My Crystall Ball

The week that was in the NFL.
I have had a really great time watching my Niners play tough, Fhysical (physical with an F) football.
Forty Niner fans seem to be coming out of the woodwork here in the SF Bay Area.
It’s been a long time since the 49ers elicited this kind of enthusiasm.

Michael Crabtree

The big news this week was the end of Michael Crabtree’s holdout.
The young wide receiver held out for 72 days. He lost not only 4 weeks pay, but a chance to work out with his team and learn how to become an NFL wide receiver.
There are those who say he was being selfish. That he was just another example of the diva mentaility shown by some wide receivers. I suspect he was being given advise by people who told him to wait for a better deal.

Why did Crabtree end his holdout?
Could it be because he saw that the Niners were not going to cave?
Could it be because he realized that he would either have to accept their offer or sit out the year?

The Jets and Cowboys were rumored to be prepared to offer him twice as much as the Niners were offering him.
But as they say, put up or shut up.
The Niners refused to be coerced. I applaud them for that.

It is also possible that as he sat at home watching the Niners play tough football it dawned on him that they could win without him and therefore no better deal was coming his way.
 
The Niners will be patient and give him time to learn and develop.
It doesn’t hurt that Mike Singletary has created a true team atmosphere, preaching family and doling out tough love to his players.

Crabtree will slowly be worked into the rotation by the Niners.
The team seems to be headed towards a playoff. If they get there it will be the first time in seven years.
Niner fans definitely have the seven year playoff itch.

They will get there with our without Crabtree.
By playoff time Crabtree will be able to make a contribution to the Niners.
He will also have learned an important and basic  lesson.
You have to prove yourself before you make demands.

There are other great stories in the NFL.
The 4-0 Broncos. After what appeared to be a dysfunctional and chaotic off season for the Broncos and Josh McDaniels, the team is leading the league in defense, and Kyle Orton is doing the job Jay Cutler was supposed to do.
The J-E-T-S, rookie Mark Sanchez, first year head coach Rex Ryan and the Jets defense are playing great football.
The G-Men look like the toughest team in the league.
The Vikings and old man Favre.
The Colts at 4-0.

These are the happy teams, the not so happy teams are:
The Titans
The Panthers
The Cowboys
The Dolphins
The Cardinals
The Seahawks
The Raiders
The Rams
I am not about to shed a tear for any of these teams.
It’s football baby!

My week four record was a miserable 8-6. My season record is 40-22.

I hope to redeem myself this week.

NFL Picks Week Five

Giants over the Raiders
Niners over the Falcons
Vikings over the Rams
Panthers over the Redskins
Eagles over the Bucs
Bills over the Browns
Ravens over the Bengals
Steelers over the Lions
Broncos over the Patriots
Cardinals over the Texans
Jaguars over the Seahawks
Colts over the Titans
Jets over the Dolphins