Michael Crabtree Signing: Something Is Rotten in San Francisco

Okay, let me see if I understand this correctly:

1) Michael Crabtree is drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.  Understandably, he's not excited about it, considering they have, at best, a below-average QB situation.

2)  Crabtree's camp claims to be additionally incensed that he was not the first WR drafted, and fell all the way to tenth.  He feels violated that Darrius Heyward-Bey, the fast Maryland WR who had so torn up the ACC that he was named an Honorable Mention (a.k.a. Third Team) All-ACC player, goes three spots ahead of him (to that end, he shares a feeling of violation with every member of Raider Nation).  Hurt and bewildered, Crabtree asks for money commensurate with a much higher draft selection, since that was how he was "rated" by sages such as Mel Kiper, Jr. (and because Al Davis is insane).

3)  The 49ers are bewildered by Crabtree's logic, since they are not owned by Al Davis.  They quite rightly reject the arguments of Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker.  They expect Crabtree to sign for his slot, as every other rookie does in the NFL.  They make an offer befitting that slot, which includes a hefty guarantee of $20 million.

4)  Crabtree apparently vomits at the mere thought of signing for such a paltry sum.  He rejects the offer, acting as though he was personally insulted by this pittance, and hunkers down in Florida.

5)  Notable genius Deion Sanders, an advisor to Crabtree's camp, intimates that "other teams" are willing to pay Crabtree the $40 million he wants.  This is the first mention of this type of sum in association with Crabtree.  It is rumored that the New York Jets are one of those teams.

6)  Deion's comments draw the attention and ire of the San Francisco 49ers, who do an investigation and file tampering charges against the Jets, charges head coach Rex Ryan and others vociferously deny.  Denials in this day and age being what they are, no one is moved by Ryan's faux outrage.  The Crabtree camp does not respond.

7)  Both camps entrench as the season moves forward.  The 49ers finish Week Four with a 3-1 record, which could easily have been 4-0, culminating in the summary execution of the St. Louis Rams (or, rather, the cremation, as the Rams had already been killed by years of mismanagement).  Speculation increases that the 49ers are gaining leverage with every strong weekly performance, and that Crabtree may be a tad nervous.

8)  Deion "Trial Balloon" Sanders intimates over the weekend that something may be happening with the negotiations, and that Crabtree may sign.  Thankfully, the loose-lipped Deion Sanders is not in the U.S. Navy.

9)  Crabtree flies to the Bay Area and has one meeting with 49er brass, after which he signs.  No meeting had been held for three weeks, but within hours of the first one after that time, Crabtree's deal is done.  Six years, with the last year voidable.

My question: What changed?

Was it the continued impressiveness of the 49ers early season play that made Crabtree nervous? 

Did he begin to realize, as they already knew, that they could win without him? 

I find that hard to believe.  Hadn't the 49ers proved they were a good team in Week One against Arizona?  The 49ers lost to Minnesota and beat St. Louis, both expected results. 

Yes, they could have beaten Minnesota, but why would shellacking the Rams change anyone's mind?  I don't think that's it.

Of course, it is pure speculation that I am about to undertake, but I'm convinced it's the real story, and it involved another mercurial WR talent—Braylon Edwards.  Oh, and also LeBron James.

The Jets need a WR; that's obvious.  There was speculation that Edwards might be dealt to the Jets in the offseason, but everyone denied it and nothing came of it.  The Jets and Browns proved in the Sanchez trade that they could find a way to make a deal.  The Browns gave up something of value, and the Jets gave up very little in return.  With that kind of relationship, a trade can always get done.

Still, no trade for Edwards happens.  Does someone on the Jets hint to Deion, or MC Hammer, or Eugene Parker, that the Jets will pony up for Crabtree in the offseason if he can just hang in there?  It's possible, although that would absolutely be tampering and would cause Commissioner Goodell to beat down the Jets in a harsh fashion.

And yet Crabtree remained unsigned...until Braylon Edwards, after catching no passes during the day on Sunday, finally connects with another human being Sunday night.  Unfortunately, it's Edwards's fist with the face of Edward Givens, a friend of LeBron James.  James calls out Edwards, and says Edwards is jealous.

If LeBron James calls you out in Cleveland, you are OUT.  Coach Mangini and GM Kokinis realize quickly that the Edwards Era with the Browns is over.  They envision the media beating that Edwards will take on a daily basis, realize he's too immature to handle it, and quickly call their friends at the New York Jets to sell Edwards for pennies on the dollar.  In this case, the pennies are Chansi Stuckey, a special teams guy, and some draft picks of unknown distinction.

Crabtree's camp gets wind that the Jets are making a deal.  Crabtree realizes he's about to be left standing in a high-stakes game of musical chairs, and folds, signing immediately with the 49ers, knowing that the Jets can't be counted on to trade for him in the offseason.

A fine scenario, but there's one problem with it.  Deion had already hinted that Crabtree would sign prior to the Edwards-Givens blowout. 

Is it possible that the Browns, after Edwards's dismalness on Sunday afternoon, had indicated to him he was probably out the door, causing his angst and subsequent fisticuffs?  Maybe. 

The Jets' urgency to get a WR increased after their beatdown by the Saints, and word may have filtered to Crabtree that "we can't wait for you.  We want to win NOW, and we're going in another direction."  Crabtree calls Deion crying, Deion reports the news.

Connecting these dots is not rocket science, of course, but it's all far too coincidental in my mind, and I would hope Roger Goddell takes a break from watching his lovely wife on "Fox and Friends" to make a few calls to the Crabtree principals to find out just what the hell went on here.  The fact that this played out the way it did suggests the Jets indeed were tampering with Crabtree.  In that case, they should be severely penalized.

Before you scoff at this idea, just consider this: after the Jets are accused of tampering, the heat turns up on Deion, on the Jets, on everyone in the Crabtree camp.  The Jets realize if they end up trading for Crabtree, it will look very suspicious.  The 49ers basically told the Jets they were not going to deal with them by filing the tampering charge.  The Jets see their plan going up in smoke, look at other situations, and decide to acquire Edwards and his myriad of issues rather than Crabtree and his cornucopia of issues.

I think the Jets were tampering and that the Edwards trade was known to the Crabtree camp, and that's why they caved and immediately signed with the 49ers.  I wouldn't be so convinced if Crabtree hadn't immediately signed.  There were clearly no major roadblocks in the negotiation—probably just one, and that was removed by the trade for Braylon Edwards.

To me, no other scenario makes sense, considering the timing, the charges, and the final resolution.  I wonder what you think...