Crabtree signed!
#1
10-07-2009, 09:07 AM
Crabtree signed!
Credit: sfgate.com
The 49ers and top draft pick Michael Crabtree reached agreement on a six-year contract in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, bringing to an end a months-long impasse that had made the prolific Texas Tech wide receiver perhaps the most unpopular athlete in the Bay Area.
Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker flew out to the Bay Area on Tuesday and entered into negotiations with team president Jed York, general manager Scot McCloughan and chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe in the afternoon.
In the end, Marathe and Parker were left to complete a deal that the 49ers announced via text at 3:55 a.m. Wednesday. Crabtree had been the last unsigned draft pick of 2009.
The six-year contract voids to five years if Crabtree is especially productive in two of the first four years of the contract. The total value of the contract is believed to contain what is considered "fluff," or incentives not likely to be earned, that pump up the amount.
The 49ers had offered Crabtree $20 million over five years, with $16 million guaranteed. The deal he signed early Wednesday morning is similar to what he could have had in July - minus the salary he missed for the first four regular season games.
Even with the add-ons, the 49ers are not believed to have broken the league's slotting system for rookies, meaning Crabtree signed a contract commensurate with the 10th pick, less than No. 9 B.J. Raji of Green Bay ($28 million total) and more than No. 11 Aaron Maybin of Buffalo ($17.6 million).
The impasse between Crabtree and the 49ers began when Parker tried to secure a contract equal to or greater than the one signed by wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, chosen No. 7 by the Raiders. Heyward-Bey signed for $38.25 million over five years, with $23.5 million guaranteed.
In August, a relative and "advisor" to Crabtree said he was prepared to sit out the 2009 season and enter the 2010 draft if the 49ers did not meet his contract demands. Parker quickly denied the report, but the impasse continued.
It is unknown if Crabtree will practice with the team later today. To this point he has missed 57 practice sessions since Aug. 1. until he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot before the NFL combine in February, Crabtree had been regarded as a top-five talent going into the draft. It was that perception that drove Parker to seek a slot-busting deal for his client despite the reality of his No. 10 selection. He is believed to be fully healed at this point.
The 49ers will receive a two-week roster exemption for Crabtree so he does not count against the 53-man limit while he gets up to speed with the team and his role in the offense.
With that time frame, Crabtree would be active for the Houston game on Oct. 25 as the 49ers come out of their bye week on the 18th.
Crabtree comes to a 3-1 49ers team that has stubbornly committed to the running game while tight end Vernon Davis has emerged as quarterback Shaun Hill's go-to receiver. Davis leads the team in receptions with 17.
The 49ers' leading wide receiver, Isaac Bruce, has 13 receptions and does not rank in the top 62 in the league. No. 2 wide receiver Josh Morgan has nine receptions. With no dynamic element at the receiver positions and a quarterback in Shaun Hill who is not known for airing it out, the 49ers are 28th in the league in passing.
In two years at Texas Tech, Crabtree had 231 receptions for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver in 2007 and '08.
The 49ers and top draft pick Michael Crabtree reached agreement on a six-year contract in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, bringing to an end a months-long impasse that had made the prolific Texas Tech wide receiver perhaps the most unpopular athlete in the Bay Area.
Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker flew out to the Bay Area on Tuesday and entered into negotiations with team president Jed York, general manager Scot McCloughan and chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe in the afternoon.
In the end, Marathe and Parker were left to complete a deal that the 49ers announced via text at 3:55 a.m. Wednesday. Crabtree had been the last unsigned draft pick of 2009.
The six-year contract voids to five years if Crabtree is especially productive in two of the first four years of the contract. The total value of the contract is believed to contain what is considered "fluff," or incentives not likely to be earned, that pump up the amount.
The 49ers had offered Crabtree $20 million over five years, with $16 million guaranteed. The deal he signed early Wednesday morning is similar to what he could have had in July - minus the salary he missed for the first four regular season games.
Even with the add-ons, the 49ers are not believed to have broken the league's slotting system for rookies, meaning Crabtree signed a contract commensurate with the 10th pick, less than No. 9 B.J. Raji of Green Bay ($28 million total) and more than No. 11 Aaron Maybin of Buffalo ($17.6 million).
The impasse between Crabtree and the 49ers began when Parker tried to secure a contract equal to or greater than the one signed by wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, chosen No. 7 by the Raiders. Heyward-Bey signed for $38.25 million over five years, with $23.5 million guaranteed.
In August, a relative and "advisor" to Crabtree said he was prepared to sit out the 2009 season and enter the 2010 draft if the 49ers did not meet his contract demands. Parker quickly denied the report, but the impasse continued.
It is unknown if Crabtree will practice with the team later today. To this point he has missed 57 practice sessions since Aug. 1. until he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot before the NFL combine in February, Crabtree had been regarded as a top-five talent going into the draft. It was that perception that drove Parker to seek a slot-busting deal for his client despite the reality of his No. 10 selection. He is believed to be fully healed at this point.
The 49ers will receive a two-week roster exemption for Crabtree so he does not count against the 53-man limit while he gets up to speed with the team and his role in the offense.
With that time frame, Crabtree would be active for the Houston game on Oct. 25 as the 49ers come out of their bye week on the 18th.
Crabtree comes to a 3-1 49ers team that has stubbornly committed to the running game while tight end Vernon Davis has emerged as quarterback Shaun Hill's go-to receiver. Davis leads the team in receptions with 17.
The 49ers' leading wide receiver, Isaac Bruce, has 13 receptions and does not rank in the top 62 in the league. No. 2 wide receiver Josh Morgan has nine receptions. With no dynamic element at the receiver positions and a quarterback in Shaun Hill who is not known for airing it out, the 49ers are 28th in the league in passing.
In two years at Texas Tech, Crabtree had 231 receptions for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver in 2007 and '08.
#2
10-07-2009, 09:33 AM
It's about damn time. Let's see what he can actually do now. The niners offense is doing a decent job and hopefully will only get better. The defense is getting tougher and tougher each week though. This is the first season in a long time where I'm actually waiting for Sundays to come to watch my team.
#3
10-07-2009, 09:37 AM
Yeah, I think he'll definitely be a welcomed force in their passing game. Their offense has been doing pretty decent this year, but mostly it is in the running game. With a new, skilled wide-out I think the 49er offense will be one to watch out for.
#4
10-07-2009, 10:13 AM
I can only hope so. I'm glad Davis is finally getting into the mix more and being productive. I'm still pissed about that Vikings game though. We should be 4-0, not them.
#5
10-07-2009, 12:26 PM
Its about time. We he finally gets the offense down i think he will be a big help to the 49ers
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