Crabtree will hold out until opener?

A highly placed league source tells Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News that San Francisco 49ers WR Michael Crabtree won’t sign until just before the season opener on September 13th. Brilliant move. That’s how you get your career off to a rip-roaring start.

Nope, the source says that the two sides are too firmly entrenched in their positions to get anything done in August. The only way that something would get done is if Crabtree ditches agent Eugene Parker.

The problem, as we see it, is Eugene Parker. He wants a slot-busting deal for Crabtree at the 10 spot and if he’s able to get it, he’ll secure his place among the elite agents for kids coming out of college. Who wouldn’t want the guy that got Crabtree #7-overall money for a guy taken #10 overall?

Photo Caption: If the 49ers only knew then what they know now…

But that doesn’t remotely take into consideration Michael Crabtree the player. He needs to get acclimated to NFL life so he can be productive. Skipping your first training camp is not how you hit the ground running. So if you cave right before you start receiving serious game checks the season opener, aren’t you getting the same money that you would have gotten had you just signed back in August?

But we guess it’s more important to go for the money grab and come off as a super agent. Crabtree would be wise to switch representation and get into camp while he can still get some preseason action under his belt. Doesn’t look like the 49ers are caving here.