Read the debate intro and Sports Geek’s argument that the San Francisco 49ers are better off just letting Michael Crabtree go.
Every neighborhood has a quitter.
You know who I’m talking about. The quitter is the kid who pouts when things in a game don’t go their way, so they just throw a tantrum and quit playing. Nobody liked the quitter, and the quitter ruined the game for a lot of other people.
That is exactly what the San Francisco 49ers will be if they walk away from rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree now – QUITTERS!
I can imagine that it is frustrating for the 49ers organization and fans to see their top draft pick continue to go unsigned because he is demanding more money than the organization thinks that he is worth. That is no reason to just pack up your toys and go home, though. The worst thing that the 49ers could do right now is give up. Then they would have truly wasted their draft pick, and would have absolutely nothing to show for it.
It doesn’t matter that they have started the season at 2-0. It ALSO doesn’t matter that it is likely too late for Crabtree to make any kind of contribution on the field this year. As Loyal Homer points out in the debate intro, the 49ers are 32-64 over the last six seasons. It is a bit premature to say that the 49ers don’t need Crabtree anymore, just because they won the first two games of the 2009 season.
The team has very limited depth at many offensive positions. Running back Frank Gore is undoubtedly the best player for the 49ers, but his ability to stay healthy is a concern for the team. Gore’s backup, Glen Coffee, has the potential to become a key player in San Francisco’s offense, but he, like Crabtree, is unproven. The quarterback and wide receiver positions are largely populated with veteran players that don’t have too much gas left in the tank, and tight end Vernon Davis has been very underwhelming in his performance to date.
Michael Crabtree is an exceptionally talented player, and he will most likely be very successful at the wide receiver position, no matter where he signs on. Head coach Mike Singletary and general manager Scot McCloughan have the responsibility of creating the best opportunity for the 49ers to be successful. While this year is very important, it is not the sole focus of that development process. Singletary and McCloughan have to also be concerned about the long-term viability of the San Francisco organization.
Crabtree WILL add value to the organization. It just won’t be this year.
Kellen Winslow Jr, Tom Brady, Willie Parker, Larry Johnson, and Aaron Rodgers are all examples of current players who did not contribute much (if anything) during their rookie season, but then went on to provide outstanding contributions to their respective teams. Even Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young sat on the bench at the beginning of his career. Just because a team is unable to take advantage of a player during the rookie year of his professional career, it does not mean that the player is a bust.
If anything, the 49ers can use their current position as leverage to press the issue further with Crabtree. The fact that they seemingly are able to compete WITHOUT him on the team takes the pressure off of them. They can now continue to pursue signing him from a position of greater leverage than if they had lost their first two games.
The important thing for the 49ers to remember is that they may not NEED Crabtree, but they can definitely USE him. He will be a very productive player in the NFL. The 49ers just need to make sure that it will be for their organization!
