Now, the 49ers kind of wish they would have passed on Crabtree as well. The rookie, who hasn’t even played in an NFL game yet, is demanding a larger contract since he should have went higher in the draft. In fact, the Crabtree camp says that this college star is prepared to sit out 2009 and enter the 2010 draft, rather than sign the current offered contract.

The Raiders have offered Heyward-Bey a $23.5 million contract. Crabtree wants more. This is an innovative idea – to challenge the rookie salary tradition based on what he deems as a mistake another team made by picking another draftee.

Whether or not Crabtree is better than Heyward-Bey, or at least, was better in college, is a moot point. The fact of the matter is that the Raiders thought he was better for their team. And the 49ers shouldn’t be forced to pay for that decision. Crabtree is already getting tens of millions of dollars, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll succeed in the professional world. Many college players go bust in the NFL.

In my opinion, rookies shouldn’t get the salaries they do. The entire salary system benefits rookies, leaving less money to reward the players who have put in years of hard work and have proven their talent and skill. I guess this is an argument for another day.

You know what, though? I hope they let Crabtree sit out. If he’s really worth more money, they’ll give him more money after they see him play. He’s being a whiny jerk right now, and he needs to be knocked down a few notches. So yeah, I hope they deny him the extra money, that he enters the 2010 draft, and that he doesn’t go until much later than the top ten.

Image via WikiCommons.

Post from: EveryJoe

Michael Crabtree Makes Demands

Graham Harrell, Image: Newscom

This week, though, Harrell announced that there would be football in his future. He’ll get the chance to prove people wrong as he plays with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL, whose season has already started.

Good luck, Harrell. Personally, I hope that he rocks the hell out of the CFL and eventually comes back to the states to play in the NFL. I think he got a bad rap from the start and really does have personal talent. I guess we’ll see.

Post from: EveryJoe

Graham Harrell to Play in the CFL

Image: Newscom

Dr. Paul Pepe, head of Dallas EMS, says that no one is in a life-threatening situation right now. Names haven’t been announced for the most part, but the most serious injuries were someone with head trama, someone with an open leg racture, and someone who was impaled with falling metal. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis also broke his back.

There were 27 new players working out when the roof collapsed. Others in the building included coaches and members of the media. Among the players drafted that were probably working out at the minicamp includ the following players:

• Jason Williams, Western Illinois
• Robert Brewster, Ball State
• Stephen McGee, Texas A&M
• Victor Butler, Oregon State
• Brandon Williams, Texas Tech,
• DeAngelo Smith, Cincinnati
• Michael Hamlin, Clemson
• David Buehler, USC
• Stephen Hodge, TCU
• John Phillips, Virginia
• Mike Michens, Cincinnati
• Manuel Johnson, Oklahoma

Other undrafted players who have been confirmed or rumored to be working out with the Cowboys:

• Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State
• Kevin Ogletree, Virginia
• Julian Hawkins, Boise St
• Greg Isdaner, West Virginia
• Mike Turkovich, Notre Dame
• Asaph Schwapp, Notre Dame
• Jamar Hunt, UTEP

Again, nothing is confirmed – these are just players that could have potentially been there.

Any news, I’ll update.

Post from: EveryJoe

Newly Drafted Cowboys Hurt During Collapse

Baltimore Ravens

• Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
• Paul Kruger, OLB, Utah
• Lardarius Webb, CB, Nicholls State
• Jason Phillips, ILB, TCU
• Davon Drew, TE, East Carolina
• Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia

Buffalo Bills

• Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
• Eric Wood, C, Louisville
• Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon
• Andrew Levitre, OG, Oregon State
• Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
• Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma
• Cary Harris, CB, USC
• Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia

I’ll have these lists updated here soon:

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Tennessee Titans

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 Draft by NFL Team (AFC)

Matt Stafford, now a Detroit Lion. Image: Newscom

Arizona Cardinals

• Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
• Cody Brown, OLB, Connecticut
• Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
• Gregory Toler, CB, St. Paul’s College
• Herman Johnson, OG, LSU
• Will Davis, DE, Illinois
• LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, Pittsburgh
• Trevor Canfield, OG, Cincinnati

Atlanta Falcons

• Peria Jerr, DT, Ole Miss
• William More, S, Missouri
• Chris Owens, CB, San Jose State
• Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Richmond
• William Middleton, CB Furman
• Garrett Reynolds, OT, UNC
• Spencer Adkins, ILB, Miami
• Vance Walker, DT Georgia Tech

Carolina Panthers

• Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
• Sherrod Martin, CB, Troy State
• Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
• Mike Goodson, RB, Texas A&M
• Tony Fiammetta, FB, Syracuse
• Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
• Captain Munnerlyn, CB, South Carolina

Chicago Bears

• Jarron Gilbert, DT, San Jose State
• Juanquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
• Henry Melton, DE, Texas
• D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
• Johnny Knox, WR, Ab Christian
• Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State
• Al Afalava, S, Oregon State
• Lance Louis, OG, San Diego State
• Derek Kinder, WR, Pittsburgh

Dallas Cowboys

• Jason Williams, OLB, Western Illinois
• Robert Brewster, OT, Ball State
• Stephen McGee, QB, Texas A&M
• Victor Butler, OLB, Oregon State
• Brandon Williams, DE, Texas Tech
• DeAngelo Smith, CB, Cincinnatti
• Michael Hamlin, S, Clemson
• David Buehler, K, USC
• Stephen HOdge, OLB, TCU
• John Phillips, TE, Virginia
• Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnatti
• Manuel Johnson, WR, Oklahoma

Detroit Lions

• Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
• Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
• Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan
• DeAndre Levy, OLB, Wisconsin
• Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State
• Sammie Lee Hll, DT, Stillman
• Aaron Brown, RB, TCU
• Lydon Murtha, OT, Nebraska
• Zach Follett, OLB, California
• Dan Gronkowski, TE, Maryland

Green Bay Packers

• B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
• Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
• T.J. Lang, OT, Eastern Michigan
• Quinn Johnson, FB, LSU
• Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina
• Jarius Wynn, DE, Georgia
• Brandon Underwood, CB, Cincinnatti
• Brad Jones, OLB, Colorado

Minnesota Vikings

• Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
• Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
• Asher Allen, CB, Georgia
• Jasper Brnkley, ILB, South Carolina
• Jamarca Sanford, S, Ole Miss

New Orleans Saints

• Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
• Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest
• Stanley Arnoux, ILB, Wake Forest
• Thomas Morstead, P, Southern Methodist

New York Giants

• Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC
• Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
• William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
• Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly
• Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
• Andre Brown, RB, NC State
• Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston
• DeAndre Wright, CB, New Mexico
• Stoney Woodson, CB, South Carolina

Philadelphia Eagles

• Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
• LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
• Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida
• Victor Harris, CB, Virgnia Tech
• Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon
• Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State
• Paul Fanaika, OG, Arizona State
• Moise Fokou, OLB, Maryland

San Francisco 49ers

• Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
• Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama
• Scott McKillop, ILB, Pittsburg
• Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
• Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
• Curts Taylor, S, LSU
• Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU

Seattle Seahawks

• Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
• Max Unger, C, Oregon
• Deon Butler, WR, Penn State
• Mike Teel, QB, Rutgers
• Courtney Green, S, Rutgers
• Nick Reed, DE, Oregon
• Carmeron Morrah, TE, California

St. Louis Rams

• Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
• James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
• Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa
• Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson
• Brooks Foster, WR, UNC
• Keith Null, QB, Wst Texas A&M
• Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Texas

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
• Roy Miller, DT, Texas
• Kyle Moore, DE, USC
• Xaver Fulton, OT, Illinois
• Edjuan Biggers, CB, Western Michigan
• Sammie Stroughter, WR, Oregon

Washington Redskins

• Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
• Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland
• Cody Glenn, OLB, Newbraska
• Robert Neson, ILB, TCU
• Eddie Williams, FB, Idaho
• Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 Draft by NFL Team (NFC)

1. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia to the Detroit Lions
2. Jason Smith, Offensive Tackle, Baylor to the St. Louis Rams
3. Tyson Jackson, Defensive Tackle, LSU to the Kansas City Chiefs
4. Aaron Curry, Linebacker, Wake Forest to the Seattle Seahawks
5. Mark Sanchez, Quarterback, USC to the New York Jets
6. Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, Alabama to the Cincinnati Bengals
7. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver, Maryland to the Oakland Raiders
8. Eugene Monroe, Offensive Tackle, Virginia to the Jacksonville Jaguars
9. B.J. Raji, Defensive Tackle, Boston College to the Green Bay Packers
10. Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver, Texas Tech to San Francisco

My thoughts on #6 through #10? Well, Andre Smith is a solid choice, but I definitely quest Darrius Heyward-Bey at #7. With Michael Crabtree still on the board? The Raiders are waaaaaay too concerned about 40 times. Actually, though, the Crabtree family seemed kind of relieved that he didn’t go to Oakland (I can’t blame them). San Francisco is a MUCH better place to play, though it stinks that he had to wait so long to be drafted. That’s gotta be nerve-wracking.

Monroe at eighth is good. I think he’ll fit in well at Jacksonville. And I’m glad that the whole drug thing didn’t hurt B.J. Raji. It stinks that someone made up that rumor. Crabtree at 10? That’s amazing value at #10. The stars didn’t align for him with needs and Oakland is stupid, but Crabtree really is a top three value.

I’m drafted-out for now. I love college football, but man, it starts to get boring after the top ten. I’m excited to see where Aaron Maybin ends up – he’s probably the best Penn State player up for draftin’ this year. That’s about it though. I’ll post the whole first round later today, so check back!

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 NFL Draft: Top Ten

Image: Newscom

#5 2009 Draft Pick – Mark Sanchez, Quarterback, USC

I think that happiness will die quickly. Sanchez might prove me wrong, but they really need a franchise quarterback. This is a tough, tough, tough place for him to be. The Jets are the only team in their division without a great quarterback…and I think they needed someone much stronger than Sanchez. I mean, hell, he’s only played what, 16 games?

Sanchez says that he wanted to be with the Jets. If that’s true, he wouldn’t have looked so disappointed when Jason Smith was chosen… Just a thought.

Well, I wish him well. I still think he’s not as great of a player was some people think. When he was picked, a friend of mine texted me “Why doesn’t ESPN just blow Sanchez already?” It’s true. They GUSHED over him. Mark Sanchez, prove me wrong. Please. Or New York will rip you to pieces.

Here are other draft picks:

1. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia to the Detroit Lions

2. Jason Smith, Offensive Tackle, Baylor to the St. Louis Rams

3. Tyson Jackson, Defensive Tackle, LSU to the Kansas City Chiefs

4. Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest to the Seattle Seahawks

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 NFL Draft: Jets Pick Mark Sanchez

Image: Newscom

#4 2009 Draft Pick – Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

Let’s talk about his abilities though – he’s solid. I agree with what the experts have been saying – he may not be a play-maker who’s in the news all the time, but he’s going to fill holes. He’s going to creep in there and save plays that could be disasters otherwise. He’s going to be a lifer in the NFL, I think.

Here are other draft picks:

1. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia to the Detroit Lions

2. Jason Smith, Offensive Tackle, Baylor to the St. Louis Rams

3. Tyson Jackson, Defensive Tackle, LSU to the Kansas City Chiefs

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 NFL Draft: Seahawks Pick Aaron Curry

Image: Newscom

#2 2009 Draft Pick – Jason Smith, Tackle, Baylor to the St. Louis Rams

He’s great at what he does, and he really has the potential to be a 10-year starter for the Rams. Of course, it means that they still have a “meh” quarterback. They have a LOT of money invested in Mark Bulger, though – and he’s the happiest guy in the room right now, I guarantee it. Actually, with some strong offensive players protecting him, Bulger might be able to stand out more. And if he doesn’t? The quarterback talent next year will be crazy and the Rams will have a top pick again, so they’ll be able to take someone awesome.

I like Jason Smith to the Rams. How about you?

Here are other draft picks:

1. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgie to the Detroit Lions

Post from: EveryJoe

#2 2009 NFL Draft: Rams Pick Jason Smith

1. Detroit Lions – Larry Fitzgerald, WR
2. St. Louis Rams – Peyton Manning, QB
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Tom Brady, QB
4. Seattle Seahawks – Matt Ryan, QB
5. Cleveland Browns – DeMarcus Ware, OLB
6. Cincinnati Bengals – Ben Roethlisberger, QB
7. Oakland Raiders – Chris Johnson, RB
8. Jacksonville Jaquars – Alber Haynesworth, DT
9. Green Bay Packers – Joe Thomas, OT
10. San Francisco 49ers – Adrian Peterson, RB

It’s interesting that he things the Lions would pick someone other than a quarterback. But, as he says…they ARE the Lions!

You can read the full list, along with explanations, here.

Image via WikiCommons.

Post from: EveryJoe

Mock Draft – with NFL Players!