Post by scorpion42 on Sept 22, 2009 14:34:32 GMT -7
Jets accused of tampering with 49ers' first-round pick Michael Crabtree
BY Gary Myers and Rich Cimini
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
Monday, September 21st 2009, 4:00 AM
assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/09/21/alg_49ers_michael_crabtree.jpg
If the Jets tampered with 49ers' first-round pick Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech, that wouldn't be a laughing matter.
Sakuma/AP
The Jets' long-running pursuit of a high-profile wide receiver could land them in hot water with the NFL.
The 49ers, embroiled in an acrimonious contract dispute with rookie receiver Michael Crabtree, have filed tampering charges against the Jets, sources told the Daily News. The Jets, through a team spokesman, denied the allegations.
Although the specifics aren't known, it's not hard to connect the dots. Crabtree, the 10th overall pick in the draft, is threatening to sit out the season and reenter the draft in 2010. The 49ers may believe the Jets contacted Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, to let him know they'd be interested in trading for his rights, or in drafting him in 2010 with a better salary than the 49ers are offering. The NFL's trade deadline is Oct.20, while the 49ers must either sign Crabtree by Nov.19, or surrender his rights, putting him back into the draft pool for 2010.
Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, approached after yesterday's 16-9 win over the Patriots, declined to comment. Tannenbaum has a good relationship with Parker. In 1998, they collaborated on a complicated offer sheet that helped pry Curtis Martin, then a restricted free agent, away from the Patriots.
Teams can be fined money and/or docked draft picks if found guilty of tampering.
In 2006, the Patriots filed charges against the Jets for allegedly tampering with wide receiver Deion Branch, who was on the trading block. The league investigated the claim and wound up exonerating the Jets.
Just recently, the Broncos reportedly were concerned that the Jets had tampered with Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The Jets were interested in trading for the disgruntled Marshall, who told the Broncos he wanted to be traded if he didn't receive a new contract. The Broncos never filed formal charges. Marshall, after serving a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, is back with Denver.
This last week was a rough one off the field for the Jets, who were hit hard by the league for failing to report Brett Favre's arm injury last season. The club was fined $75,000, with Tannenbaum and then-coach Eric Mangini getting docked $25,000 apiece.
The Jets are infatuated with big-name receivers. Before the draft, they reached out to Plaxico Burress' agent, when the former Giant's gun charges still were pending. During the draft, they tried to trade up for Percy Harvin, who went to the Vikings.
The Jets loved Crabtree in the draft. He was projected to go higher than 10th, but a pre-draft foot injury probably hurt his stock.
Crabtree was the second receiver selected, behind Darrius Heyward-Bey, a surprise choice of the Raiders at No. 7 overall. Heyward-Bey received a contract with $23.5 million in guarantees, and Crabtree is demanding at least that much.
Read more: www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/09/21/2009-09-21_jets_accused_of_tampering.html#ixzz0RsDdJKJE
BY Gary Myers and Rich Cimini
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
Monday, September 21st 2009, 4:00 AM
assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/09/21/alg_49ers_michael_crabtree.jpg
If the Jets tampered with 49ers' first-round pick Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech, that wouldn't be a laughing matter.
Sakuma/AP
The Jets' long-running pursuit of a high-profile wide receiver could land them in hot water with the NFL.
The 49ers, embroiled in an acrimonious contract dispute with rookie receiver Michael Crabtree, have filed tampering charges against the Jets, sources told the Daily News. The Jets, through a team spokesman, denied the allegations.
Although the specifics aren't known, it's not hard to connect the dots. Crabtree, the 10th overall pick in the draft, is threatening to sit out the season and reenter the draft in 2010. The 49ers may believe the Jets contacted Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, to let him know they'd be interested in trading for his rights, or in drafting him in 2010 with a better salary than the 49ers are offering. The NFL's trade deadline is Oct.20, while the 49ers must either sign Crabtree by Nov.19, or surrender his rights, putting him back into the draft pool for 2010.
Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, approached after yesterday's 16-9 win over the Patriots, declined to comment. Tannenbaum has a good relationship with Parker. In 1998, they collaborated on a complicated offer sheet that helped pry Curtis Martin, then a restricted free agent, away from the Patriots.
Teams can be fined money and/or docked draft picks if found guilty of tampering.
In 2006, the Patriots filed charges against the Jets for allegedly tampering with wide receiver Deion Branch, who was on the trading block. The league investigated the claim and wound up exonerating the Jets.
Just recently, the Broncos reportedly were concerned that the Jets had tampered with Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The Jets were interested in trading for the disgruntled Marshall, who told the Broncos he wanted to be traded if he didn't receive a new contract. The Broncos never filed formal charges. Marshall, after serving a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, is back with Denver.
This last week was a rough one off the field for the Jets, who were hit hard by the league for failing to report Brett Favre's arm injury last season. The club was fined $75,000, with Tannenbaum and then-coach Eric Mangini getting docked $25,000 apiece.
The Jets are infatuated with big-name receivers. Before the draft, they reached out to Plaxico Burress' agent, when the former Giant's gun charges still were pending. During the draft, they tried to trade up for Percy Harvin, who went to the Vikings.
The Jets loved Crabtree in the draft. He was projected to go higher than 10th, but a pre-draft foot injury probably hurt his stock.
Crabtree was the second receiver selected, behind Darrius Heyward-Bey, a surprise choice of the Raiders at No. 7 overall. Heyward-Bey received a contract with $23.5 million in guarantees, and Crabtree is demanding at least that much.
Read more: www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/09/21/2009-09-21_jets_accused_of_tampering.html#ixzz0RsDdJKJE