The Raiders have signed Darrius Heyward-Bey, the top receiver chosen in the draft, to a contract. That means the 49ers’ deal for Michael Crabtree can’t be far behind, right?
Wrong.
Heyward-Bey was the No. 7 overall pick. Crabtree’s agent is still seeking a contract commensurate to what a player selected in the top five picks in the draft should receive. Surely, agent Eugene Parker is going to want a deal that exceeds Heyward-Bey’s contract.
And, surely, the 49ers are not going to accept those demands any time soon.
Parker is working on the premise that Crabtree should have been a top-five selection. That is one of those if-ifs-and-buts-were-candy-and-nuts-every-day-would-be-Christmas theories. Coincidentally, Parker also represents the No. 3 selection in the draft, defensive lineman Tyson Jackson, whom the Chiefs drafted.
If Parker is working under the should-have-been scenario, does that mean that he feels he should negotiate
The fact of the matter is, you are what you are. Nine teams passed on Crabtree and not one team traded up to get him. He was the No. 10 overall pick in the draft, and there’s no changing that.
Parker has nobody to blame but himself for Crabtree’s drop in draft stock. When word started getting around the league that Crabtree’s attitude was a concern, Parker sat around and did nothing to combat that general perception.
Today is Day 3 of Crabtree’s absence from training camp. The first practice is scheduled for Saturday. The longer this stalemate lasts, the more damage will be done to Crabtree’s rep.
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