Minnesota Vikings to Hold Offensive Lineman Tryouts

After seeing Brett Favre on the ground numerous times, Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie benched, and a decrease in Adrian Peterson’s production, the Minnesota Vikings announced early Wednesday that they will be holding try-outs to help fill the holes in the offensive line.

The Vikings, who began the season 10-1, are now 11-4 and fighting for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Peterson’s production has dwindled in recent games. Peterson saw two games in which he touched the ball 25 times for 54 yards.

First time Pro Bowler, Bryant McKinnie, was benched during the third quarter of a 26-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, after DE Julius Peppers pitched a tent in the Vikings backfield.

Favre has seen an increase in sacks, hurries, and hits. Due to multiple pocket collapses, Favre has been desperate enough to throw to Naufahu Tahi and Anthony Herrera.

The Vikings announced Wednesday through a spokesperson that they will be holding the lineman try-outs on Friday at Winter Park.

The Vikings recommend that you are at least 6’4”, 300 lbs, or share genes with Jim Kliensasser if you plan on trying out.

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Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl a Terrible Idea

Nobody cares about the Pro Bowl.

I, personally, have never watched the Pro Bowl. My NFL season officially ends after a champion is crowned.

But this year, NFL officials have slated the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl, rather than the week after.

And it’s not even in Hawaii.

The 2009 Pro Bowl will be held in Miami, which is where the Super Bowl is also being held. It will be the first time since 1979 that the Pro Bowl hasn’t been in Honolulu.

Sure, it’s a great experience for players and it looks great on your resume: “Former Pro-Bowler Arrested on Drug Charges.”

Spending a week in Hawaii to play in the Pro Bowl should be a rewarding experience for NFL players—but not this year. Players will go to Miami, where half the NFL players already go every year.

However, Miami’s retirement atmosphere will be a good place for Brett Favre or Kurt Warner to play.

I am excited at the prospect of the Indianapolis Colts capping off the first undefeated season since the 1972 Dolphins in Miami. Peyton Manning is 1-0 in Super Bowls held in Miami.

The game should boast the league’s best players, but here is the catch this year: The teams that make the Super Bowl will not have their players play.

So, forget Peyton Manning thrownig TDs to Andre Johnson or Darren Sharper.

As of right now, the Vikings have 11 players that would make the Pro Bowl. If the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl, how are they going to fill those 11 roster spots? It would be like the MLB All-Star game, in which everybody and their mother makes the roster.

It’s all about money. I’m sure they expect to sell more tickets to a Pro Bowl held in this continent than they anticipate people flying out to Hawaii for a game that doesn’t even count.

I always liked a week free of NFL action before the Super Bowl to gear up my anticipation. Even though the Week 21 will still be void of competitive football, I could still do without.

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Peyton Manning and Brett Favre Aiming for MVP No. 3.5

For the entire 2009 NFL season, there have been three major candidates for league MVP: New Orleans QB Drew Brees, Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning, and Minnesota QB Brett Favre.

While Brees has had an incredible season so far (3,832 yards, 33 TD, 11 INT), the real story comes down to Favre and Manning.

Favre and Manning are tied for the NFL record in MVP awards won. Although they each have won the award three times, they technically both have 2.5. Manning won the award in 2003, 2004, and 2008. However he shared it with Steve McNair in 2003.

Likewise, Favre won in 1995, 1996, and 1997, but he shared it in 1997 with Barry Sanders.

Therefore, by splitting one of their awards in half, they each have 2.5.

Brees is still searching for his first.

Manning has the Colts at 14-0 for the first time in franchise history (third time in league history: 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots…both teams finished regular season undefeated) and is riding a 23-game winning streak.

Favre has undoubtedly earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year and has led the Vikings to more wins this season (11) than they won last year (10) with three games left.

Favre has thrown for 3,341 yards, 27 touchdowns and 6 INT, while Manning has thrown for 4,213 yards, 33 TD and 15 INT.

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Why Peyton Manning Is the NFL Player of the Decade

There have been many great players to play in the NFL over the past 10 years: Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Walter Jones, Brett Favre, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Michael Strahan, to name a few.

But there is one name that stands above the rest at an undisputed rate: Peyton Manning.

Manning, the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, will go down in history as one of the (if not the) best quarterback in NFL history once his tenure is done.

And while many east-coast biased fans argue that Patriots QB Tom Brady is the best player of the decade, a simple look at numbers leaves me begging to differ.

Although you can argue that since Brady didn’t become a starter until 2001 and Manning was a starter from 1998, his early success offsets that. Brady won Super Bowls in three of his first four full seasons as a starter.

Had Manning not won his Super Bowl in 2006, this debate wouldn’t be so one sided.

Manning has started in 190 consecutive games, and is one of two quarterbacks to start every game this decade (Brett Favre). You could throw in the Brady Clause here as well, seeing as how he didn’t start until Drew Bledsoe went down in 2001. He started every game after that until destroying his knee in the 2008 season opener and missing the season.

Manning is the only quarterback to throw for 40,000 yards in a single decade. Brady has just over 30,000.

Manning has won three NFL MVP awards, as well as a Super Bowl MVP. Brady has one NFL MVP and two Super Bowl MVPs.

Manning broke the single-season touchdown record in 2004 by throwing 49 touchdowns. Brady trumped him three seasons later by throwing 50 in 2007. Manning has thrown 314 total touchdowns (avg 31 per season), while Brady has 220 (avg 27 per full season…didn’t count 2001 or 2008).

Manning has thrown for less than 4,000 yards in a season once (3,747 in 2005), while Brady has topped the 4,000 yard mark only twice (he will likely do it again in 2009, sitting at 3,830 yards).

Somehow, Peyton Manning finds ways to win. He has won 115 games this decade, with Brady at 96. Even if you subtract Manning’s 2001 and 2008 wins, he still has 97.

Peyton has had one losing season this decade (was 6-10 in 2001) while Brady has had none.

Peyton averages 11.5 win per season (12.1 if you don’t count 2001 or 2008), while Brady averages 12. (Once again, I didn’t count 2001 or 2008).

Brady did lead his Patriots to a record-breaking 21 consecutive wins. Too bad Peyton’s Colts are currently riding a 23-game winning streak.

There are two things thing that Brady has done better than Peyton this decade. Brady has had more success in in the playoffs. Brady’s playoff record is 14-3, which includes 10 consecutive wins and three Super Bowl titles, to Peyton’s 7-7.

Brady has also 5-4 record in regular season matchups, as well as a 2-1 record over Manning in the playoffs. They have played each other at least once ever season except 2002. They were even in the same division in 2001.

Now that I think about it, Brady did lead his Patriots to a 16-0 mark in 2007, with their only loss coming to Peyton’s brother Eli in Super Bowl XLII. With Manning’s Colts at 14-0, maybe he can trump that record as well.

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Getting to Know Vikings Linebacker Jasper Brinkley

When Minnesota Vikings linebacker EJ Henderson was lost for the season due to injury in 2008, the Vikings re-acquired Napoleon Harris, who was sent to the Vikings by the Oakland Raiders with a first-round pick for WR Randy Moss in 2005.

This season, after Henderson suffered a season-ending injury in the Sunday Night game against the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings have named rookie Jasper Brinkley the starting middle linebacker.

Brinkley, a fifth round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, played his college ball along with his twin brother, Casper, at the University of South Carolina. Casper now plays for the Carolina Panthers, who the Vikings play on Dec. 20.

He started 29 of his 30 games as a Gamecock, racking up 193 tackles (20 for lost yardage), 7.5 sacks, and three interceptions.

As a senior, Brinkley was named to the All-SEC second team.

Scouting reports on Brinkley suggest he struggles in coverage, but could find his niche in short yardage defensive formations.

Brinkley will not play as much as Henderson, who was the defensive signal caller. In nickel situations, Ben Leber will stay on the field with Chad Greenway while Brinkley is replaced by a defensive back. This is similar to what the Vikings did last season after losing Henderson.

Brinkley is the last of five Vikings 2009 draft picks who has not seen significant playing time this season. WR Percy Harvin and OL Phil Loadholt have started the entire season, while CB Asher Allen and S Jamarca Sanford have filled in due to injury-plauged secondary.

Brinkley has been a standout on special teams, along with Sanford.

Some argue that Brinkley’s inexperience at the linebacker position will ultimately be the un-doing of the Vikings defense. Some fans argue that the Vikings should sign a veteran free agent, like Derrick Brooks.

They say a veteran linebacker is needed to run the defense of a 10-2 football team.

But the Vikings, who traded up to draft Brinkley, believe that they have their man.

The Vikings drafted Brinkley in case an emergency arose. It is time for him to show that they made the right choice.

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One-On-One With Minnesota Vikings Legend Chuck Foreman

Chuck Foreman was a groundbreaker. The 1973 Rookie of the Year with the Minnesota Vikings, Foreman spent seven of his eight pro seasons with the Vikings, leading them to three Super Bowls during the 1970s.

Foreman was a five time Pro Bowl selection and a four time All-Pro.

In 2007, the Minnesota Vikings inducted Foreman into the Ring of Honor.

His pass-catching ability out of the backfield, combined with the ability to make the first tackler miss, was a key component in the Minnesota Viking offense, which was sort of a pre-cursor of the West Coast Offense. Chuck is widely known as “The Spin Doctor” for his elusive way of avoiding would-be tacklers.

Recently, Chuck was signing autographs at Fan HQ at the Ridgedale Mall in Minnetonka, MN. I was able to sit down with him and ask him some questions.

Q. Besides you, who is the best player to come out of the University of Miami?

A. There have been so many talented players to come out of the U. So many guys. But I was the first. I led the pack. It could be Michael Irvin. But from athletic standpoint, I’d have to say it would be Andre Johnson. It probably goes me, Johnson, then Irvin.

Q. What was your “Welcome to the NFL” moment?

A. My rookie season against the Kansas City Chiefs. I met Buck Buchanan. It hurt.

Q. Who do you consider to be your mentors?

A. My family. I came from a great family. Great father, great mother, great brothers, great sisters. I’m blessed to come from a home like that. I had a great high school coach in Adam Craban. I had a great college coach in Fran Cerci. A lot of younger people don’t know this, but I played some cornerback in college. Cerci taught me a lot about the game. But athletically, my mentor would be Jack Griffith. Jack was an Olympic woman’s track coach. I used to run hurdles, and he helped me harness my speed and running ability.

Q. Do you consider yourself to have any proteges?

A. I don’t think so. Everybody is their own person.

Q. It’s 4th and Goal. One second left, and you are down by six points. Who don’t you want to see on defense?

A. Easy question. Green Bay Linebacker Fred Carr. The guy was 6-foot-5, 250 pounds. He had about a 4.4 40. I would like to see Hollywood (Thomas) Henderson back there. Guy was all talk. By the time he was done talking, you were already by him.

Q. What was your favorite play to run?

A. My favorite play was probably 34-35 Outside. It was an option play designed for me. I could do what I wanted. I could pop it in or pop it out. Whatever I wanted to do.

Q. What was your least favorite play?

A. Anything in the JAM formation. I don’t even want to talk about it. You can ask Coach (Jerry) Burns about that one.

Q. Who were your favorite teams or players growing up?

A. I grew up in the DC area, so my favorite teams were the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. Favorite players would have to be guys like Johnny Unitas, Charlie Taylor, Sonny Jurgenson, Otis Taylor. Both those teams had some really talented players.

Q. Were you interested in any sports besides football?

A. I ran track and played basketball, but basketball was probably my favorite. I had a 40-inch vertical. I played above the rim, man.

Q. What play do you think defined your career?

A. I think my versatility defined my career more than one single play did. I could do things other guys couldn’t do. I could go out for a pass and catch the ball with one hand behind my head.  Nobody else could do that. I was the first guy to be used out of the backfield as a receiving threat.

(Man in background): There wasn’t anybody after you like that until Marshall Faulk.

(Foreman): Faulk? No. Faulk was good but he wasn’t next. It was Roger Craig. It went me, Craig, and then you can fill in the blanks with whoever you want after that.

Q. Who was the nastiest player you ever played against?

A. Hands down it was Isaiah Robinson. He wasn’t the best, but he was a cheap shot.

Foreman is now a substitute teacher at Bloomington Kennedy High School. He also hosts a weekly internet radio show called SPINIT! with Chuck Foreman.

 

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Michael Vick Has Options After the 2009 Season

In an age where the “Wildcat” offense is emerging, the Philadelphia Eagles have the perfect wildcat player.

And they are not using him.

Eagles backup QB Michael Vick has so many weapons: break away speed, laser cannon arm, and a juke that has ripped hamstrings to shreds.

The Eagles have failed to utilize Vick’s versatility, but the Philadelphia club finds themselves 5-3, good for second in the NFC East and first in the Wild Card standings.

Although Eagles head coach Andy Reid has downplayed Vick’s limited playing time, it has been Eagles fans (and NFL fans, really) that have been disappointed by Vick’s limited activity in the Eagles offense.

Through Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Vick is 2-6 with six passing yards, and has 27 rushing yards on 12 attempts, his longest run being 11 yards.

Although nobody thought that Michael Vick would be an NFL starter following his 18-month prison sentence, this is ridiculous.

The Eagles signed Vick to a two-year contract, with the second year being a team option worth up to $5M. Unless Reid has some specially designed plays for Vick that he is saving for the postseason (if his team can get him there), it is unlikely that the Eagles will pay Vick to back up McNabb next season.

And then the free agent saga will start all over again.

But this time, it is better news for Vick. When he was reinstated by the NFL in 2009, there were multiple NFL teams that verbally stated that they were not interested in signing the former number one draft pick.

This time, that has changed.

Former head coach Tony Dungy has been spending time with Vick and frequently visited him while he was in prison. Vick and Dungy have stayed in contact.

According to Dungy, the Buffalo Bills were interested in signing Vick before he signed with the Eagles.

And now, following abysmal 2009 campaigns from several other NFL teams, you could probably throw the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns into the mix as well.

The Rams (1-7) are dead last in the NFL in points scored (77 points through eight games) and are averaging only nine points per game. Their lone win has come at the hands of the 1-7 Detroit Lions. Rams quarterbacks Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller have a combined 1437 passing yards and five touchdowns.

The Washington Redskins are in a similar situation. After drafting QB Jason Campbell in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, the Redskins have put together three mediocre seasons with Campbell as the starter, including a 2-6 start in 2009. The Skins are ranked 29th in points scored (113, avg. 14 per game).

Nothing has gone right for the Cleveland Browns in 2009. After 2007 first round pick QB Brady Quinn was benched after two games, QB Derek Anderson hasn’t played much better. The Browns are 1-7. The Browns are 30th in points scored (78, avg. 9 per game).

The Browns have three passing touchdowns, and their two rushing touchdowns have come from Anderson. KR Josh Cribbs has more return yards than Anderson has passing yards, and has as many return touchdowns as Anderson has passing touchdowns.

Similar situation for the Oakland Raiders. After a couple of key defensive victories (13-10 over Kansas City and 13-9 over Philadelphia), the Raiders have their own quarterback troubles. The first overall pick in 2007, QB JaMarcus Russell has been as inconsistent as they get.

Since becoming the starting quarterback in 2008, Russell has has led the Raiders to a 7-17 record. Oakland has scored only 78 points this season. Russell has thrown for two scores but has also thrown nine picks.

The Buffalo Bills would probably be the best fit for Vick if he wants have a chance to start. A roster that is full of untapped talent and seasoned veterans, the Bills were chosen by many to have a breakout season. But due to QB Trent Edwards injury and minimal production from WR Terrell Owens and Lee Evans, the Bills have slumped to 3-5, which includes a 6-3 loss to the 1-7 Cleveland Browns.

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Packer Fans: It Takes a Waffle to Know a Waffle

For the past decade-and-a-half, Sunday afternoons in Wisconsin have sounded something like this:

“Our Favre,
Who art in Lambeau,
Hallowed be thine arm.
The bowl will come,
It will be won.
In (insert Super Bowl city here) as it is in Lambeau.
And give us this Sunday,
Our weekly win.
And give us many touchdown passes.
But do not let others pass against us.
Lead us not into frustration,
But deliver us to (insert Super Bowl city here).
For thine is the MVP, the best of the NFC,
and the glory of the Cheeseheads,
now and forever. Amen”

Well, at least 16 of the past 18 years.

This Sunday, when Favre’s Vikings (oh, you haven’t heard? Favre plays for the Vikings now…) goes to Green Bay to take on the Packers, there will be nothing but a hateful respect.

Meh, who am I kidding. It will be down-right, blinded by rage hate.

Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt asked Packerland for “tasteful” ways to welcome the former Green Bay god back to Lambeau field. The itinerary for Sunday’s game includes waffle fries (reflecting on the quarterback’s retirement troubles) and has requested that fans wear flip-flops to the game.

Packer fan site cheeseheadtv.com wants to have a video montage of Favre’s interceptions, concluding with his last pass as a Packer, which was an interception in a 23-20 loss to the New York Giants in the 2007 NFC Championship Game. The Pack was 13-3 that season, which was tied for the best record during the Favre era.

They have even temporarily renamed Minnesota Ave in Green Bay to Aaron Rodgers Place.

Never mind that Favre broke every offensive passing record while with the Packers. Never mind the three consecutive MVP awards. Never mind a Green Bay’s first NFL championship in 30 years. Never mind that Green Bay had two winning seasons from 1970 to 1992. Never mind that Green Bay had one losing season from 1992-2007. Never mind that he is one of the most recognizable and respected NFL stars over the last 20 years.

Never mind that he still wanted to play for the Green Bay Packers when they traded him to the New York Jets in 2008.

If anything, Packer fans should be grilling Packers General Manager Ted Thompson for trading the legend in the first place. Favre has shown that he can still obviously play, going 15-8 since leaving the Pack.

If you think that that is interesting, read this:

On KFAN-1130 AM out of St. Louis Park, MN, radio host Dan Barreiro read an e-mail from a fan:

“Aaron is the second best quarterback ever in Green Bay after Bart Starr.”

I don’t know if this was a sincere e-mail from a sincere Packer fan, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

After all, last year’s 6-10 season is behind them. The Packers are 4-2, and one of their losses has come from Favre’s Vikings.

Last Wednesday, there was a long discussion on a local Milwaukee radio station debating A-Rodg’s bid for the Hall of Fame.

Are you kidding me? Obviously it is a case of withdrawal from trading one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. A-Rodg doesn’t have a winning record. He hasn’t won a playoff game, let alone made the playoffs.

Yes, you can argue that he has put up some lofty numbers, but how many legit teams has he beaten?

Rodgers has a career 10-12 record. In 2008 they beat the Lions twice (0-16), they beat the Seattle Seahawks (4-12). Yes he beat the Indianapolis Colts (12-4), the Chicago Bears (9-7), and the Vikings (10-6).

In 2009, off to their hot 4-2 start, they have beat the Chicago Bears (3-3), the Detroit Lions (1-5), the Cleveland Browns (1-6), and the St. Louis Rams (0-7), while they have lost to the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) and the Vikings (6-1).

We will see what stage Rodgers is at when he plays the tougher part of his schedule (at Pittsburgh, vs. Baltimore, at Arizona) later during the season.

Favre is the only quarterback to have beaten every NFL franchise. 

In a August 2008 interview, Rodgers was quoted as saying, “The things I can’t understand and take personally is when I’m punching in my punch code and somebody says (bleep) you to me. It kinda bothers me. Or when a little kid is yelling swear words. That kinda gets to me.

“The boos, they expect a high level of play and they miss Brett Favre. I understand that. But the (bleep) you, and the little kids saying swear words to me? I don’t understand that. “

It has gone from there to Packer fans, being what they are (waffles) who used to wear at their quarterback now swear by him.

I have nothing against Aaron Rodgers. The guy is a class act and will probably have a good career.

But seriously, Packer fans. All the hype and all the pressure you are putting on this kid is way too much.

You used to have the greatest pressure-situation quarterback of all-time. And you traded him. Brett Favre only comes once in a lifetime. You could have had him for his entire non-bench-sitting career. He would have been remembered as a Packer and only a Packer.

But from now on, when you mention Brett Favre, the Vikings are going to come up.

And for Vikes fans, there is nothing sweeter than to have the best player in your franchise history extend all of his records and play for the “best team he (Favre) have ever played for”, have dramatic come-from-behind wins, be all over the media in Minnesota when you could have kept him in Green Bay.

The only explanation for the sudden Rodgers swing is having Favre in purple. Before, Packer fans didn’t care much. Favre was traded to New York. He was in the AFC.

But now he is back, and he is playing in the division.

The entire anti-Favre pro-Rodgers saga is a defense mechanism. Fans, in my opinion only love Rodgers to get back at Brett Favre.

It is love at second sight. And the only reason that it is love at second sight is that they are desperate.

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The Common Man: Epitome Of an On-Air Factual Error

We all make mistakes.

Bill Buckner let the ball by him in the 1986 World Series, Steve Bartman interfered during the 2003 NLCS, Scott Norwood missed the field goal to win Super Bowl XXV, Chris Webber called timeout in the 1993 NCAA Championship game, and Barry Bonds took steroids and single-handedly put a blemish on the most heralded record of all time.

But all of those are very forgivable compared to what happened this afternoon.

On his daily radioshow for 1130-KFAN in Minneapolis, Dan “Common Man” Cole and his interim producer Brandon “Tenna-B” Mileski were having a debate on whether or not Joe Montana is the greatest quarterback of all-time.

After a fan writes in to say that the 49ers didn’t have Jerry Rice during the 1989 Super Bowl (he was the MVP), they wondered whether Rice was on the 1981 championship team.

“The first one they won, they didn’t have Rice, correct?” asked Tenna-B. “It was the Dwight Smith Immaculate Reception. Or was it Roger Craig?”

Are you kidding me? Even though I was born five years after that historical day in January 1982 on the frozen tundra of North Dakota, my first word was “Franco.”

And by Franco, I don’t mean João Franco, the former prime minister of Portugal. I mean Franco Harris, Hall of Fame Steelers halfback who, in the 1972 AFC playoffs, caught a deflected ball and ran it into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, thus earning the name “Immaculate Reception” from Pittsburgh broadcasting legend Myron Cope.

In my professional, amateur journalism opinion, I believe that the play Tenna-B was referring to was called “The Catch,” which by the way is much easier to say (and type) than Immaculate Reception.

If I have trouble remembering a given name of a play, I find if much simpler to say “The Catch.” Like, “Did you see Brandon Stokley make that catch against the Bengals?” or “Did you see Greg Lewis make that catch against the 49ers?”

I would bet cash money that every reader would know which plays I was talking about.

Furthermore, perhaps Tenna-B remembered that it wasn’t Roger Craig OR Dwight Smith who made “The Catch.” Roger Craig was blocking for Joe Montana, and Dwight Smith was only four-years-old (and by Dwight Smith, I mean journeyman CB who has spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions).

According to my professional, amateur journalism expertise, it was in fact Dwight Clark who caught the 20-yard Joe Montana TD pass with six seconds left in the NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys.

If you go to his Fan-on-Demand  page, and listen to “10/20 Next to Nothing” at 37:35 and on, you can hear the immaculate misconception and how Common “reels in” his listeners to yank their chains.

The Common Man program airs weekdays from noon to three. For more information about the Common Man, visit his web site.

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Dear Michael Crabtree: Shut Up and Play

Are we sure that President Obama’s recent comments about Kanye West were not directed at Michael Crabtree?

Crabtree, the 10th overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, has yet to sign with the San Francisco 49ers.

Normally I wouldn’t have a problem with that. But seeing as how it is Week Two in the NFL, I am a little agitated.

Crabtree, the two-time Biletnikoff award winner, is threatening to sit out the entire 2009 NFL season. If he were to do this, he would be eligible to re-enter the draft in 2010.

In my opinion there are two main reasons why Crabtree hasn’t signed: he wanted to be drafted higher, and he wants to be paid like a higher draft pick.

Well, Michael, the reality is this: You were the 10th pick in the draft.

Who is he going to blame for not being selected with the other nine picks? If he needs to blame somebody, blame the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland had the fifth and 21st picks in the draft. The team has a need for another receiver to compliment Braylon Edwards.

Instead, the Browns dealt the pick to the New York Jets, selected C Alex Mack with the 21st pick, and drafted WRs Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi with their next two picks.

Crabtree could blame the Seattle Seahawks for signing free-agent WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh during the offseason. Before the Seahawks signed T.J., ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. predicted Crabtree to be drafted fourth overall by Seattle. After Seattle signed Houshmandzadeh, Seattle felt they had more dire needs than a receiver and drafted LB Aaron Curry of Wake Forest.

He could blame the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinatti Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, or Green Bay Packers, who all selected linemen instead of taking the talented Crabtree.

He could also blame the Oakland Raiders for selecting WR Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick in the draft.

That has to sting a bit. A two-time Biletnikoff, the only player to win the award twice, wasn’t even the first wideout drafted.

Crabtree must have grown weary sitting in the green room of Radio City Music Hall on Draft Day.

It could have been worse, though. He could have been Ben Roethlisberger, who had to sit backstage until he was selected with the 11th pick.

It could have been even worse. He could have been Aaron Rodgers, who some thought would be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers fell to No. 24, and was the second quarterback taken.

The bottom line is this: Crabtree was the 10th overall pick. There is nothing he can do about it.

Or is there?

If Crabtree sits out the entire 2009-10 season, he would be eligible to re-enter the NFL Draft.

This would be one of the worst moves of his career.

I don’t know what Michael is thinking, but if he were to re-enter the draft, he would not be selected higher than ten. I would have him going much lower.

Much lower.

It doesn’t matter how talented a player is if their reputation is tarnished. Randy Moss was regarded as one of the most talented players in the 1998 NFL Draft. But off field and character issues led to many teams passing on Moss before he was selected 24th overall by the Minnesota Vikings.

Moss went on to win the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, hold the single-season touchdown reception record (23), and play for two teams that have set the NFL record for points scored in a season (Minnesota Vikings in 1998, New England Patriots in 2007).

Further hurting Crabtree, players who have taken a year off rarely have good careers.

Take QB Kelly Stouffer for instance. Stouffer held out the entire season after being selected sixth overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987. He was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 1988. Stouffer would have five injury-plagued seasons in Seattle, where he would throw seven touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and have a career passer rating of 54.4 while appearing in 22 games (he was the starter in eight of those games.)

A more recent example is WR Mike Williams. Williams, a star at USC, declared for the NFL draft at the end of his sophomore year, however there is a rule that a player must be three years removed from high school in order to be eligible. In Williams’ defense, at the time Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett was challenging the rule in court.

Williams hired an agent, which made him ineligible to return to USC for his junior season, and he sat out the entire year.

Despite all of this, Williams was selected 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Williams lasted only three seasons in the NFL, and is currently a free agent. His career numbers are 44 receptions for 539 yards and two touchdowns.

Even if Crabtree were to sit out the entire season, his draft rights would still be owned by the Niners until next year’s draft, which means he wouldn’t be able to practice (or talk to) any other teams or participate in the NFL Draft Combine.

Crabtree’s other issue is his paycheck. San Francisco offered Crabtree a five-year $16M contract.

The one problem?

The Oakland Raiders gave Darrius Hayward-Bey a five year, $25M deal.

A similar situation: Missouri Tigers pitcher Kyle Gibson was ranked among the top five players in the 2009 MLB Draft. But a stress fracture in his forearm helped him fall into the lap of the Minnesota Twins, who had the 22nd pick.

Gibson wasn’t signed until less than an hour before the deadline. His main reason? He wanted to be treated (and paid) like a top-10 pick.

Deion Sanders of the NFL Network reported that Crabtree isn’t scared to sit out the entire season because he isn’t in “dire need” of money.

If Crabtree isn’t in dire need of money, why is he holding out for a larger contract?

There is one thing Crabtree needs to do to start regaining his reputation: play.

Crabtree was the most dominant receiver in college football for two years. He has the opportunity to be mentioned in the same sentence as Jerry Rice and Dwight Clark and play in the hallowed red and gold. He has the opportunity to help save a once-heralded franchise.

But he is squandering his chances of heroism and stardom by sitting out.

If Crabtree doesn’t sign with the Niners soon, his career will be all but over.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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