Good double team by the two Press Democrat guys at Mike Singletary's Monday news conference.
The big topic - unaddressed for more than 11 minutes - is the news that the Jets allegedly tampered with holdout Michael Crabtree.
Matt Maiocco went first. "Mike, are the 49ers filing tampering charges against the Jets?"
Singletary, looking stern, said: "You know that's something that the league is going to handle internally and I'm not going to get into that. We'll let that play out, the process. I'm not even going to go there. We'll let the league handle that."
I was sitting there asking myself exactly what Singletary had said. Matt didn't ask if the Jets tampered, didn't ask anything about the case. He merely asked if the Niners had filed tampering charges with the NFL. To my way of thinking Singletary confirmed that, but I wanted to be sure.
So I said, "Coach, when Matty asked you about the tampering charges." Singletary looked even more stern and tried to interrupt me. "Just bear with me on this," I said.
"I'm not going to address it," he said.
"I understand," I said, "but I just want to tell you what you said -- 'I'm going to let the league handle that.' What?"
Singletary looked at Matt and said, "What did you ask me? Ask me the question again."
Matt said, "Have the 49ers filed tampering charges against the Jets?"
Singletary said, "The part where you said the 49ers filed tampering charges on the Jets I'm going to let the league handle that point."
To which I replied, "Fine by me."
Based on this byplay it's pretty clear the Niners filed tampering charges against the Jets, otherwise what point is Singletary and the Niners letting the league handle? He all but admitted the 49ers have taken an action on a tampering charge. Very interesting. Stay tuned. To read my column on the tampering and how the Niners are trying not to be wimps anymore click here.
Which brings me back to the question i have lurking in my head.
What evidence do the 49ers have?
The 49ers better have indisputable evidence, that is a damning accusation.
Sports Illustrated is reporting that Rex Ryan openly confirmed that the Niners have failed tampering charges against the Jets.
The consequences of this are really a big deal, it seems to me. The draft is one of the pillars of NFL credibility as a league, becuase it allows all 32 teams a chance to rebuild, get competitive. Any team that messes with the draft is committing one of the worst offenses outside of throwing games.
There had to be something going on or there would been more contact between the two parties regarding a signing,some discussion's. Crab must really hate the idea of being a 49er. Still think that sooner or later he will be a Cowboy.
From Matt Barrows' blog at 9:01 AM. <<
"Through a spokesman, the 49ers issued the following statement: "Those are internal matters that are handled by the league, therefore we are not going discuss the topic.""
So what major discovery did Cohn credit himself for unearthing, the company line?
Suppose the tampering took place back in August? Even if the Niners knew and the Jets' offer isn't in place now, it would still be tampering.
Or suppose that in some negotiation Eugene Parker said to McCloughan, "You know, the Jets and the Cowboys would pay Crabtree forty million."
The first example wouldn't be the cause of the current impasse, and the second example might not even be true. But if the Niners file a tampering charge on it it would mean that now it's gotten personal with Parker. The team realizes that they aren't going to get Crabtree, it's not worth the headaches and money, and now they are justifying to the public why they couldn't get the contract done. While Parker's name isn't mentioned, it's clear that he's the target here, like Jed's offer last week to meet face-to-face with Crabtree is a suggestion that Parker isn't being honest with his client and there's a need to break the deadlock.
Crabtree has held out so long that he's essentially useless to the team this year. For the Niners' purposes he might as well hold out to November and sit out the whole year. At that point the Niners could sign him for next year, if his demands shrink. Or they could trade him for whatever value they can get next March. Or they could let him go, use the money to extend contracts of stars on the team, get a free agent, or use the money for the two first-rounders they'll have next year.
If Crabtree falls to the 2010 draft, which will be flooded with underclassmen turning pro to get in before the new CBA and a rookie salary cap comes into effect, you don't know how far he could fall. And "pulling a Crabtree" will become part of the American English lexicon.
i say this you ask stupid questions about the tampering! for what like sing says hes focus on the team that he has right know not about the tampering drama so do the 49er, Sing, and the FANS a favor !!!!!and quit asking stupid Questions!!!!! where 2-0 let him focus on 3-0 !!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!!!!!
The Jets should be pissed at Deion for opening his mouth, if they are innocent they should put Deion on the spot and have him fess up to which teams he was talking about. If its not true than Deion has just lost a lot of credibility as a sportscaster.