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Crabtree’s impact on the NFC West

I would guess it’s a good time to be a 49er, given that they are 3-1 and finally signed WR Michael Crabtree late last night. There’s no arguing that the Niners are a better team than before and, right now, have to be considered the favorites for the division. They have earned that right (although there is a long way to go and I’m in no way saying they will win the West — just that they have to be considered the favorite).

That said, I am very interested in seeing how Crabtree meshes. The guy hasn’t been a part of anything 49er since training camp opened in late July. He hasn’t been practicing, he hasn’t been learning, and as far as I can tell based on reports, it was hard to see if he even wanted to be in San Francisco. Heck, even today there was a report he reluctantly will take part in a press conference; I know this is the reporter in me, but, sorry, if you remain unsigned for months and it becomes a huge story, you don’t get to slide in the back door when you finally do sign and expect everyone to leave you alone.

That’ll be the part the Niners — and more importantly Crabtree — will have to deal with going forward. If Crabtree gets hurt, the holdout will be a big part of the story. If he does nothing, the holdout will be a big part of the story. About the only way this theme goes away quickly is if Crabtree walks in and stars immediately, and that’s not going to happen. Larry Fitzgerald — the man some have already compared Crabtree to — couldn’t do it (Anquan Boldin, on the other hand …) and Crabtree won’t either, especially after missing so much time.

I would doubt Crabtree will make a big difference, even by the time the Cards visit San Francisco Dec. 14. I am also guessing that, should Crabtree be playing by then, Fitzgerald and Boldin — and Steve Breaston, for that matter — will be looking to show exactly where he fits in the NFC West receiver pecking order, at least in 2009.