Report: Niners accuse Jets of tampering

<p>SANTA CLARA — Within minutes after Deion Sanders’ Sept.4 appearance on NFL Network to talk about Michael Crabtree, the 49ers began considering the ramifications of his comments.</p><p>“Two teams have contacted the San Francisco 49ers desiring a trade and will pay this kid, and he knows that,” said Sanders, an analyst on NFL Network who has known Crabtree for years and serves as a mentor.</p><p>That bit of information caught the attention of the 49ers, who were preparing for their final exhibition game in San Diego later that evening.</p><p>“If that’s true, how is that not tampering?” a 49ers source asked.</p><p>After all, if Crabtree knows there is at least one team out there willing to pay him the kind of money he desires — and has been unable to wrangle from the 49ers — it would suggest there has been improper contact between the parties.</p><p>According to a report in the New York Daily News, the 49ers believe the Jets are one of the teams that tampered with their unsigned draft pick. The 49ers have reportedly filed tampering charges with the NFL, the paper reported.</p><p>“That’s something the league is going to handle internally, and I’m not going to get into that,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. “We’ll let that play out.”</p><p>The Jets have denied the charges, and coach Rex Ryan called the allegations “ridiculous” on ESPN Radio. “We’ll let the NFL figure that one out,” Ryan said. “I think it’s ridiculous, personally. ... I wish we were playing them (the 49ers).”</p><p>Later, Ryan told reporters, “My understanding is they filed charges with the league. I’m saying my response is it’s not true. I mean, it’s not accurate. It’s not true, but, hey, we’ll let the league figure this out.”</p><p>A league spokesman said Monday the NFL will not comment on any investigation into violations of the anti-tampering policy. Earlier this month, the league dismissed questions about tampering, saying the matter was between the 49ers and Crabtree.</p><p>The 49ers were punished in 2008 when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ruled the organization violated the league’s policy when it allegedly contacted the agent for Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs during the season.</p><p>The 49ers were penalized a fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft. They also had to swap spots in the third round with the Bears. The 49ers originally had the seventh pick in that round. But the Bears assumed that slot, while the 49ers moved back five positions.</p><p>General manager Scot McCloughan publicly disagreed with Goodell’s ruling at the time the punishment was handed down in March 2008.</p><p>“This was not a malicious act,” he said. “We believe that our intent was within the NFL guidelines.”</p><p>Crabtree’s contract impasse reached its 56th day on Monday. He has missed four exhibition games and the first two regular-season games. If Crabtree does not sign by Nov.17, he will be ineligible to play in the NFL this season.</p><p>The deadline has passed for teams to trade unsigned draft picks. If Crabtree does not sign this season, the 49ers can retain his rights until the 2010 draft. They would have a seven-week window to trade him, beginning March5. If he is not traded, he would re-enter the draft. The 49ers would be prohibited from drafting him again.</p><p>Singletary said he still wants Crabtree on the 49ers this season.</p><p>“I think we need every football player that can help us win that’s supposed to be here,” he said. “As I’ve said before, I think he’s a talented guy. Hopefully it works out so he gets here. If it doesn’t, I feel confident with what we have.</p><p>“As we go forward, I think we’re going to need all the football players we can get. I’m never going to be prideful enough to stand back and say, ‘We don’t need him.’”</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p>