Michael Crabtree News: Pro Sports Daily

With Crabtree, 49ers have all the pieces in place

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October 31

San Francisco Examiner

Tim Liotta

"Before anointing Alex Smith the 49ers' savior, take a deep breath and look again at a videotape of last week's game against the Texans. The next 49ers star is there - it just wasn't Smith. Sure, coming off the bench, after the 49ers had been outscored 66-10 over the previous six quarters, Smith did a nice job. He moved the team, threw three touchdown passes and generally looked like he belonged in charge of the 49ers huddle. Which was no small achievement, considering how far Smith had fallen. From the No. 1 pick in an NFL draft to a guy who couldn't beat out some guy named Hill 95 percent of NFL fans never heard of. I really think turning to Smith was a great decision by Mike Singletary, ..."

Crabtree's presence changes much for 49ers

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October 31

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Tim Kawakami

"Michael Crabtree is not a loud man, but he has presence, no doubt. Whether it's during a mysterious holdout, on the field against Houston, in Jimmy Raye's game plans or in the middle of the 49ers' locker room Thursday, the rookie wide receiver is impossible to ignore. Some guys fade into the scenery, especially amid large and rumbling men. Crabtree is not one of those guys. He joined the 49ers, and only seemed to get bigger. "Crabtree, he's come in and acted like he's been here from Day One, and that's a good thing," running back Frank Gore said. "He can't do anything but get better. And that can't do anything but help the running game." My opinion: Crabtree already has pulled Alex Smith ..."

Crabtree's presence changes much for 49ers

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October 30

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Tim Kawakami

"Michael Crabtree is not a loud man, but he has presence, no doubt. Whether it's during a mysterious holdout, on the field against Houston, in Jimmy Raye's game plans or in the middle of the 49ers' locker room Thursday, the rookie wide receiver is impossible to ignore. Some guys fade into the scenery, especially amid large and rumbling men. Crabtree is not one of those guys. He joined the 49ers, and only seemed to get bigger. "Crabtree, he's come in and acted like he's been here from Day One, and that's a good thing," running back Frank Gore said. "He can't do anything but get better. And that can't do anything but help the running game." My opinion: Crabtree already has pulled Alex Smith ..."

Crabtree does 'heck of a job' in first NFL game

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October 26

San Francisco Chronicle

"The team's No. 1 draft pick also showed his fiduciary sense when he said, "It felt better to be out there on Sunday instead of Saturday." This is play for pay, after all, as opposed to putting it on the line for the greater glory of Texas Tech. Although the 49ers left Reliant Stadium with a 24-21 defeat, they could not be more pleased with the performance of Crabtree off precious little time with the offense. He started at split end and was on the field for 48 of San Francisco's 54 offensive plays. "It felt good, man," Crabtree said. "I was kind of calm. I kind of practiced on being calm and coming into the game knowing what I'm supposed to do and executing plays. I think I did a good job ..."

Crabtree put himself in position to succeed

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October 25

Sacramento Bee

"The plan for Michael Crabtree was supposed to be modest. The 49ers figured to ease the late-arriving rookie onto the field by lining him up at the relatively easy-to-learn slot position. Coaches said that if everything went well, Crabtree could see as many as 10 to 12 snaps in the game following the 49ers' bye week. "It's going to start small," Mike Singletary said the day Crabtree finally signed his contract. "A small role here and there, figuring out ways to get him on the field." Two and a half weeks later, however, Crabtree is on the verge of a far more ambitious coming-out party. There's a good chance he'll start today's game against the Texans. Even if he doesn't, he'll see just as ..."

Throwing Crabtree into the fire is right move

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October 25

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Mark Purdy

"Let's get on with it. Know what I want to see today in Houston? On the 49ers' first offensive play, I want to see the 49ers send out Michael Crabtree to line up at wide receiver. Then, I want to see them throw Crabtree the ball on that very first snap. And as he turns to attempt the catch, I want the ball and a Houston defensive back to arrive at the same time. And then see what happens. Let's get on with it. The 49ers have not said for sure that Crabtree will start today. But he will be on the field a lot. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye said he expects Crabtree to be on the field for half of the team's offensive plays. All of this comes less than two weeks after Crabtree ended his long ..."

Crabtree? Texans will learn on fly

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October 24

Houston Chronicle

"Confidence has often been as hard to find as Super Bowl rings among Texans defenders. Well, real confidence, that is. They have often mustered a fake bravado that was summarily crushed before most morning service benedictions. There is a different swagger with these Texans, however. You can feel it as they talk about Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. You hear the words of respect but also sense the feeling of assurance when members of the Texans' secondary talk about going against the 49ers and rookie wideout Michael Crabtree. Yet, in perhaps the most interesting game-within-the-game this week, the Texans face an unusual disadvantage. They know a guy is going to play — and he ..."

Crabtree's debut draws near

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October 23

San Jose Mercury News

"As Michael Crabtree gears up for his NFL debut, the rookie hazing remains at full blaze. Crabtree spoke to reporters in the locker room Thursday — or tried to — as 49ers teammates wandered by with their best one-liners. "Give me a shout out, Mike," veteran tackle Tony Pashos said. "Is this Crabtree's locker room?" an unidentified player chirped. Dashon Goldson stopped by with a McDonald drink cup and thrust it toward Crabtree as if the straw were a microphone. Crabtree just smiled. "They've been on me everywhere I go," he said. "It's like 'rookie, rookie, rookie.' " Crabtree's true welcome to the NFL comes Sunday in Houston, where the former Texas Tech star might start. Offensive ..."

49ers, Crabtree say he's ready to contribute

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October 23

San Francisco Chronicle

"To Jimmy Raye, he has been "pleasingly surprising" and has "an uncanny knack to conceptualize the picture quicker than most young guys." To Michael Crabtree, it's simply playing football and "I've been playing football since I was 3 years old. Right now, we're on the highest level. I wouldn't have any anxiety or fear. I just have to worry about my plays." Neither coach Mike Singletary nor offensive coordinator Raye would say whether Crabtree will start Sunday's game in Houston, but the fact that he's on track for extensive playing time speaks to his preternatural ability to absorb his role in the game plan quickly. The 49ers' top draft pick may not have elite speed but his football smarts ..."

Crabtree's starter status doesn't rankle other 49ers

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October 22

Sacramento Bee

"Locker-room politics was the hot topic at 49ers headquarters Wednesday, specifically how veterans would react to the news that a rookie who missed every snap of a taxing offseason suddenly is on the verge of starting. The answer: With a shrug. "That's the way it goes," said Arnaz Battle, who had been serving as the 49ers' No. 3 wide receiver but who now drops to No. 4. "It's part of the game. It's out of my control. You can't blame (Michael) Crabtree. He's just doing his job like everybody else, coming in and trying to prepare himself. There's definitely no resentment." Mike Singletary on Wednesday stopped short of saying Crabtree would start in Sunday's game against the Texans but did ..."

Crabtree preparing to start

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October 20

Santa Rosa Press Democrat

"While many of his teammates got their minds off football, Josh Morgan assisted new teammate Michael Crabtree with the 49ers' playbook. You see, who better to help Crabtree learn the "X" position than the guy who started the 49ers' first five games in that spot? In other words, Morgan is grooming the rookie to ... "take my spot," Morgan said, finishing the sentence his interviewer began. The 49ers apparently are intent on seeing a quick return on their investment in Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. When the 49ers play the Houston Texans on Sunday, Crabtree will be in the starting lineup, Morgan said he has been told. "I'm helping him learn my position and take my position," ..."

Crabtree to start Sunday, teammate says

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October 20

Sacramento Bee

"A week and half of impressive practices apparently have offset a 10-week contract standoff for Michael Crabtree. The 49ers' first-round draft pick not only figures to see plenty of playing time Sunday against the Texans, according to wide receiver Josh Morgan, Crabtree will start the game opposite Isaac Bruce. "They gave him my spot," Morgan told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat on Monday. "So if he's going to be in there, I might as well help him out so I can make sure he gets it right." While the rest of the 49ers enjoyed four days off over the bye week, Crabtree stayed at the team's practice facility, furiously cramming for his debut. By all accounts, the sessions went very well. Morgan, ..."

Crabtree may start for the 49ers on Sunday

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October 20

San Jose Mercury News

"After an epic wait to get on the field, receiver Michael Crabtree is apparently making up for lost time. The recently signed 49ers receiver made such an impression during bye week workouts that he might start Sunday at Houston. Coach Mike Singletary held back on making an official announcement, saying the 49ers will wait to see if Crabtree continues to make progress during the week. But so far, so good. "I don't think that it's going to be too big for him," Singletary said. "To me, even though he's come in late, he looks like he's ready." Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick from Texas Tech, signed Oct. 7 and pledged to be ready quickly. He said that he worked out twice a day in the Tampa ..."

Pressure's on Hill to get Crabtree the ball

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October 20

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Tim Kawakami

"Short-attention-span reading and writing, and some bonus cut-and-pasting from my Talking Points blog . . . All signs indicate that Shaun Hill's 49ers tenure is at a threshold moment, summarized by one plain question: Can he get Michael Crabtree the ball? Not eventually. Not by next season. Immediately. Now. Well, more accurately: Sunday at Houston, when, after months of inactivity, Crabtree probably will vault into the starting lineup ahead of Josh Morgan, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. So there will be immense pressure on Crabtree to justify the rigmarole after the silly holdout, the Deion Sanders/Hammer intrigue and all that money tossed into Crabtree's bank account. But I ..."

Crabtree accelerates on his learning curve

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October 20

San Francisco Chronicle

"With eachof sweat wide receiver Michael Crabtree produces as he rides an accelerated learning curve with the 49ers, the more playing time he will earn, starting with his first NFL game Sunday in Houston. The possibility exists that Crabtree could start the game in place of Josh Morgan. "To me, even though he's come in late, he looks like he's ready," coach Mike Singletary said Monday. "Right now, we're going to see how much he picks up. How much he plays depends on how much success he has (in the game)." Crabtree, the 49ers' top draft pick, spent the majority of his bye week working at team headquarters to make up for lost time. He caught passes from Alex Smith and a trainer, and listened ..."

Here's your helmet - now hurry up

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October 18

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Scott Ostler

"Mike Singletary told a cute story about Michael Crabtree's first day at practice. The rookie wide receiver ran a route, faking and cutting, but Nate Clements read the route and simply stepped in and intercepted the pass. Said Singletary, "Crabtree said, 'How did that happen?' That was fun to see. He knows this is another level, and it is different." See, I told you it was a cute story. Except (and I will now channel the late comedian Sam Kinison) IT'S OCTOBER! IT'S ALMOST HALLO-FREAKING-WEEN AND YOUR STAR WIDEOUT IS BAMBI IN THE HEADLIGHTS!! It's great that Crabtree is working hard and making progress, but he already should be contributing to an offense that desperately needs what he is ..."

Knucklehead of the week: Deion Sanders

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October 18

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Scott Ostler

"If you're keeping score at home, Sanders recently: Screwed up the 49ers by strongly encouraging Michael Crabtree's holdout. Caused a tampering charge to be brought against the Jets with his comments about teams interested in signing Crabtree. Indirectly inspired Dré Bly's knuckleheaded hot-dogging fumble. Caused Oklahoma State wideout Dez Bryant to lose his eligibility for lying about having rule-breaking contact with Sanders."

There's no bye week for rookie Crabtree

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October 15

San Francisco Chronicle

"While the rest of the 49ers scatter to their bye week destinations, Michael Crabtree will be hard at work making up for lost time. He'll be at team headquarters catching passes from Alex Smith under the watch of receivers coach Jerry Sullivan and Wendell Davis, who was brought back to assist Sullivan. Davis, a Bears receiver for six seasons and an NFL Minority Fellowship coaching aide during training camp, is back with the 49ers for an extended run helping Sullivan. The 49ers have seven wide receivers on the active roster, only three of whom have actually caught an NFL pass. "Michael is doing fine," coach Mike Singletary said. "He's working his tail off. Every rep he takes makes him that ..."

49ers dive into crash course for Crabtree

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October 15

San Jose Mercury News

"The 49ers are using their bye week to say hello to Michael Crabtree. The rookie receiver is scheduled to make his debut Oct. 25 against the Houston Texans, which gives him less than two weeks to cram. Quarterback Alex Smith is surrendering his brief vacation so he can throw passes to the first-round pick through Saturday. Running back Frank Gore will stick around, too. The 49ers are even calling in the reinforcements, with coach Mike Singletary inviting former Chicago Bears teammate Wendell Davis to help coach Crabtree during the break. Davis, a Bears receiver from 1988-93, will serve as an assistant to receivers coach Jerry Sullivan until further notice. Davis was with the 49ers during ..."

Goodell warns Sanders

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October 14

San Francisco Chronicle

"NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the issue of a possible conflict of interest involving the NFL Network's Deion Sanders, regarding his knowledge of Michael Crabtree's contract negotiations that eventually led to the 49ers filing a tampering charge against the New York Jets. Sanders was represented in his playing days by the same agent who eventually negotiated a six-year, $32 million contract for Crabtree with the 49ers, Eugene Parker. As well, wide receiver Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State lost his NCAA eligibility for lying about having improper contact with Sanders. "He does have a job with the NFL Network and he has to be careful of any conflicts of interest," Goodell told ..."

49ers hope to see Gore, Crabtree on field

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October 14

San Jose Mercury News

"While most 49ers will get away during their bye week, running back Frank Gore plans on a stay-cation at the team's facility. He won't be alone: He has wide receiver Michael Crabtree to break in. "Me and Crabtree are going to get it done," Gore said Tuesday. The 49ers hope to have Gore (ankle) and the newly signed Crabtree back when their season resumes Oct. 25 at Houston. That's good, because the 49ers could use the help — from Gore, from Crabtree, from anywhere. They rank 29th in the league in total yards, 31st in first downs per game and 27th in third-down efficiency. The offense was so horrid Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons that coach Mike Singletary indicated changes are in store ..."

Deion has no knowledge of Crabtree tampering

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October 12

ESPN.com

"In an interview with the NFL Network on Sunday, Deion Sanders said he had not yet been contacted by the NFL in regard to the Michael Crabtree tampering investigation but said he would tell the truth if questioned. The truth, Deion Sanders said, is that he has no knowledge of any tampering by the New York Jets in the San Francisco 49ers' negotiations with the wide receiver, drafted 10th overall in the 2009 draft. On Sept. 4, Sanders said on the NFL Network that two teams were willing to pay then-holdout Crabtree at least $40 million. Shortly thereafter, the 49ers filed tampering charges against the New York Jets. The Jets have denied any wrongdoing. "... Eugene Parker told me. That was my ..."

Niners win with Crabtree

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October 11

Camden Courier-Post

"Kudos to Mike Singletary and the 49ers front office for not only winning their contract dispute against rookie holdout Michael Crabtree, but also for sticking to their guns during a messy public battle. Crabtree, the former Texas Tech phenom, finally signed his contract last week and reported for duty after missing all of training camp and the first four weeks of the season for trying to coax more money from San Francisco than Darrius Heyward-Bey pocketed from Oakland. The Raiders chose Heyward-Bey, a Maryland receiver whose speed and NFL Combine stats propelled his stock astronomically, with the No. 7 overall pick. Crabtree, considered the draft's top receiver prospect in years, faced ..."

Crabtree's speed isn't any concern

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October 10

San Francisco Chronicle

"Now that Michael Crabtree is a 49er, his 40-yard dash speed may never be known, as there is no longer any need to time him. He did not run the 40 at February's scouting combine in Indianapolis, which he missed with a stress fracture in his foot, since healed. "I really don't care how fast a guy is," said coach Mike Singletary, who nevertheless wears a stopwatch around his neck during practices. "I look at (Pittsburgh's) Hines Ward. I don't know how fast Hines Ward is, but every team in the NFL would like to have him. Do you have to be fast to be good? I don't think so." Instead, Singletary said, "You have to seek excellence in everything you do." That's what the coach hopes Crabtree does ..."

Some NFL teams saw another side of 49ers' Crabtree

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October 9

Sacramento Bee

"I arrived early for my Aug. 27 interview in Dallas with Michael Crabtree's high school coach, Allen Wilson, and Wilson wasn't ready. So I waited outside his office for 25 minutes. There was a trophy case nearby, so I looked at that. I studied the photos of past Carter High School teams. And I read a 2005 newspaper story from the Dallas Morning News that Wilson framed and put under glass. The photo that went with the story was of Crabtree. The start of the story went like this: "Prima donnas can't play in Carter coach Allen Wilson's backfield. His playmakers also must excel at doing the dirty work. Quarterback Michael Crabtree and tailback Michael Hicks are perfect fits. They have a ..."

Newest 49er to play catch-up before playing catch

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October 9

San Jose Mercury News

"Jimmy Raye got his new toy this week. It came in a box marked: assembly required. Michael Crabtree arrived as nothing more than a collection of parts — speed, strength, hands, hype. The 49ers will try to put him together into an NFL receiver as fast as they can, but it's going to take at least two weeks. "We have to do in 10-14 days something that has taken the rest of us, as a group, since last March to accomplish," Raye, the 49ers' offensive coordinator, said before practice Thursday. "We're trying to do this with a young man who hadn't played the speed of the pro game and hadn't been here for any (of training camp). So, it's a challenge, but one that we're up to." Crabtree ended his ..."

First duty for Crabtree: lining up with scout team

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October 9

San Francisco Chronicle

"Michael Crabtree, scout team receiver. That's right, the man the 49ers signed for $32 million, with $17 million guaranteed, spent his second day with the team running routes on the scout team against San Francisco's starting defense. It was enough to lure owner John York out of his second-floor office Thursday and onto the practice field to check out the young man whose hefty checks he'll be signing in the years to come. If Crabtree was humbled Wednesday after signing his contract, he probably felt even more so a day later, for it might have been the first time in his football life that he was not the No. 1 receiver on someone's team. Until Crabtree gets in some semblance of football ..."

All through Crabtree episode 49ers stuck to their guns

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October 8

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Tim Kawakami

"Mike Singletary preached, Scot McCloughan explained, Michael Crabtree signed, the locker-room leaders shrugged, and nothing seemed wrong in the 49ers universe on Wednesday. I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is how playoff seasons feel and how good teams accept the end of a senseless negotiating standoff. What the 49ers have going now is bigger than Crabtree, and he must have realized that a few days ago. Crabtree caved, arrived, got into uniform, and, as Singletary said, "We're going in this direction — and everybody that's not going in this direction, they're going to get left behind." That's a team with momentum. That's a team with a plan, and with their owner, Jed York, on quite ..."

Saga finally over, Crabtree could debut with 49ers in two weeks

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October 8

Oakland Tribune

"All along, Scot McCloughan had a hunch. When things went quiet on the Michael Crabtree front, the 49ers general manager told his lead negotiator, Paraag Marathe, to stay patient. "This will come out of left field," McCloughan told him. "This will be something you don't see a week or two in advance." And so it happened, as a months-long standoff turned into whirlwind negotiations. The sides broke their silence Sunday and quickly hammered out a six-year deal that includes $17 million in guaranteed money. Crabtree's contract was complete by about 2 a.m. Wednesday. By about 1 p.m., he was on the 49ers' practice field. The No. 10 pick in April's draft will not play in Sunday's game against the ..."

49ers won this struggle, for what it's worth

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October 8

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Gwen Knapp

"Michael Crabtree called his 21/2-month contract holdout, which ended Wednesday in a six-year deal with the 49ers, a humbling experience. His body language backed up that statement. His shoulders slumped slightly forward several times during the news conference. For a few seconds, as head coach Mike Singletary answered a question, Crabtree lowered his head and looked down at his feet. At least once, a very nervous smile crossed his face. At some point in this drama, Crabtree might have been a smug, self-centered anarchist, holding the 49ers' season captive while trying to deface the NFL draft's unwritten salary code. But on Wednesday, he looked like a teenager beaten in a video game and ..."

49ers sign Crabtree

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October 8

San Francisco Chronicle

"Now that top draft pick Michael Crabtree has signed a contract worth $32 million and will be with the 49ers for the next five or six years, the task for the club is to figure out how to meld his playmaking talent into an offense stubbornly committed to the run and whose top receiver is a tight end. "I'll do the best job I can do," Crabtree said Wednesday in his first news conference since the day he was drafted (April 25). "Anything coach wants me to do - block or run 'go' routes for no reason. Anything to help the team win, I'm here." The 49ers requested from the league a two-week roster exemption for Crabtree. He presumably will be active for the Oct. 25 game in Houston. It's time for ..."

Look into Crabtree's futue: Hero or goat?

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October 8

Contra Costa Times

columnist Cam Inman

"SIX YEARS FROM now, Michael Crabtree's rookie contract with the 49ers will expire, and you're wondering what kind of wide receiver he will be then. Option A: He'll be chasing down Jerry Rice's records, as well as a sixth straight playoff berth inside the 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara. Option B: He'll be on a different team, he'll have 50 Cent negotiating for more dollars in his new contract, and he'll try erasing his reputation as a first-round flop. Answer: Your guess is as good as anyone's. He may have said he was humble in Wednesday's I'm-Michael-Crabtree press conference, but when's the last time a wide receiver honestly was humble with millions on his ATM receipt? Option B has ..."

Crabtree ends holdout with 49ers, signs six-year deal

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October 8

Sacramento Bee

"The face that launched a million angry reader comments and one NFL tampering investigation was in front of the media spotlight Wednesday. What was Michael Crabtree feeling after a 71-day contract standoff with the 49ers that ended in the wee hours Wednesday? Relief? Remorse? Regret? Crabtree's answer: humility. "It's a very humbling experience," said the 22-year-old wide receiver, who answered 13 questions before being hurried off to prepare for his first 49ers practice. "And I felt like going through that, it made me look at the world in a different way, look at my teammates in a different way. And you know, hopefully it will work out for the best." And perhaps there was no better word to ..."

Tips for Crabtree's first day

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October 7

Contra Costa Times

columnist Cam Inman

"Wide receiver Michael Crabtree's first impression on the NFL is that of a greedy, selfish diva. His lasting impression starts from today on out, however. By finally hopping on the 49ers bandwagon, er, payroll -- nearly six months after the 49ers selected him with the 10th overall draft pick -- he starts his new job today. Will he change our perception of him and simply do his job humbly? Or will he fit the profile of other receivers who make more noise than catches and earn a swift exit elsewhere, like Braylon Edwards did in getting dealt Wednesday from the Cleveland Browns to New York Jets? Here are a few tips as Crabtree begins counting his millions from the Bank of York after agreeing ..."

49ers sign Crabtree

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October 7

San Francisco Chronicle

"In officially becoming a 49er in the wee hours of Wednesday morning after a prolonged impasse, top draft pick Michael Crabtree signed a six-year contract worth a reported $32 million, with $17 million guaranteed. An additional $8 million in unlikely to be achieved incentives could push the total value of the deal to $40 million, according to a league source cited by ProFootballTalk.com. The contract voids to five years if Crabtree achieves two incentives in the first four years of the deal: making the Pro Bowl twice or making the Pro Bowl one year and being on the field for 80 percent of the offensive plays in a separate season in which the 49ers make the playoffs. With such outstanding ..."

Finally - encouraging signs in Crabtree impasse

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October 7

San Francisco Chronicle

"In an attempt to end a monthslong impasse with their No. 1 draft pick, the 49ers on Tuesday met with wide receiver Michael Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker in what amounted to a first in negotiations between the player and the team that chose him 10th overall. Though San Francisco's reported offer of $20 million over five years, with $16 million guaranteed, has been on the table for months, Tuesday's meeting away from team headquarters in Santa Clara was the first time all five principals met in person. They being Crabtree, Parker, 49ers President Jed York, general manager Scot McCloughan and chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe. By early evening, negotiation was reduced to Parker and ..."

49ers 'happy for opportunity' to meet with Crabtree, Parker

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October 7

San Jose Mercury News

"As the first step toward seeing eye-to-eye, the 49ers and Michael Crabtree finally met face to face. Team officials and the first-round draft pick gathered in a Palo Alto hotel room Tuesday afternoon. There was no word on progress, but the meeting itself represented a milestone: Six months after Crabtree was drafted, this marked the first time all of the key parties sat down in the same room. "The 49ers were happy for the opportunity to meet with Michael and his agent,'' team spokesman Bob Lange said. Team president Jed York, general manager Scot McCloughan and vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe represented the 49ers. Crabtree was accompanied by agent Eugene Parker. In a ..."

WR Crabtree meets with 49ers executives

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October 7

Sacramento Bee

"Three top 49ers executives met in person Tuesday with unsigned wide receiver and top draft pick Michael Crabtree and his agent, Eugene Parker. Team spokesman Bob Lange confirmed the meeting to the Associated Press but said the 49ers would not elaborate on discussions or negotiations, though this development appears encouraging. "The 49ers were pleased to meet with Michael and Eugene in person," Lange said. Crabtree and Parker met with team president Jed York, vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe and general manager Scot McCloughan, Lange said. The former Texas Tech star is the only draft pick who has yet to sign, so this meeting could point to progress in finally ending ..."

Crabtree, 49ers finally meet face to face

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October 7

San Jose Mercury News

"As the first step toward seeing eye-to-eye, the 49ers and Michael Crabtree finally met face to face. Team officials and the first-round draft pick gathered in a Palo Alto hotel room Tuesday afternoon. There was no word on progress, but the meeting itself represented a milestone: Six months after Crabtree was drafted, this marked the first time all of the key parties sat in the same room. "The 49ers were happy for the opportunity to meet with Michael and his agent," team spokesman Bob Lange said. Team President Jed York, general manager Scot McCloughan and vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe represented the 49ers. Crabtree was accompanied by agent Eugene Parker. The Santa ..."

Sources: Crabtree, 49ers meet

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October 6

ESPN.com

"Michael Crabtree and his agent, Eugene Parker, met with San Francisco 49ers front office personnel for an hour Tuesday in the Bay area, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. Sources said Crabtree and Parker met with VP of football operations Paraag Marathe, owner Jed York and GM Scot McCloughan. Indications are that Crabtree wants to play football for the 49ers this season, but there was no word on what kind of progress, if any, was made on a possible contract."

If Crabtree's talking, what's changed?

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October 6

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Ray Ratto

"So Michael Crabtree is in the mood to converse again? Assuming the indefatigable "multiple sources" are correct, we've got a new bend in the wisteria that this story has become, starting with: -- The offer or offers Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker clearly were expecting for 2010 might have evaporated, maybe because the New York Jets are taking the tampering charge filed by the 49ers seriously. It is the only sensible explanation that explains both the lack of discussions before now and the sudden interest in re-opening them. -- The two sides finally decided that not talking at all is silly, and that they are no closer now to agreement than they ever were. They're simply reacquainting ..."

49ers won't shun Crabtree despite hot start

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October 6

Sacramento Bee

"Amid rumors that Michael Crabtree soon will emerge from hiding, coach Mike Singletary on Monday was asked a question many 49ers fans have wondered about themselves: Do the 3-1 and NFC West-leading 49ers even need their long lost draft pick at this point? "Any guy that can play and that can help us win, I am never going to say, 'No, we don't need him,' " Singletary said. Crabtree is on Day 71 of his contract impasse with the 49ers, but in the past two days there have been signs that the freeze-out is beginning to thaw. NFL Network's Deion Sanders, who is a confidant of Crabtree's, hinted Sunday the wide receiver soon could be joining the 49ers. On Monday, ESPN cited two unnamed sources in a ..."

Crabtree to renew negotiations, sources say

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October 5

ESPN.com

"First-round draft pick Michael Crabtree left for San Francisco from Tampa, Fla., on Monday to renew contract talks with the 49ers, according to multiple sources. Crabtree was unavailable for comment. The Dallas native and former Texas Tech receiver has been training in Tampa the past few weeks in Tampa. Eugene Parker, Crabtree's agent, is scheduled to arrive in San Francisco on Tuesday. Parker declined comment when reached. Crabtree, the 10th overall selection in last April's draft, is the only unsigned first-round pick. He has missed the first four weeks of the regular season."

Deion Sanders dropping hints?

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October 5

Sacramento Bee

"Deion Sanders provided the biggest plot twist in the Michael Crabtree saga when on Sept. 4 he said there were two teams that were willing to pay Crabtree the money he was seeking. Sanders, who is a Crabtree confidant, added a little more intrigue Sunday during a 49ers-Rams highlight reel on NFL Network. During the segment, host Rich Eisen twice joked that the 49ers player catching touchdowns in the highlight was Michael Crabtree. (The highlights actually were of Vernon Davis and Josh Morgan). This was the exchange between Eisen and Sanders as the Morgan touchdown is being shown: Eisen:Looking to the end zone for Michael Crabtree! ... No. Sanders: Not yet. He could be brewing. Eisen: ..."

Jim Brown has sage advice for 49er pick Crabtree

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October 3

San Jose Mercury News

"Jim Brown, who made $85,000 in the final season of his Hall of Fame career, has a message for the 49ers first-round draft pick: "Mr. Crabtree, get your butt in camp," he said. In an interview with Sirius XM radio, Brown told host Joe Madison that Michael Crabtree's current negotiating stance is "totally ridiculous." Brown said an athlete's career is measured by the way he plays, not the contract he signs. "My legacy is based on playing hard football, dedicated football. And today, that's what people remember," Brown said. "And today, it's the greatest asset that I got out of sports because people knew I loved the game and played hard. And they loved it. "So my life, my quality of life is ..."

A receiver rivalry we'll never see

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September 27

San Jose Mercury News

columnist im Kawakami

"The great debate started on draft day five months ago and was supposed to rage for months, years and maybe even a touchdown-filled decade or more. The Raiders' Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. the 49ers' Michael Crabtree, for Bay Area wide receiver predominance. It was a meaty setup, mingling two franchise philosophies, Al Davis vs. Scot McCloughan, speed vs. style, and game after game of analysis. Turns out, there's a clear-cut judgment looming after only two games of 2009. Which was the wisest choice, Heyward-Bey or Crabtree? Answer: Probably neither. OK, it's important to stipulate that this is early; there are 10,000 potential twists and turns left in the NFL careers of Crabtree and ..."

Maybe 49ers don't even need Crabtree

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September 24

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Bruce Jenkins

"As we squint into our rear-view mirrors, we see only a blurry image of Michael Crabtree. Agent Eugene Parker is a bit more in focus, as befits the man most responsible for a terrible mess. The 49ers glance, then hit the accelerator, hard, on the road to Sunday. There's a theory going around, entirely plausible, that the 49ers don't need Crabtree. How would he fit into an offense built around Frank Gore's punishing runs and the occasional mid-range pass? Mike Singletary is the flip side of Al Davis in the school of deep routes, with two key factors to remember: (1) quarterback Shaun Hill is hardly a clone of Daryle Lamonica; (2) Singletary just doesn't think that way to begin with. It's ..."

Crabtree at center of tampering report

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September 22

San Francisco Chronicle

"Comments by coach Mike Singletary seem to indicate that the 49ers have filed tampering charges with the NFL against the New York Jets for allegedly contacting wide receiver Michael Crabtree or his agent, Eugene Parker. "The league's going to handle that internally," Singletary said. "We'll let that play out. I'm going to let the league handle that." The "that" implies there is something for the league to handle, i.e., a tampering charge. The Jets denied a report in Monday's New York Daily News that the 49ers have filed tampering charges against them with the league. The NFL had no comment on the report other than to say in a statement to The Chronicle, "We do not comment on reports of ..."

Maybe the 49ers and Crabtree were not meant to be

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September 22

San Jose Mercury News

columnist Tim Kawakami

"Do the 49ers even need Michael Crabtree? This is not the question the 49ers are asking publicly, nor is it the proper way to make peace and bridge all gaps with their erstwhile draft pick. But this has to be what the 49ers' leadership is thinking, more and more with every workday and brute-force victory: They're 2-0, don't throw it much, have been waiting for Crabtree to sign for months now and apparently are accusing the New York Jets of meddling with the talks. Do the 49ers need Crabtree any more? OK, I knew that was a bit blunt when I asked the question Monday. And coach Mike Singletary properly sidestepped the full implication. "I think we need every football player that can help us ..."