I just finished reading an article by Gregg Easterbrook on ESPN.com that suggested that Michael Crabtree could be a key reason why the Niners have been struggling to win lately. By reading his article, it only confirmed something that I believed about Crabtree prior to him signing with the Niners. What I am referring to is the attitude that Crabtree possesses and how it does not fit with what Mike Singletary is trying to preach to his young team about team unity. 
Crabtree’s me-first attitude is not something that makes him a bad person, but personally, I think that it does hurt a football team, especially when it is as young, fragile, and impressionable as the Niners are. This team needs to have leaders with the right mindset if they want to succeed, and I feel that their head coach does have that. However, a player like Crabtree, who is a leader because of his natural talents, does not. Crabtree can have a surprisingly big impact on a team like San Francisco even though he is only a rookie. Because he fills a position that they are clearly weak at, suddenly his production is counted on, and he becomes a player who holds a lot of power in the locker room and on the field.
This position of power is very dangerous if it is in the wrong person’s hands, and I think it is with Crabtree. To me, giving a guy like Crabtree that kind of power is like giving an infant nuclear weaponry; it’s just not safe. The Niners would be a lot better off with a receiver who can lead by example, and maybe has a little less talent than Crabtree. Many people might not think so, but attitude is very important. It can pull teams apart, and it is bigger than statistics. If you don’t believe it, just look at TO’s amazing statistics and no Super Bowls.
If you look at this team prior to Crabtree signing, they are a Brett Favre miracle away from a 4-0 record. Now granted, they have had a tough schedule of games since he signed, but something definitely seems to be missing that was there before. Whether it is all Crabtree or even some Crabtree is still up for debate, but the fact remains: The Niners have fallen fast since he’s gotten there.
Filed under: NFL
