Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Originally posted by AmpLee:
Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Originally posted by MrAdrenaline:
Like Jed said during the preseason game, "When he wants to be here, he'll be here"
In other words, there is an offer on the table, and when he decides to sign it, we'll welcome him with open arms. Definitely sounds like a take it or leave it offer.
I'm all for letting him sit out the entire season if that's what he wants to do. It would suck to lose that draft pick, but at least we wouldn't be overpaying more than teams already do with their 1st round picks. Not only that, but it would be a positive for the NFL in the long run, as it would almost guarantee a future rookie cap, to protect teams from this sort of thing.
Parker is going to cost a lot of future players $$$, as this will certainly work against the players union when negotiating a new CBA. Of course that means less dough in his pocket down the road as well.
You obviously do not know Eugene Parker very well. I encourage the skeptics to do a background search on his clients and cases in the past. I think you will come away very impressed. I know I was.
You state that Parker is going to cost a lot of future players money, but this is an institutional problem that started way before Parker, and will continue down the road until the player's association decides to let the league create a rookie salary system. And, Crabtree is not the only guy who has not signed.
In that the media has been fixated on him before, during, and after the draft, it shows that this player is very unique to the league. And, due to that unique situation, a unique contract has to, and will be, constructed.
Not to pick on you, but there seems to be an overwhelming sentiment that Niners' management is so much tougher than Parker. I beg to differ. The guys on the Niners' side are relatively young and inexperienced, while Parker has been doing this for a long time. A group of young pups are not going to crack an old vet who has faced much more experienced, savvy and grizzled GM's around the league.
Damn dude, why don't you just give the guy a bj already? Seriously, you seem to be rooting for Parker over the organization here and ignoring the fact that he and Crabtree have no leverage. He's making a bold play and the Niners are doing a great thing by standing pat. Show some respect for the organization you root for. This would be a great step forward for the Niners management to stand firm when they are making a fair offer, by all accounts. You seem to WANT the mighty Parker to win and to show how naive and inexperienced our organization is.
I have to agree, this negotiation is about leverage. The age and experience of the members of the respective negotiating teams has nothing to do with it. One hopes that Crabtree has someone mature and wise leading his team.
The Niners have shown over the past several years that they can sign and resign their players to fair contracts, and this holdout has done nothing but strengthen their image as intelligent businessmen who won't be strongarmed, who want to be fair.
So, the question is, who's got the leverage. Crabtree's side wants to present him as some really beautiful, tricked out, new sports car with all the bells and whistles, irrespective of the flat tire of a month ago. An elegant, expensive automobile that should draw a top bid at auction.
The Niners are saying that, yes, he appears to be a great car, but they're not so crazy about sports cars that they're willing to break the bank to make the purchase at the price being demanded.
If the deal doesn't go through, and Crabtree reenters the draft next year, he becomes a year older model competing against all the brand new sports cars and luxury cars of next year--he won't go as high and it will cost him the money he COULD have earned this year--approximately what, $9m or $10m? That will buy alot of gas, and its money he'll NEVER SEE. EVER. Hard to step away from that kind of money.
In addition, the hit Crabtree will take on the public relations front is immeasurable. Already, the "diva" label is being stuck on him, and if he reenters the draft next year, that label could scare off some teams, not to mention the effect it might have on any sponsers--Nike, Underarmor, Gatorade, etc. It could take him years to regain the popularity he would sacrifice by holding out for a year.
If the Niners don't up their offer and lose their #1 pick this year, they don't get compensated next year, and lose Crabs. Meaning they'll have to make do with Morgan, B. Jones, Spurlock, Battle, Hill, Ziggy(?) in the future, and those guys plus Bruce this year. They have plenty of serviceable WRs, and although it would obviously hurt to lose Crabs, it won't hurt them nearly as badly as it will hurt him. IMHO.
Irrespective of their supposed ages, experience, or expertise here, the reality appears to be that the Niners have the leverage, and Crabtree doesn't, even with the inestimable Parker as his agent. IMHO.
MadDog, I see your point about Parker being a good agent, he has done a great job getting guys deals, and you mention several. I really don't think that he is behind this holdout for DHB money as much as Crabtree and he family might be though IMHO. It is clear they are going to have to meet in the middle. Also historically, I haven't seen or read of Parker trying to leap several spots ahead of the slot the player was drafted this high in the draft for a non QB just because the guy had a lot of media attention (or for any other reason).
I think the 49ers have a lot more to lose if they cave than Parker will. It is pretty clear that Crabtree will get a better deal than he is slotted to get, and Parker will evenutally get credit for that as long as it appears that way optically. I don't think he will leap Raji for a 5yr deal though. If he signs for 6, then maybe more guaranteed, which again is optics, but basically economically similar. The niners have to show they can't be pushed around, they have a lot of younger guys coming up on the end of their contracts and they don't want (or can't afford) to encourage holdouts where the "market" is much less clear on players since they are evaluated subjectively rather than through a more orderly slotting process. If McC and Co. cave, it would set a dangerous precedent.
Also, they are facing a lot of pressure from the league not to cave and they are getting enough support from the media and league as well, so think this offsets your age and toughness argument.