Sports Then and Now

First round pick Michael Crabtree has reportedly threatened to sit out the entire 2009 season and re-enter the NFL Draft if he can't get a suitable contract from the 49ers.

If there were still any questions that Michael Crabtree had a “prima donna” attitude, or liked himself in a T.O. kind of way, there are no doubts now.

Late Thursday morning, ProFootballTalk.com reported that San Francisco 49ers first round pick (10th overall), wide receiver Michael Crabtree, was fully prepared to sit out the entire 2009 season if he doesn’t get the contract he’s demanding.

ESPN later reported that David Wells, Crabtree’s cousin and adviser, confirmed that the receiver is willing to hold out all year.

“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 getting $38 million?  This week is crucial. Michael was one of the best players in the draft and he just wants to be paid like one of the best players. This week is very crucial.”

If Crabtree does indeed decide to sit out the ’09 season he will re-enter the draft in ’10.

However, there is a problem with this plan.

If Crabtree is going to re-enter the draft in ’10, the 49ers will continue to hold his rights up until the day of the draft. That means, unless granted permission by the Niners, Crabtree cannot go to the combine, work out for any team, or talk to any team.

My problem with this situation is that Crabtree has never even taken an NFL snap, he’s never been on the field for even one play, he hasn’t proved anything.

But he’s still trying to squeeze every little penny out of the 49ers, who are already taking a chance, like all NFL teams do when drafting players, that he’s going to live up to the “superstar” hype.

Crabtree was all smiles the night of the NFL Draft.

Crabtree expects to be paid more than seventh overall selection Darrius Heyward-Bey, who received $23.8 million guaranteed, and has deemed anything less is “unacceptable.”

Just because most of the mock drafts prior to the draft had Crabtree going well ahead of DHB in April’s draft, doesn’t mean he should be paid like the higher pick.

This whole problem stems from the fact that unproven rookies are even getting paid higher than most veteran all-pros in the first place; it’s ridiculous.

But truthfully, Crabtree and his “adviser” are taking it to a whole new level of ridiculousness (if there is such a word).

What makes this big-headed receiver think he’s going to get drafted as high as 10th if he does enter the 2010 draft? Maybe I answered my own question by describing him as “big-headed.”

There’s no doubt that at least a few teams would shy away from selecting Crabtree in ’10 because of this “little show” he’s putting on in San Fran.

Plus, add the fact that he dropped all the way to 10th the first time around coming off a big year at Texas Tech; where will he fall to if he sits out a year?

There are still many questions surrounding the situation. Who knows, maybe Crabtree will give in and be in camp soon, or maybe the 49ers will give him what he wants.

But we can say that this kid is acting immature and he hasn’t even put on an NFL jersey yet.

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