Prima donnas are what’s wrong with pro sports

I can’t think of a better example of what’s wrong with professional sports today than Michael Crabtree threatening to hold out for the entire season and re-enter the NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers made the former Texas Tech wide receiver the 10th overall selection in April’s draft, but have barely seen or heard from him since.

The fact is, it’s all about money.

The 49ers have offered Crabtree a five-year, $20 million contract with a reported $16 million guaranteed, but apparently that’s just not good enough.

Crabtree may have finished his career with the Red Raiders with 41 touchdown receptions, but that was college and this is the NFL. They are as different as day and night.

Just look at how many great college players have fizzled out as soon as they step onto an NFL field. Names like Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams are just a few that come to mind.

With so many top picks falling by the wayside, it amazes me that NFL rookies are still getting humungous contracts based solely on what they might be able to accomplish.

What ever happened to earning your money instead of pouting like a disgruntled toddler when you don’t get your way?

The infuriating thing about the Crabtree situation is that he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. His argument hasn’t been that he’s worth more than the 49ers are offering, it’s simply that he wants to keep up with the players drafted before him.

To me, it makes sense that guys drafted in the top nine picks should get larger rookie contracts than the 10th selection, but just try convincing Crabtree of that.

He can’t get over the fact that the Raiders gave Darrius Heyward-Bey (7th overall pick) $23.5 million guaranteed and the Jaguars gave Eugene Monroe (8th overall) $25 million with $19 million guaranteed.

In a way, I can understand Crabtree’s frustration. He was touted as the best receiver in the country all season and was believed to be a lock to be the top wideout taken in the draft, but that didn’t happen.

Raiders owner Al Davis — in all of his infinite insanity — shocked the world by making Heyward-Bey the first receiver drafted. But now, with the former Maryland speedster on the field and Crabtree God only knows where, I’m starting to think Davis may be more of an evil genius than a crazy old kook.

Even 49ers legend Jerry Rice —widely believed to be the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game — called Crabtree out, saying he doesn’t think the spoiled brat will have much of an impact this season even if he does sign.

If that doesn’t shake Crabtree out of his greedy stupor I don’t know what will.

Crabtree needs to realize that he’s only 22-years-old and as long as he earns it, $16 million will seem like a drop in a bucket compared to the contract the 49ers will offer once his rookie deal runs out.

This is just another example of how professional sports have become nothing more than big business and athletes only care about themselves instead of what’s best for the team.

Have we really forgotten that football is the ultimate team sport?

People in the real world would give just about anything to earn a fraction of the contract Crabtree has been offered, and at this point I hope the 49ers don’t sign him so some other poor franchise has the pleasure of dealing with the ultimate professional prima donna.