The Michael Crabtree free agency saga has come to a screeching halt tonight. According to multiple sources, the Raiders are close to signing 49ers wideout before the end of today. Details of the contract are still unknown, but Crabtree ends his 6 year tenure with the Niners. Selected 10th overall by the Niners, Crabtree only recorded one 1,000 yards receiving season in 2012 and after that, he's been hampered by an achilles injury that limited his production for the past two seasons.
Full article: http://www.csnbayarea.com/raiders/source-raiders-set-sign-wr-michael-crabtree
Comment: Five letters to describe this signing: I-R-O-N-Y. Let's rewind back prior to the 2009 NFL draft where the Raiders were projected to select either between Jeremy Maclin or Michael Crabtree. According to some stories, Crabtree disrespected Al Davis during pre-draft and that lead the Raiders to surprisingly draft Darrius Heyward-Bey and when the Raiders passed up on Crabtree, he and his family breathe a sigh of relief because clearly Crabtree didn't want to play for the Raiders. Just a little story right there and Raider Nation has held a grudge on Crabtree since then. We've been calling him "Wacktree" or "Craptree," etc. He was the main target of Richard Sherman's infamous postgame rant in which Sherman called him a "sorry receiver." I actually don't know what to say, I was pretty leery of the Raiders signing him due to his primadona attitude and he might be in it for the money rather than contribute to the team. What this means though is that the receiving corps is bolstered more when you have guys like Streater, Holmes, Jones, Butler, and add Crabtree to the list, it's a pretty productive receiving corps to help out Derek Carr. I'm still hoping we get a receiver either in the 1st or 2nd round. If Leonard Williams is gone, then Raiders should draft Amari Cooper or Kevin White. Crabtree's signing though likely signals the Raiders won't take a receiver that early in the first round and they're confident Williams will fall at number 4. We're still waiting on word for the contract details, but knowing McKenzie and his philosophy, it's going to be on a minimum "prove it" deal. This shows McKenzie is taking more risks late and hoping for a reward by seasons end. First, he signed T-Rich, who has the "bust" label on him and now he's signing another who has character issues and a "me first" guy in Crabtree. Only time will tell how well he performs before he can receive penance from the Raider Nation. If he screws up that locker room or shoots on the Raiders again, then yes cut him.
CONTRACT DETAILS: 1 year $3.2 million deal <= As expected, incentive-based, risk-reward contract. Welcome to the Raider Nation Crabtree!
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