Michael Crabtree is making a mistake with his protracted holdout, because he’s wrecking his rookie year.

This isn’t really about money for Crabtree, a Dallas Carter High School graduate and former Texas Tech star who should be playing for San Francisco in a preseason game against the Cowboys on Saturday night.
It’s all about ego.
Understand, athletes with egos don’t bother me. We all have egos. Anyone who’s ever succeeded at the highest level has a large ego.
But Crabtree’s ego is doing more harm than good.
He thinks — and I agree — that he was the best receiver in last April’s draft, but Oakland drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick in the first round.
Who knows why the Raiders make the decisions they do these days, but that’s what Al Davis did. Crabtree fell to the 10th, which is still pretty good, considering he didn’t participate in the combine because of a foot injury.
The problem is that
Crabtree wants to be paid more than Heyward-Bey because he believes — again, I agree — that’s he’s a better player.
Well, that’s just silly.
It’s not the way the league’s slotting system for paying rookies works — and the 49ers have no interest in breaking the system and creating a precedent for players.
Eventually, Crabtree is going to sign a contract worth more than that of the 11th pick and less than that of the ninth pick.
For now, he sits.
In the process, he’s ruining any chance to be an impact player this season.
That’s because rookie receivers are learning a new playbook as well as two or three positions. They’re trying to decipher the complex coverages they’re seeing for the first time against the biggest, fastest and most physical cornerbacks they’ve ever seen.
If Crabtree were a running back, it wouldn’t be a big deal, because that’s an instinctive position. Freshman running backs can thrive in college, and rookie runners regularly dominate the NFL.
They’re doing what they’ve always done — take a handoff, find a hole and make folks miss.
Aside from quarterback, receiver is the hardest position for rookies to succeed.
In the last 10 years, more than 300 wide receivers have been drafted. Only 10 have caught at least 50 passes in their rookie year. Only Randy Moss, Marques Colston, Anquan Boldin and Michael Clayton have gained more than 1,000 yards. Only Moss has scored at least 10 TDs.
I expected Crabtree to join them.
Not anymore.
Not now.
He’s missed too many training camp practices, and he has no rapport with new starter Shaun Hill.
And he couldn’t possibly be in football shape. You never train as hard when you’re being trained by someone you’re paying as opposed to your strength and conditioning coach.
Now do you understand why Crabtree should hurry and get a deal done?
Of course, Crabtree won’t agree. Neither will Eugene Parker, his well-respected agent.
That, however, is the reality of his situation.
Let me tell you one other thing: This isn’t the contract over which Crabtree needs to draw a line in the sand.
What he’s going to get now is chump change compared to the deal he’s going to secure if he’s the star he should become. This five-year deal is the one players use to buy Mom and Dad a house and take care of their siblings and any other relatives.
This is the money they use to buy themselves a mansion, several fast cars and whatever diamond- and platinum-encrusted bling makes their heart pound. This is the money they use on $3,000 suits and $1,000 shoes before they figure out $1,200 suits and $300 shoes look and wear just as well.
It’s the second contract that sets an NFL player up for life. The quicker he agrees to a deal with the 49ers, the faster he’ll get to a huge payday.