When the 49ers drafted Michael Crabtree I was pretty excited.  Crabtree was considered by many to be the best prospect in the draft so landing him with the 10th pick seemed like a major coo.  Now, before he's even taken the field the honeymoon is over.  Rookie receivers  (even ones that end up being great) usually aren't very productive and being late to or missing training camp obviously doesn't help the cause.  So as Crab holds out for more money, his value continues to diminish.

     The continued emergence of Josh Morgan and Brandon Jones isn't helping his cause either.    Regardless of if or when Crabtree shows up, the 49ers look to have their best receiving corps since he who's name shall not be spoken left SF. 

     If Crab's plan was to get the 49er fan base or local media on his side, than it's not working.  Personally, I'm sympathetic to most contract disputes.   I get annoyed with the argument that these guys make millions of dollars to play a game when many owners inherited hundreds of millions of dollars to sit on their ass.  In this case there's just no basis for the hold out to get sympathetic about.  He thought he should be drafted higher?  Really?  That’s all you've got?  Cry me a river that runs into a creek made out of shit than go up it without a paddle..

     I hope the 49ers have made it clear in no uncertain terms that they will not pay Crabtree more than he is "slotted" to make and that if he continues to be unreasonable than he can sit out of football for a year.  If they fold on this, than agents will smell blood and the 49ers will be in hold-out hell next season.  

The only thing Crabtree is accomplishing with this hold-out is making the Raiders look smart for not drafting him..Come to think of it making the Raiders look smart is quite an accomplishment, congratulations.