Jr. pulled rank and called this shot.

Although the way it was written makes SF look like shmucks "They just decided to show up in SF" and we decided to meet w/them.

Regardless of how it's written though, letting a quarter of the season pass, having a 3-1 record, and coming fresh off of a Jim Brown scolding, it appears we hold all of the leverage. They can probably get a 6th year out of this, at very least.

I TOTALLY AGREE.

It would be nice to have an outside receiver stretching the field (Jason Hill and Zieg). But our QB for now and online for now are limited. I would much rather work VD on seem routes and P. Harvin in the slot with quick dumps. Oh and he returns punts and kicks.