Crabtree has more catches than Heyward-Bey already
When he made Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey (DHB) the first WR drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, the P.T. Barnum of the NFL, simultaneously -- and indirectly -- gave the team across the bay both a gift and a headache.
Davis loves receivers who can run -- not necessarily those who can catch.
Heading into week seven, Heyward-Bey had only two receptions for 19 yards. In fact, his long reception is 20 yards. That, in turn, means that his short (for lack of a better word) reception was for -1 yard. So, technically, his production would be better if he only had one catch.
Michael Crabtree, the two-time Fred Biletnikoff winner, wanted DHB-type money. He didn't get it. But the 49ers eventually signed him and he played his first NFL game today (in week 7).
Crabtree finished with five catches and 56 yards.
As David White of the San Francisco Chronicle points out, Crabtree exceeded DHB's production by the third quarter of Crabtree's debut.
So unless DHB triples his 2009 output (to six catches for 57 yards), he will trail a guy -- who was a "lower" draft pick and has only played one game -- in both receptions and receiving yards.
Davis loves receivers who can run -- not necessarily those who can catch.
Heading into week seven, Heyward-Bey had only two receptions for 19 yards. In fact, his long reception is 20 yards. That, in turn, means that his short (for lack of a better word) reception was for -1 yard. So, technically, his production would be better if he only had one catch.
Michael Crabtree, the two-time Fred Biletnikoff winner, wanted DHB-type money. He didn't get it. But the 49ers eventually signed him and he played his first NFL game today (in week 7).
Crabtree finished with five catches and 56 yards.
As David White of the San Francisco Chronicle points out, Crabtree exceeded DHB's production by the third quarter of Crabtree's debut.
So unless DHB triples his 2009 output (to six catches for 57 yards), he will trail a guy -- who was a "lower" draft pick and has only played one game -- in both receptions and receiving yards.
