–Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, cut by the Raiders when they signed free agent Jordy Nelson, is in Baltimore awaiting this week’s visit by his former team. The former No. 10 overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers spent the last three years with Oakland.
In 2016, he caught a career-high 89 passes for 1,003 yards, but last year he and quarterback Derek Carr did not seem in synch and Crabtree caught only 58 passes (of 101 targets). By the end of the season there were rumors that Carr and Crabtree were not on speaking terms.
For whatever reason, Crabtree was considered expendable after head coach Jon Gruden showed up. But Nelson, a favorite of Aaron Rodgers at Green Bay, has not added much to the Raiders offense, partially due to injury, but his loss of foot speed is obvious.
“We felt, in the best interest of, I think, the Raiders and Michael Crabtree, it was probably better that both parties moved on,” Gruden said.
Nelson has caught 25 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He missed last week’s game because of a knee injury, but could return this Sunday in Baltimore.
Carr said this week that he had hoped Crabtree would stay and told him so the day he was cut.
“I loved Crab, we had great games, great times together,” Carr said. “I didn’t want to see him go and told him so. We had great chemistry, especially on those red-zone plays.”
Crabtree caught 25 touchdowns in three seasons with the Raiders, including a few highlight-reel candidates. The most remarkable was last year in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs when he decided the game by catching a 2-yard pass – on an untimed play after time expired — to shock the Chiefs, 31-30.
Interestingly, that was the last game-winning touchdown for Carr.
In Baltimore, Crabtree has caught 42 passes for 479 yards and two scores and hasn’t missed a game. He is on pace for 75 catches and 852 yards.
Crabtree, a 31-year-old vet now, caught only one pass for 7 yards last week from with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson.
When asked how he felt about facing the Raiders this week, Crabtree feigned indifference.
“It’s football,” he said. “It’s just another game of football.”
Right.
–On Monday the Raiders signed wide receiver Keon Hatcher off the Green Bay Packers practice squad. If that name is familiar to Raider Nation it is because Hatcher scored three touchdowns for Oakland in the preseason finale against Seattle.
In a curious twist, Hatcher was released to make room when the Raiders re-signed wide receiver Martavis Bryant. The tables were turned this week as a knee injury prevents Bryant from practicing and his return may take a while.
Hatcher admitted he was sort of surprised to be cut by the Raiders, but returns with no ill feelings.
“It’s a business,” he said. “I really wasn’t tripping that hard about it. Thankful for the opportunity, man. Anytime you get an opportunity to play this game, it’s a blessing.
“I know the playbook inside out, every position. I think I’ll be out there pretty quick, hopefully.”
–After last week’s 23-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, there was chatter in the media and among fans that the second win of the season will jeopardize the Raiders’ chance to have the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft.
This aggravated several Raiders, who objected to the whole line of thinking that the team was better to tank this season and get the top pick.
“That’s just stupid,” Carr said. “We don’t work hard all week and put our bodies on the line to lose games. That’s ridiculous.”
Rookie defensive tackle Mo Hurst was not as diplomatic.
“The idea of tanking is annoying to hear from people,” he said. “It definitely pisses us off. It’s disrespectful, yeah.”