San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree Needs to Shed Bust Label in 2011

For a player with such pedestrian stats, San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree has certainly had an eventful NFL career thus far. In two years on the job, the former Texas Tech star has managed to anger most of the NFL—including his own team—with his antics.

After the 49ers selected him with the 10th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Crabtree held out until October 7, demanding more money. The holdout turned most fans off to him, as he and his agent let it be known that he was planning to reenter the 2010 draft if he wasn't compensated appropriately. Eventually, he signed a six-year, $36 million contract, but was so far behind that he didn't make an impact once on the roster.

He finished his rookie year by playing in 11 games and catching 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns. Last year, Crabtree again underperformed for someone expected to be a No. 1 wideout. He played in all 16 games and had 55 catches for 741 yards and six touchdowns. At best, that's an average season.

During the lockout this offseason, Crabtree broke his foot during players-only workouts. That caused him to need surgery on the foot and he has missed all of the preseason.

To this point in the preseason, Crabtree still hasn't practiced, which means he hasn't practiced at all in front of the team's new coaching staff led by Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh has said that Crabtree could practice this week, which would lead me to believe he won't start the season on the PUP list and may actually contribute.

It's no secret that the 49ers' offense is awful.

Right now the team's starting quarterback is Alex Smith, while the top two receivers are Braylon Edwards and Josh Morgan. They need Crabtree back, and he has to prove he's the guy they thought he was when they took him 10th overall in 2009.