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Tip For Michael Crabtree: Establish Yourself Then Act Like an Idiot
Published: August 7, 2009
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718 years, 91 days and 15 minutes. That’s how long I would have to work at my meager paying job in order to make the reported $23 million that Michael Crabtree wants guaranteed for not having played a single down.
Why do teams continue to throw amounts of money that I can’t tangibly conceive at rookies? Common sense has never been prominent in many of the NFL’s decisions so trying to find a logical answer is a waste of time. But it is easy to do a brief, unscientific monetary and statistical comparison to other wide receivers in the league based on the guaranteed money in their contract.
It’s not like Crabtree’s demands are unheard of. In 2008, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals signed a deal with $30 million in guarantees over four years. Over the course of 76 games in five years, Fitzgerald has 426 receptions for 5,975 yards and 46 touchdowns. He’s also played in three Pro Bowls and one Super Bowl.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh left Cincinnati for Seattle after signing a five year, $40 million dollar contract with a reported $15 million in guarantees. During his eight years with the Bengals he caught the ball 507 times for 5,782 yards and scored 37 touchdowns. In 2007 he managed to earn a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Green Bay’s Greg Jennings signed a four-year, $26.885 million contract that contains $16.25 million guaranteed. Jennings has 178 receptions, 2,844 yards and 24 touchdowns during the 43 games he’s played in three years.
Crabtree’s NFL career statistics stand at 0. Zero games played, zero receptions, zero yards and zero touchdowns. He hasn’t made it to the Pro Bowl, let alone training camp. If Crabtree is going to holdout for $23 million, the 49ers should include a clause demanding a Lombardi Trophy or their money back. Hell, that should be in the contract of every rookie making more than a proven veteran.
It’s not just the money, that’s expected to a certain extent. But he is threatening to sit out the 2009 season and re-enter the 2010 draft. Has someone started a list of the dumbest mistakes made by rookies? I want to make sure this gets added.
Crabtree’s cousin and “adviser,” David Wells, told ESPN that Crabtree “wants to be paid like one of the best players.” Maybe Crabtree should wait until he has shown himself to be “one of the best players” before he starts making demands like one.
“We are prepared to do it,” Wells is quoted as saying. “Michael just wants fair market value. They took him with the 10th pick and you have Darrius Heyward-Bey getting $38 million?”
Wells speaks as if Heyward-Bey’s $38 million isn’t also an absurd amount. I’m all for a cap on rookie salaries if it can keep the prima donna attitudes in check for a few years while these guys earn their way up to the big boy salaries.
Every once in a while a player comes along that defies the “me” mentality of so many athletes. And even if that player doesn’t put up the most impressive numbers, it’s still a relief to see someone that won’t sell themselves to the highest bidder. In March, the Buccaneer’s Michael Clayton turned down more lucrative offers from around the league in order to stay in Tampa Bay. He signed a five-year, $26 million contract that includes $10.5 million in guarantees.
In 71 games over five years in the NFL, Clayton only has 205 career receptions for 2,706 yards, and nine touchdowns, but that’s still more than Crabtree.
Sure, I’ll never make in a lifetime what many professional athletes makes in a year, but I also don’t expect my employers to give me money when I haven’t done any work.
Main Players In The Favre Saga Operate Under Selfish Motivations
Published: June 28, 2009
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The Minnesota Vikings have toyed with my emotions for a couple of decades now. Heart-breaking losses and fan girl scream inducing wins encompass the roller coaster ride I signed up for when I pledged my allegiance to the purple and gold. The latest episode of As the Aging Quarterback Retires, er Un-retires, is no different.
I overheard some guys on the ‘L’ talking about the Favre situation. One of the men said Brad Childress is “fearless” for putting his faith in Brett Favre to resurrect Minnesota’s passing game. At that moment I felt like tapping him on the shoulder to correct him. “Excuse me, sir. I believe the word you were looking for was idiotic. Childress is idiotic for thinking Favre is the solution to his problems.”
Unfortunately, Childress, aka Clueless, has failed to live up to the offensive guru status that was touted three years ago. And now he’s hell bent on signing Favre in an attempt to salvage anything that might be left of his reputation.
I haven’t decided who I blame more for Favregeddon. Childress has his future to think about. If he has any shot of securing another job after Zygi throws him to the curb, he needs to show that he is capable of constructing a passing game that doesn’t resemble a schizophrenic throwing downfield to a wide receiver that only he can see.
Favre has his ego to worry about. This is just another act in the long line of Oscar-worthy displays he’s given in the past. Obviously the guy has a few more weepy-eyed performances to give for the camera and his legion of minions at ESPN. Not to mention the temper tantrums for non-existent penalties to throw for the refs.
Is Favre really going to be satisfied after one or two years in Minnesota? At some point he needs to take a step back to reflect on his past accomplishments, and then accept that maybe it is over.
The media has played its own part in stirring the frenzy. Camping out at Winter Park and the airport in Hattiesburg, Miss. are not the actions of a rational person. Reporters are jumping at the latest gossip from the mysterious “source” feeding the latest contract status and home purchase all in an effort to boost ratings. I wouldn’t be surprised if the “source” turns out to be Favre himself, afraid that the spotlight will move onto someone else if he doesn’t fuel the fire.
The Vikings’ roster is filled with Super Bowl caliber talent, and yet they never look as good as they do on paper. The defense and running game have the ability to dominate every opponent, while the offensive line always looks like it could use a little extra practice.
The quarterback is obviously the main obstacle in the Vikings’ path past the first round of the playoffs. But I’d rather see them focus on re-signing Antoine Winfield and bringing in players that will still have an impact a few years down the road. That is if any player other than TO is willing to play in the circus-like atmosphere that’s been created.
Will adding a 39-year-old quarterback who is past his prime take the team to the next level? I’m not convinced that Favre is even a short-term solution to their quarterback problem.
Despite the vomit-inducing effect Favre’s face has on my body, I won’t hold it against the rest of the team. I still plan on being seated (or more likely standing) in section 117 at every game. I’ll cheer when they do something semi competent, boo when Favre does anything, and cry when they crush my soul by losing a game they entered as 28-point favorites.
I’m not as pessimistic as my mother likes to think. To prove it, I now live my life by a new motto that I heard: May your troubles last as long as Brett Favre’s retirements.
