After the marvelous collegiate career that Michael Crabtree put together, he is about to realize that a rotten attitude can, and will, be detrimental to his NFL career.

Crabtree was drafted 10th by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2009 NFL Draft.  He was the second receiver selected, behind Darius Heyward-Bey who was drafted 7th by the Oakland Raiders.  Most draft analysts predicted that Crabtree would be the first receiver taken, which proved to be an inaccurate prediction – thanks to the Raiders’ owner Al Davis. 

But the Texas Tech All-American is based his contract negotiations on the fact that he was “supposed” to be taken higher than Darius Heyward-Bey.  The Raiders signed Heyward-Bey to a 5-year deal with $23.5 million in guaranteed money.  So, you guessed it…Crabtree wants more than that.

But why should he get more than that?  What’s the gage in this situation?

At Texas Tech, Michael Crabtree made tough catches, like this one, look ordinary.

I wouldn’t ever believe that a rookie who has never touched foot on an NFL field should be so demanding in contract negotiations.  There are two pieces of this puzzle that make no sense to me:

From a performance perspective, there are too many very productive players making less money than a lot of these rookies.  And I’m not talking average players…I’m talking about go-to-guys for their respective teams.  Reggie Wayne, Braylon Edwards, and Mr. Ochocinco, himself.  And if another receiver ends up making more money than Anquan Boldin, the world will come to an end.

Also, listen to David Wells (Crabtree’s cousin): “We are prepared to do it (sit out for the season).  Michael just wants fair market value. Michael is one of the best players in the draft, and he just wants to be paid like one of the best players.”

OK folks…this is why you don’t let your family speak for you.  Especially cousins.  What in the world is fair market value for an NFL player that hasn’t played NFL football yet?  I would say that fair market value is whatever any team feels like they want to pay him.  But in this case, “fair market value” has to be established by other draftees and the contracts that they sign.  Only an idiot can believe that fair market value is based on your personal assessment of your own skills.

Hopefully, with the help of some wise counseling, the talented receiver can reverse his course and get on the right track.

It’s been said that life is a long lesson in humility.  If so, I have a feeling that class is just beginning for Crabtree.

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