Wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s entry into free agency was not met with a rush of interest from around the league.
Crabtree’s market developed slowly and it wasn’t a particularly robust one once teams started turning interest in his direction. Crabtree wound up signing a one-year, $1.3 million deal with the Raiders and Crabtree is aware of the meaning of the way things played out.
“I have a lot to prove,” Crabtree said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “A lot to prove. Ain’t got nothing to lose and have a lot to prove.”
Crabtree also said that he’s feeling healthier than he has for the last couple of seasons and took issue with those who took issue with his attitude while he was with the 49ers, saying it is “just talk” that he’s been a less than ideal teammate over the years. Given the persistence of such talk, that’s something else that Crabtree will have to prove this year with Oakland.
Should everything go right, Crabtree should find a warmer response from the market next year but more of the same will provide the opposite proof of Crabtree’s NFL standing.
