Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has an opinion on just about everything, although he usually saves the diatribes for various social issues. In the case of Michael Crabtree, he's willing to make an exception. One-hundred-sixty-one days after the 49ers selected him with the 10th overall pick, Crabtree still remains unsigned. He's looking for something in the neighborhood of $23 million and San Francisco has countered with $16 million. And Brown, who earned $85,000 during his final NFL season, is unimpressed.
(In Ronald Reagan preaching to Mikhail Gorbachev voice)
"Mr. Crabtree, get your butt in camp," Brown said.
In an interview with Sirius XM radio, Brown told host Joe Madison that Michael Crabtree's current stance is "totally ridiculous" and said that an athlete's career is measured by the way he plays, not the contract he signs.Yes, Jim, but Crabtree's legacy has already been cemented by his Subway endorsement. Everything else is gravy. Plus, as long as he remains unsigned, these shirts are still topical, hilarious.
"You don't realize that your legacy will be based upon how you perform, not how much money you made?" Brown said on the show.
Brown can sometimes be preachy and off-base, but when talking about Crabtree's decision to kick it on the couch this fall, he makes a lot of sense.
"You're going to lose a year of playing football to try to get more money than you can get this year, which you'll never make up? And you don't realize that your legacy will be based upon how you perform, not how much money you made? ... $1 million more without a tax plan and a life management plan won't make any difference anyway..."
