Oakland Raiders: 6 Players Who Should Become Ex-Raiders This Offseason

Michael Crabtree

Since he arrived in Oakland, Crabtree has seemingly been the model citizen and has become a bit of a security blanket for Carr. And together with Amari Cooper, he’s formed one of the most potent and lethal 1-2 combinations in the entire league.

That lethality took a huge step back this season as Carr and the offense as a whole regressed to a shadow of its former self. Crabtree though, still led the team in receptions (58), was second in receiving yards with 618, and led the team in touchdowns with eight.

Over his three seasons in Oakland, Crabtree has put together a very solid body of work – 2,543 yards on 232 receptions, and 25 touchdowns. His tenure in Oakland has been very productive, to say the least.

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However, this past season, the bloom came off the rose a bit as Crabtree showed himself to be less than that model citizen he has been, when facing some adversity.

First, there continues to be the running skirmish with Denver safety Aqib Talib. All of the chain-snatching, groin-punching, and haymaker-swinging between the two finally led the league to drop a two-game ban on both Crabtree and Talib – though, they did appeal and had their suspension reduced to a single game.

But still, Crabtree has shown some difficulty in controlling his emotions this year and a penchant for doing stupid things that put his team in a bad position. Sulking and pouting about his diminished role – hey, everybody’s role was diminished in this go-nowhere offense designed by Todd Downing – Crabtree eventually quit on his team.

That’s right, he quit on his team. It was reported that he pulled himself out of the final game of the year against the Chargers for a non-injury related reason.

That, if true, is unforgivable. The team may have been getting blown out, but to quit on your teammates is a cardinal sin and one that he can’t come back from.

Add to that, the overwhelming belief that Crabtree is one of the “not great people” in the locker room referenced by Raiders radio man Greg Papa, and it would seem to lead to the inescapable conclusion that Crabtree’s time in Oakland is done.

The team, with no dead money against them, will be able to shed Crabtree’s $8 million dollar salary in 2018 and find somebody younger – somebody who won’t quit on his teammates.