Sometimes the teams negotiating are just as much at fault as the agent, an AFC executive said. Conceptually, [pick protection] is a fair idea if the agent is holding an unfair gun to the head of the club. But the reality becomes, how do you determine that? Because there are some clubs that do some stupid [stuff] and arent negotiating in good faith. The bad faith negotiating happens on both sides of the ball. To me, the bigger problem lays in what has happened historically. This top 10 [financial] mess is a top-10 mess because agents have squeezed teams and teams have caved. Predecessors with organizations and clubs have had no [guts] whatsoever.
Another AFC executive echoed those sentiments that too many teams lack the intestinal fortitude to negotiate correctly.
Its spelled out very clearly for both parties, he said. If you dont sign with us, were out a player and you can move on with your life. And well give you a timetable of your life as a draft pick. Your money is there now and it will be decreased over time decreased, decreased and decreased. Thats it. Game on.
And thats how many executives feel the 49ers should be conducting themselves now with a defiant stance that forces Crabtree to follow through with his threat to re-enter the draft. Indeed, some say its a decision that should have been made before Crabtree was even selected at No. 10. Once he was available to San Francisco at that pick, executives suggest the franchise should have been prepared to make one of three decisions: draft him and walk away if he wouldnt sign for No. 10 money, draft him and overpay him, or pass on him and select another player.
Part of the art of the draft is making sure you pick the right guy, the aforementioned NFC general manager said. You owe it to the owner and the organization to pick the right guy in the right situation. Traditionalists are going to look at [Crabtree and his agent] and say You should have known with this guy. Just because hes the best player on the board at the time you pick, you cant just throw caution to the wind and say well, well be the one to change him.