Michael Crabtree, Eugene Parker and the 49ers: So begins the blame game
by David Fucillo on Aug 26, 2009 11:31 AM PDT
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintRonniemac03 (ode to Bobby Kielty?) posted an interesting FanShot earlier today that I wanted to discuss in a little more depth here and open it up for some discussion. It points to a Yahoo article (which points to a Pro Football Talk article) which claims dissension in the Crabtree/Parker ranks:
Meanwhile, we're hearing that Parker is dealing with the Crabtree conundrum on the recruiting trail by blaming the holdout on the player. Parker, we're told, is pointing to the deal he negotiated for defensive end Tyson Jackson at the third overall slot as proof that Parker is willing and able to negotiate a fair deal for a first-round pick.
I made a comment in the FanShot but wanted to open it up for all to see. First off, Parker likely promised great things in the draft to Crabtree and cannot deliver on those promises. That is certainly no excuse for an extended holdout from Crabtree.
However, more importantly and assuming Crabtree made the statement, I call BS on Parker's comments about his deal for Tyson Jackson. The Chiefs reached for Jackson with the third pick. While he might pan out as a great player, he was not expected to go that high. Thus, there's no reason for Parker to demand more than slot money. He's already getting more than he was probably expecting. In reality one could argue the situations are diametrically opposed.
I'm not here to make excuses for Crabtree. The whole situation has spiraled out of control and nobody should be surprised that the blame game has begun. What I like about all this is that the 49ers really do come out smelling like roses. They've stuck to their guns and are not being pushed into a particularly bad contract because one person demands it. I'm curious though if the 49ers might go a little more in a deal than what Raji got at 9. QBs usually get more than slot, so maybe another skill position could find it as well. Would you go a little more than 9 and would Crabtree even accept that?
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Maybe its all a set up to get fired?
If Parker is going to start pointing fingers at the guy that employs (?) him, it almost seems like a backhanded attempt at getting canned. I know it seems ridiculous, but it wouldn’t shock me if Crabtree had a new agent in the near future. That is, if what Parker is saying is true and that Crab is the reason for the holdout lasting this long.
I think what happens is that Crabtree will indeed find a new agent, tell him to shoot for the moon, but eventually settle for the best offer the Niners propose. Again, it’s out there, but this is a business after all.
by Andrew Davidson on Aug 26, 2009 11:47 AM PDT reply actions
You know Parker can canned the client
It will make him look bad but it could be worse. He has other clients as references, so it may not end looking all that bad for Parker. But Crabtree, if he never signs," TO2" will be his call sign thruout the league.
by LASVEGASNINER on Aug 26, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Why would he do this?
Why not just quit if that’s what he wanted, doing as you suggested would be a blow to his reputation and would cost him a lot of money.
by Brendan Scolari on Aug 26, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Who is Crabtree listening to ?
Parker or his Cousin ? If Parker has no control with Crabtree because of his family, why stick around ? His reputation has taken a hit already. Why stay around if your suggestion aren’t being considered. He would be able explain this problem away because of Crabtree reputation. Everyone already knows. Save what you can and move on. Right now his reputation is more important than one players commission.
by LASVEGASNINER on Aug 26, 2009 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions
how about a poll?
When drawing up the contract for Crabtree, the Niners should…
a) consider Heyward-Bey’s deal as the benchmark and disregard draft slotting.
b) weigh draft slotting 50-50 with the DHB contract (likely signing him for more than Raji got but rather less than Crabtree wants).
c) concede that Crabtree is a special prospect and sign him for the same money as Raji (or less).
d) stick to their draft slot guns and allow Crabtree to hold out until he becomes more reasonable.
I think the Niners policy should be something like D (or C, in a pinch), mostly due to the future ramifications of acquiring the rep of a front office that caves in to player demands.
Morgan breaks through in 2009!
mostly due to the future ramifications of acquiring the rep of a front office that caves in to player demands.
Normally I would agree, however, the negotiations of a new CBA (or lack there of) mean that the 49ers really won’t face any ramifications at all in the future.
I also agree that we should not over pay, not based on league principle, but based on common sense. You don’t overpay a guy guaranteed money more than his draft slot suggests because that is life. If I apply for a promotion, and get turned down I can’t negotiate a better deal for my position based on the fact that I had a chance of being promoted.
by Andrew Davidson on Aug 26, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions
right, no salary cap implications...BUT
If I’m a negotiator and I look soft in front of the guy across the table from me, I’m not in a good position. There may be no limit on spending next year, but if the team would cave to Crabtree wouldn’t that mean that the two 1st Rounders we have next year could both take their cue from what they do this year?
Also, I like the promotion analogy.
Morgan breaks through in 2009!
If I’m a negotiator and I look soft in front of the guy across the table from me, I’m not in a good position.
100% agreed.
by Andrew Davidson on Aug 26, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
You want an offer?
I’d tell crabtree he has 24 hours to sign whatever the current offer is, otherwise I reduce the garunteed money by 2 million.
If he misses a single regular season game due to the hold out, I’d lobb off 10%, and take off another 10% every month until he decides to re-enter the next draft, get picked way farther back, and lose even more money.
Stop this bull-s*** tug-of-war drama bombing crap. He’s going to get more money than he deserves no matter what, the 49ers are getting the raw-end given that they have to deal with this, and he is taking the exact opposite approach required if he wants fan-support and wants to sell jerseys.
by dkons21 on Aug 26, 2009 11:53 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I kinda agree with you...
All he is doing right now is hurting his worth. The more he sits out the less he is worth to us since he’s gonna be sitting out and learning anyway for a few weeks after he signs. If anything this holdout should be making Crabs lose money.
He already starts losing money after every regular season game missed. In the NFL, you collect a paycheck after each regular season game. If he signs late and misses 4 games than he’s already missed 1/4 (4 out of 16) of his base salary for the season.
Understood.
And I would reduce his contract anyway so in subsequent years of a multi-year contract he’d be losing even more money.
If only it worked that way.
NFL teams would LOVE it if it worked this way. Every contract would be awesome and there would never be any holdouts.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Aug 26, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Offer him #5 pick money and get it done. If he refuses then let him sit out the entire season and re-enter the 2010 draft. All i can say about that is Mike Williams LMFAO.
And whose to say that Parker isn’t right? He can’t force Crabtree to sign. Maybe the agent should fire the player for once?
by nocal81(Vincent) on Aug 26, 2009 11:58 AM PDT reply actions
I honestly
don’t think that he deserves top 5 pick money. He hasn’t shown me anything post-college to make me believe he’s earned his top 5 slot. I would really like for him to sign on what’s been offered, then go out and prove that he is indeed top NFL talent, then sign a fat contract(Rivers). Like Fooch stated, I’m also glad that the niners are sticking to their guns, they have no reason to give in, and i really hope that they don’t. If he sits out the year, that’s on him, he has nobody to blame but himself. I’m sure he would get drafted next year, but he would be losing millions of dollars, especially if the NFL installs the “Crabtree Clause” aka rookie salary cap. I just don’t know what he expects to gain from this holdout, the nation will have to wait patiently? to see what he does in the coming weeks before the season starts.
by sundaysfinest on Aug 26, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
And whose to say that Parker isn’t right? He can’t force Crabtree to sign. Maybe the agent should fire the player for once?
If Parker was seriously in the clear here and everything was on Crabtree, I think that’s exactly what he’d consider doing. Why hold onto a player that is dragging down your image and may not ever sign? Basically, they’re probably both at fault. Parker probably put the thoughts in Crabtree’s brain, and now Crabtree can’t shake them.
that's probably right
Parker probably put the thoughts in Crabtree’s brain, and now Crabtree can’t shake them
I don’t know the ins and outs of agents and representation, but I’d be surprised if what’s happening now doesn’t have a lot to do with what happened a way back in February or whenever Crabtree signed on with Parker. Parker probably promised Crab the moon—well before either one of them even thought about the possibility of a stress fracture.
Morgan breaks through in 2009!
the thing is that Parker would’ve seen no reason for Crabtree NOT to go in the top 3. So his promises were calibrated to that scenario. Then when DHB signs with the Sea Monster across the Bay, Parker convinces Crabtree that he’ll still get the promised $$. A perfect storm.
Morgan breaks through in 2009!
that's probably the nicest compliment
Davis has gotten since 1942.
by Andrew Davidson on Aug 26, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
funny stuff
and in his 4th season, VD broke through the wall, Niners fan rejoiced and all was well in the kingdom. Singletary 3:42
thanks...
now im gonna have those nightmares again
and in his 4th season, VD broke through the wall, Niners fan rejoiced and all was well in the kingdom. Singletary 3:42
#9 money, QBs, etc.
I think that in the grand scheme of things, the QB’s do get bigger contracts, but the bonus money is almost always in line with the “pay scale”. With that said, I think the 49ers giving Crabtree a bigger overall deal is a slight possibility (as WRs tend to have some of the bigger contracts in the league, don’t they?), but I don’t think they’ll budge on the guaranteed money.
There is no way Crabtree will sign for more bonus money than the #9 guy did. It just makes the 49ers out to be a team that rookies (and/or veterans) can push around.
by sfgfan on Aug 26, 2009 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
if
I was in charge I would tell them that this is best offer. And I am pulling this offer off the table. You can come to me when you are ready to play. And the next offer will be less, because you passed on my best offer. And if you don’t like it, so be it. Word-Daniels wants to change his jersey to 15 anyways.
IMO the niners should let Crabtree go back into the draft at this point. The rule of thumb for a WR is (2) yrs to become a good WR in the NFL. That excludes physical freaks like Calvin, Moss etc. Crabtree is no freak. TO was a mess his 1st two seasons and was in camp as rookie. The greatest WR of all time was a 50 catch 900 yd guy and dropping passes as a rookie. You pay him the slotted money, you are paying a ton of $$ for 2-3 yrs of special teams and #3 WR production. Just ask the QB across the bay how far back he was set by missing camp. At this point there is not a lot of value for the kinda money the #10 draft slot is paid. Half the contract is now development…not production.
So you’re implying that the team should NEVER draft a WR high? Or better yet, a QB takes even LONGER than a WR to develop; do you suggest that teams should NEVER draft a QB high because half of their ridiculous contracts (rookie QBs by far have the biggest contracts in the pool) are stuck in development, too?
bring it back from left field
Dude has stunted his development significantly. Why back up the Brinx for a guy that has made week 1-17 his personal training camp? Starters get all the reps once the season begins. It will take him all season to get to where he should be today. It doesn’t make sense to pay this guy a season’s salary to go through, essentially, training camp. We basically have no measurables on this guy (except he measured 6’1" instead of his listed 6-3). Gimmick college offense (see Rashuan Woods). No combine/workout. Haven’t seen him run a route post injury. This has bad contract written all over it for the 9ers…Terry Donahue will sign it right now.
No one is...
… suggesting the 49ers back up the Brinks truck for him. Considering he doesn’t even earn any of the money from said contract until the regular season starts, whatever deal the 49ers are offering him should be pretty valid.
One could also argue that his injury would have prevented him from participating a whole lot the last four weeks, anyway. The 49ers knew his injury issues before they drafted him and he was already pretty stunted from that alone.
Basically, think of it this way. If he eventually signs for what the 49ers are offering him (which is the only way he’ll sign), he still gets almost a year headstart on any rookie the 49ers can draft next year. Also, considering the 49ers don’t get their draft pick back, I don’t see what the hurt is in bringing Crabtree in at slot money, which is what the 49ers are offering.
My comment wasn’t that far from left field. I added the QB part, but you pretty much argued that not only this year’s hindered growth wasn’t worth the contract, but also his year two and maybe even three wouldn’t be worth it. Pretty much EVERY rookie taken in the first round falls under that same category, and that’s all I was pointing out. You take a guy in the first round, and you know the first two-three years are developmental years, unless you’re an offensive lineman, a running back, or a weakside linebacker.
Let Him Go Back In The Draft
Let this moron go back in the draft if he thinks he is worth more than 10th pick money..He has ruined whatever rep he had to begin with..Just another freakin receiver prima donna receiver..I would love to find another team to pawn him off on..He is either stupid, getting bad advice or both, either way, is this a guy you want on your team..He only cares about himself..Another TO with a lot less talent..
next year, 2010
If Crabtree is drafted in the 4th round and demands 2th round money. Would any GM do it. I really believe that not one NFL team will draft him. I don’t think he’s smart enough to understand that. He’ll go the free agent route, next year !!!
by LASVEGASNINER on Aug 26, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions
the 49ers should draft him
in the 7th round, just to piss him off.
I take full responsibility for my irresponsibility.
Wow
This seems like the bottom of the barrel for Parker. No matter how you place the blame for the situation, he’s severely failing at his job, which is to negotiate a contract and stand by his clients. He might not be able to get the contract that he thought he should, or he might not be able to get the contract that Crabtree thought he should, or whatever… but blaming Crabtree for the issues is utterly self-serving and actually tells prospective clients that this guy is willing to be a bad agent on your behalf if things go a little bit sour.
Bad bad bad.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
Publically though? If I was a guy who was thinking of getting an agent and I saw that Parker do this to his clients, I’d cross him straight off my list.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Aug 26, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps...
… Crabtree has been “spanked” in private but isn’t learning and Parker is trying to cover his tail. Not that I advocate it, but it’s possible.
In any case, I also subscribe to that managerial rule: “praise in public, reprimand in private.”
I would pay Crabtree...
more than #9, but still less than Heyward-Bay. Im not callin Al Davis a genius or anything, but I would pick the guy that I felt was the best out of the group. I really hope Crabtree settles on a deal. I aint worried about waiting for him/watching him do nothing, which he has done alot of since coming out of college. give the man no more than 30 mill, take it, or enjoy the 2010 draft. Which i wouldnt be surprised if he actually is excited for.
NINERS 4 LIFE
Crabtree probably already had the money spent in his head, because Parker told him he would get it for him. To Crabtree he has this self diluted vision of what the NFL is all about, and that if he’s promised something he should get it, because, well, he’s probably been given everything he’s been promised his whole life.
What he’s too stupid to realize, is that you’re just wasting money and talent, with every day that goes by.
The Niners should should issue a statement to him and his agent that says, "Hey, this is the deal we are offering, and every day that passes, will lose 1% of the total value, because we feel that you are losing much needed time and experience in camp, that we are left to pay for. You are now not even projected to be a starter this year for our team, yet you wish to be paid like you are already a proven star in this league. Every day that passes, you lose value on this team, yet you remain confident that you are worth more than players who will be contributing to their team right away. If you do not think that it is a fair deal, then we are sorry that we can come to an agreement and we wish you good luck in next years draft, in which we may draft you in the 4th round, but be assured, you won’t be offered a contract with guaranteed money at that time.
Baseball drafting rule
If the next collective bargaining agreement doe not includes rookie wage scale (seems like NFLPA is not going to cave on this), then I hope there’s a draft signing system like baseball implemented. You have a deadline, if the draft pick don’t sign by that date then they automatically re-enter draft and the team get back their draft slot for next year.
A scale would be much better than going with baseball's system.
Drafts vary greatly in depth each year and I could easily see a scenario in with a team purposely low-balls a pick so that they can retain a similar pick in the following year’s draft.
yeah $$$$
pay him the money he deserves cause we got lucky he fell to us
and
i agree with m-e-s-s-i-a-h in the baseball drafting rule great idea
I wonder how this dovetails with the bail bondsman cousin.
Remember how Parker quickly denied it when Crabtree’s cousin said that he’d hold out all year if he didn’t get what he wanted? Maybe that was the the first public crack in the Crabtree camp.
There are no negotiations going on. Clearly, Crabtree overplayed his hand. He’s not going to get a penny more than what’s on the table now, the money starts shrinking after the first game and he’s basically useless for the Niners for the first half of the year. And if he does eventually show up I can hear hamstrings snapping from here on the Coast.
Pride before the fall, maybe?
This could be a learning moment for Crabtree. He could look at the bad advice he’s gotten from his family and his posse and see how he’s already screwed up his first pro football season and is sitting somewhere with no money in his pocket and his bills piling up. He could recognize how his reputation has been ruined by this, and how he’s making Eric Mangini look downright prescient. He could look at how “Diva” has replaced “Michael” as his first name.
Somehow, though, I don’t get the impression that he’s actually getting the message quite yet.
by Bob In Beaverton on Aug 26, 2009 2:12 PM PDT reply actions
He has done it before. I believe he had a high profile holdout last year as well.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Aug 26, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Maiocco says
that Parker privately told Singletary that he thought that the Niners’ offer was fair.
Sometimes people can be real good at one thing and really bad at another. Crabtree, for ex, would not be very good working at the State Dept. He can’t negotiate and he wouldn’t make much of an ambassador. The wise person will recognize his own limitations. The unwise person would walk away from 26 million, 16 million guaranteed.
Since it seems pretty clear now that the negotiations are in the hands of an unwise person, let’s hope that that unwise person can afford a mirror in his house when he needs to find someone to blame.
by Bob In Beaverton on Aug 26, 2009 2:35 PM PDT reply actions
Don't pay him B.J. Raji money
he was drafted at 10 and he’s not a qb….. why would he even get Raji money? He should get less
crab
will be signed by the first regular season game. mark my words. that’s when even he can see the money going out of the contract once he starts missing game checks.
maybe parker isn’t the TOTAL bad guy afterall, it’s that stupid cousin chirping in crabs ear.
What a (site decorum)
Crabtree is looking like an even bigger douche bag and he should be signed real soon. THat would be stupid to bait him to go back to the draft we did use our 10th overall selection on him
AKA.............Optimist Prime
"Me, I want what's coming to me" And what's that? "The world Chico, and everything in it"
Is it just me
or does Crabtree seem an awful lot like another really good reciever in our illustrious history…one that causes lots of trouble wherever he goes…one that has been on 3 teams in like, what 5 years…one that is currently in Buffalo…one who’s name is Terrell Owens…ah!
Go read a book!
How is it...
… the same? Crabtree isn’t throwing his teammates under the bus. Crabtree isn’t throwing his coaches under the bus. He’s simply trying to maximize the amount of money his career will bring him. Yes, his demands are ridiculous, but it’s nothing close to Owens’ territory.
I think they should load it with incentives
Tell Crabtree we aren’t giving you anymore guaranteed money. However we will give you the total amount you want. Then make up difference between two sides with incentives that pay as a top WR if he performs as one.
It is giving in but by making it mostly incentives he needs to play well or we would end up paying just what we were willing to in the first place.
not a bad idea
Knock off a little guaranteed though, it’ guaranteed he won’t play a full season!
AKA.............Optimist Prime
"Me, I want what's coming to me" And what's that? "The world Chico, and everything in it"
Crabtree is a PLAYER
He is not a football player. He has no interest in playing the game, his interest is in PLAYING the Niners and the NFL. He will not live up to any of his "draft"expectations and will it will be impossible to succeed in any NFL expectations. If he will not sign then he will not play. If he does not play then he can produce in the NFL and if does not produce then he will make $0 and wind up mowing somes lawn like Jeff Garcia did in Gilroy..
TAKE THAT TO THE BANK Mr. Crabtree (AKA Moneytree)
9ers offer Crabtree 26 mill, 16 guaranteed for 5 years
That sounds like a good deal to me.
Crabtree passed over!
9er nation, let us all remember how many teams passed on this man. I think he should remember that as well….Crabtree was not the best WR in the draft so why should he get this money? He can’t say he won’t get hurt and he can’t promise anything at all. After all is said and done Crabtree will wish he had signed to the offer given.
DHB has had more success at the NFL level.
by CarolinaCanes on Aug 30, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
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