I was wondering if he was really planning to hold out for the season. I really don't think it could have done anything to help him.
From Jay Glazer @ Fox Sports
After a contract stalemate that has lasted four weeks into the NFL season, the 49ers have finally reached a deal with their first-round pick.
Michael Crabtree and the team agreed to a six-year deal early this morning, according to team sources. He and his agent had a face-to-face meeting Tuesday afternoon with 49ers vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe in the Bay area.
The team source told FOXSports.com "Crabtree finally signed."
The deal could void to five years if Crabtree has two very good years among his first four, otherwise he'll make just $4 million in the sixth year.
Sources told FOXSports.com that Eugene Parker, the agent for San Francisco's top draft pick and holdout Crabtree, had the meeting in an attempt to revive contract talks for the former Texas Tech wide receiver.
Team spokesman Bob Lange said the 49ers would not get into particulars of discussions or negotiations.
"The 49ers were pleased to meet with Michael and Eugene in person," Lange said.
The 22-year-old Crabtree hadn't accepted the 49ers' long-standing offer for approximately five years and $20 million with a reported $16 million guaranteed — instead seeking money comparable to the higher picks.
Despite plenty of pre-draft hype that billed Crabtree as a top-five talent, the wideout slid to the 49ers and the No. 10 overall pick in April's NFL Draft.
San Francisco needed to sign Crabtree by Nov. 17 for him to remain eligible to play this season. The team would have had a seven-week window before the 2010 draft to trade him if he didn't sign.
Crabtree's effectiveness this season will likely be limited because he missed all of training camp.
10-07-2009, 07:40 AM
