So here's what I wrote Sunday morning after the NFL Network's predawn pregame show turned the conversation to Michael Crabtree, the 49ers' 2009 first-round pick, who is still unsigned three weeks into the NFL season: "Another week in the NFL, another week the 49ers are without Michael Crabtree. Of course, they're 2-0 and are moving on with there lives while Crabtree, the 10th-overall pick in the April draft, is still looking for -- wait for it -- 'Darrius Heyward-Bey money.' Apparently, that's worth about $23 million in guarantees. San Francisco is offering somewhere around $16 million.
The two sides are talking, blah blah blah, but they're still far apart, blah blah blah. And if there isn't a deal in place by November 17, Crabtree can't play a down in the 2009 season. In the meantime, there's more time to hone his skills as a sandwich artist."
I was joking based on the ridiculous photo of him you see above. There's more, of course, via Sports Business Journal (via Deadspin):
Marketing agent Mike Ornstein says he has made NFL receiver Michael Crabtree enough money in endorsement deals that the still-unsigned first-round draft pick won't be pressured to play football for a while.For those of you worried about whether Crabtree would be able to eat, don't give it a second thought. It sounds like he's set for life, at least when it comes to subs.
"He has made over 750 grand in marketing dollars," Ornstein said. "It is not that he doesn't want to play, but he is not under the gun to," Ornstein said.
Then there's this, which Snyder brought to my attention: Crabtree's just like Happy Gilmore.
Except for the part about needing a job to pay the taxes on his grandmother's house. Otherwise, they're twins.
