My Michael Crabtree Blog

Well, it took long enough. After months of arguing and posturing, wide receiver Michael Crabtree has ended his holdout and signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

So far, there has been no hint from Crabtree's side as to what the final contract pays Crabtree. Usually the agent tends to leak this information, and since Crabtree's agent has yet to do so, it makes sense to believe that the agent is not that proud of the final agreement.

An NFL source has said that the contract is for 6 years and $32 million. $17 million is guaranteed just for signing (how about that for your autograph?) If Crabtree performs well enough, the final year of the contract worth a base salary of $4million will be voided. However, I understand that the qualifications for the final contract to be voided are so high that it is highly likely that this will turn out to be a 6-year deal.

For example, one of the stipulations is that Michael must make the Pro Bowl at least one year in his first four years. While he may turn into an elite NFL receiver, the competition in the NFC is just too great to expect him to make the Pro Bowl that quickly. The NFC has receivers such as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Smith just to name a few. It is pretty much a given that these guys will make the Pro Bowl, and that does not leave a lot of room left for Michael.

All in all, Crabtree ended up signing about the same contract that was offered at the onset of negotiations. It is just a shame that it took so long for him to realize that he was wasting his time and ruining his reputation.

Sports are an incredible way for people to partake in competition while also making their body healthier and stronger. Sports, from the fan side, are popular not only in the United States but also around the world. Fandom has expanded to the video game world these days with the many series for sports on the market such as Madden, MLB the Show, NHL, NCAA Basketball, MVP NCAA Baseball and much more. College sports, especially football, has taken the country by storm over the past couple of decades and the same can be said for college sports in the video game world. Here we will rank and discuss the top 5 best college sports games of recent memory.

MVP 07 NCAA Baseball: This game features the addition of more NCAA conferences, team fight songs, excellent commentary when playing a game of baseball and much more. If you have yet to play this game, it is recommended for any baseball fan, college or not, because the graphics have been improved from previous years and the gameplay is more interactive.

NCAA Football 10: This game was released not too long ago and if you have not had the chance to purchase this game yet then you should hit the stores today. This is one of the most impressive college sports games to hit the market in recent years because of the excellent graphics, easy gameplay, quick gameplay and fantastic features. The stadiums are designed to look exactly like the real thing right down to the paint on the field and the design of the team logo in the end zones.

College Hoops 2K6: If you enjoy college basketball and love to play basketball video games then give this game a shot. Even though it is a couple of years old it is still one of the best college sports games around today. The graphics in this game are second to none. The game was produced for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360 and was released in November of 2005. Playing this game puts the gamer into the shoes of the collegiate player and into the tumultuous arenas of Duke, North Carolina, Xavier, Florida, UCLA and others.

NCAA Basketball 10: This game is set to be released in the fall of 2009 and features former Oklahoma and current NBA player Blake Griffin on the cover. The gameplay is second to none for college basketball games and the graphics are the best in the NCAA series so far. The game will be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game features wild crowds, excellent detail on the cheerleaders, and top-notch commentary during the gameplay.

NCAA Football 09: This game features Michael Crabtree on the cover and is truly the prequel to the version released for 2010. The 09 version of the game took a step in the right direction when it comes to graphics and better gameplay, leading up to the 2010 version. This game is a must have if you love college football and want to add to your collection.

TJ Michaels is a console technician who writes for http://www.psr1.com, the experts for PlayStation 3 Repair and Xbox 360 repair.

When analysing the Raiders selection of Darrius Heywaryd-Bey I choose to be more open minded about the selection than many in the Raider Nation have proved to be. My only beef with the Raiders concerning this pick is the fact that they could have traded down numerous spots to get Heyward-Bey so I greatly question his value at number 7 overall. However, in terms of all of these receivers coming into the NFL from college nobody and I stress NOBODY knows how this will all play out. This is the NFL not the NCAA and all the stats and TD's that Crabtree put up in college doesn't mean crap at this level. Let me repeat. All the stats Crabtree put up at Texas Tech do not mean CRAP at the NFL level. Just look at all the WR busts throughout the years in the NFL who were studs in college. Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Troy Williamson, and Reggie Williams are just a few of the first round busts that come to mind. With that in mind I have researched Heyward-Bey and Crabtree and I truly believe Heyward-Bey will turn out to be the better NFL player and I am about to explain to you why.

During the past 10 years 4 receivers that have been taken in the Top Ten in the NFL Draft have turned into playmakers while the others have been busts. They are as follows:

Calvin Johnson (Detroit)

Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona)

Braylon Edwards (Cleveland)

Roy Williams (Dallas)

What traits do these receivers share? They are all 6'3" or better and they possessed at least better than average speed if not blazing. I am not seeing either out of Crabtree. For starters, nobody knows how fast Crabtree truly is. The only publicly recorded time of Crabtree running the 40 is 4.53 however that came from a site that also greatly exaggerated his height so how can you really believe them? Throw in the fact that Crabtree played in a spread offense at Texas Tech and also has a foot injury that numerous NFL GM's were concerned with and one has to wonder how fast Crabtree truly is. I have seen a bunch of his games in college and it always seemed that he would take the angle on DB's rather than blowing by them. Whether this was by choice in an effort to disguise his lack of speed in unknown but one thing is for certain: Crabtree is not going to be running the 100 meter relay anytime soon. Furthermore, his height has been exposed as well. Originally, Crabtree was listed at 6'3" but we all found out at the draft that he is only 6'1 1/4 so now essentially the 49ers have a short/slow receiver that they are banking on for the next 10 years.

By contrast Heyward-Bey is at least an inch or inch and a half taller than Crabtree and the speed factor is not even a question. Jeremy Maclin is close to his speed but Crabtree is not. When you examine what the Raiders are trying to do it becomes painfully clear why DHB was the selection. As I mentioned my only problem with it is that they didn't trade down to get him when that could have been an option. Perhaps the Raiders could have nabbed DHB and someone like University of Arizona tackle Eben Britton thus filling 2 glaring weaknesses. However, when analysing the measurables and all of the health variables as well you clearly see why the Raiders favored Heyward-Bey over Maclin and especially Crabtree and that is not even including personality or "character" traits. All you need to see is one interview from Crabtree for you to see that he is extremely arrogant.

Not confident. Arrogant. Arrogant to the point that I think he already has people working on his HOF bust before he has even run and NFL route yet. By contrast DHB is humble and has come to Oakland ready to work and I have liked every interview that I have seen of him to this point. People question DHB's production at Maryland as well as his hands but theses concerns are unjustified. First, unlike Crabtree DHB did not play in a spread offense in college and both Maclin and Crabtree played with far superior QB's at their respective schools than DHB did at Maryland. Everyone is saying that DHB is a bust and has Troy Williamson written all over him. I concede that there will probably be a bust at WR from this draft class but I differ by believing that Crabtree has a much higher risk for this distinction than DHB does. In summary: GIVE THE KID A CHANCE!!!!! You just might be surprised.

Cheers and Beers

Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider and fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football. Sign up for my free newsletter at: [http://www.gothicfootball.com]

As the NCAA College Football gets into full swing, college campuses nationwide are filled with the buzz of who might win this year's Heisman trophy. Honoring the best player in college football each year, the award went to sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow of Florida last year. While Tebow returns to lead the Gators, there are a number of other contenders for the trophy this year.

Coming out of (seemingly) nowhere last year, the Missouri Tigers rose to the top of the Big 12 pack, earning a number one ranking until their loss in the conference championship game to perennial power Oklahoma. Led by two Heisman contenders, senior quarterback Chase Daniel and true sophomore receiver Jeremy Maclin. With a top 10 rating and early season success, if this Tigers go all the way, then either of these players are capable of bringing home the hardware.

While Heisman winners generally play for national contender teams, there are a number of impressive players who play on good, but not great, teams. South Florida Quarterback Matt Grothe is an outstanding athlete, as is Boise State running back Ian Johnson who could run for over 7,000 yards in his college career.

There are a number of competitive quarterback sin this year's class ranging from the impressive first-year USC starter Mark Sanchez, Texas' Colt McCoy, the efficient passer Todd Reesing of Kansas and the talented Ryan Perrilloux of LSU.

Texas Tech also featured two top-tier Heisman candidates in quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree who caught 21 touchdowns last year. While Tech is in a competitive conference, the combination of Harrell and Crabtree could propel them to the top tier this season.

Among top running backs, Chris "Beanie" Wells leads last year's runner-up Ohio State where he ran for over 1500 yards and Wisconsin's PJ Hill will put in a competitive season for the Badgers. Texas running back Jamaal Charles is one of the fastest players in college football, and should put up some impressive numbers this season.

This year's Heisman competition features one of the more talented classes in recent history, and should make for an exciting year heading into the BCS.

Jason Forthofer is the owner of Get Football Helmets where you can shop for college football helmets from all major universities.

Last year was definitely an off year for wide receivers, and while this year looks a little deeper, you do not want to pay too much for your WR's production. Follow the Do's and Dont's below, and you will greatly improve your chances of hefting your Fantasy Football League Championship Trophy.

Do...

...nab one of the big ones if you can, without disobeying the 2 RBs in the first 3 rounds rule. If you pick 10th, and the top 6 or 7 primary backs are off the board, picking Larry Fitzgerald with your first round pick may be the way to go. Kurt Warner is back, Boldin is signed, and the Cards face the most favorable matchups for a passing game in the NFL this year over 17 weeks. Same goes for Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, etc. Just make sure all the marquee RBs are off the board.

Do...

...check schedules! A quick look at Buffalo's schedule shows only one home game in freezing bad-weather December at home, and that is against the lowly Oakland Raiders, so maybe Trent Edwards to Terrell Owens will be okay. But do not overlook the fact that this game is a week 15 4:00pm game, meaning playoff time for us Fantasy Footballers. You would hate to end your championship run because there was a blizzard in Denver and the Broncos handed the ball off 40 times.

DON'T...

...draft teammates! Kurt Warner / Larry Fitzgerald or Michael Turner / Roddy White may seem enticing, as your mind starts extrapolating all the huge numbers they could put up any given Sunday, but the downside is too great. Stick with players on separate teams, and you will limit your downside, and bye weeks will not be so hard to manage.

DON'T...

...waste time on Rookie WRs unless you want to roll the dice in a late round! Yes, DeSean Jackson was great last year as a rookie WR for the Eagles, but seriously, do you want to risk a mid-round pick on Darrius Heyward-Bey just because he was the 1st overall receiver to go in the NFL draft in April? "Crazy Al" and the Oakland passing game can be counted on for one thing only ... inconsistency. If you do look to sneak a winner late, take a peak at Michael Crabtree in San Francisco. They have a very favorable schedule against week passing defenses, and Crabtree should start.

Remember, Wide Receivers can be the most up and down performers in the Fantasy game. All a QB has to do to get the RB the ball is turn around and hand it to him. A lot has to go right for a WR to get the ball. That is why it is so important to get consistent performers at this position. And when you are looking for great stats, head on over to the NFL website for all your stats, schedules, and info. Sporting News Fantasy Football guide is also indispensable. All the stats above, and all my research comes from these 2 resources. This is the second in a series of Draft Day Do's and Dont's you need to adhere to in 2009. Make sure to check out my other articles offering Draft Day Secrets and tips. When you put them all together, you will have a strong game plan for your Fantasy Football Draft. See you in the playoffs!

Patrick O'Neill is an 18 year Fantasy Football Veteran who has won countless local and internet Fantasy Football Championships.
"If you are serious about winning, instead of competing, I recommend the same software I use, catered to your League's rules and scoring system. Win In 2009. Get it now, and win in 2009."
Patrick ONeill

How about those San Francisco 49ers? After a disappointing 2008 campaign that showed some promises of hope, it looks like this Niners team is ready to deliver on that hope in 2009.

Coach Mike Singletary seems to have masterminded what is quickly becoming one of the better defensive units in pro football today. Led by Patrick Willis, the 49ers defense has held its competition to just 26 total points in each of the team's first two games.

The more impressive of the two victories was San Francisco's week one win over the Arizona Cardinals, in Arizona of all places. A 20-16 win shut down the defending NFC champions, surprising many football fans around the country.

Efficient play from Frank Gore at running back, coupled with a great defensive presence thus far, has largely been responsible for this resurgence. Ironically, the team looks like it's better off without 1st round draft pick Michael Crabtree, the wide receiver so many expected to change the face of this franchise.

Crabtree refused to play after becoming unhappy with the contract that another rookie wide receiver had been offered with the Raiders, and it looked as if the state of the 49ers was in disarray entering the season.

After that win at Arizona and another impressive win in week 2 against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, things are looking up for the San Francisco 49ers, and they're surprisingly leading the NFC West division after two weeks of football.

Is this just one of those fluke starts that we see a few teams pull off each year, or are the San Francisco 49ers the real deal in 2009?

Enjoy an awesome San Francisco 49ers forum, at RootZoo Sports, home to the best sports forum online.