NFL Notes: Michael Crabtree Finally Signs with Niners, Jets Trade for Edwards

After watching the team that drafted him get off to an impressive 3-1 start, Michael Crabtree finally saw the light. The San Francisco 49ers are a decent team on the rise and if Crabtree is all he is built up to be, he will be the player who can make the Niners as dangerous on offense as they are on defense. On the Niners side, they looked at their 3-1 record and realized the defense is carrying them. Frank Gore is being run into the ground and other than Gore they have no true offensive threat; Michael Crabtree represents that threat.

Whether one or either scenario is true is left to debate but both Crabtree and Edwards are the outside threats the Niners and Jets have coveted:

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has dumped dissatisfied wide receiver Braylon Edwards off on his former team.

Mangini sent Edwards, a former first-round pick whose troubles have matched his immense talent, to the Chansi Stuckey linebacker Jason Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices.

“It’s the right thing for us and for Braylon,” Mangini said.

Edwards, in his fifth season, has 10 receptions for 139 yards but was held to no catches for the first time in his career in the winless Browns’ 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. His best season came in 2007, when he had 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns.

“It’s just another piece that we wanted to add,” Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. “We’re excited to get Braylon. We think he’s going to help us. It was a position that we liked, but it was also a position we felt that if there was an opportunity to improve, we were going to go ahead and try to do that.”

The former Michigan star and former Pro Bowl selection comes to the Jets with his share of off-field issues. The NFL is investigating whether Edwards violated the league’s conduct policy following accusations he assaulted a man outside a nightclub on Monday.

Edwards allegedly punched promoter Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James, following an argument in downtown Cleveland. Police are also looking into the incident.

“We went through thorough research,” Tannenbaum said. “We’re comfortable with adding Braylon. We’ll cooperate with all the authorities, and we’re glad he’s here. We did our due diligence.”

Although Edwards hasn’t been charged with a crime, the league’s conduct policy states that discipline may be imposed for “the use or threat of violence.”

On Crabtree:

The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Michael Crabtree(notes) have agreed to a six-year contract after several months of difficult negotiations.

Team spokesman Bob Lange confirmed the deal in a text message to The Associated Press early Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.

Crabtree could provide the game-breaking wide receiver threat the 49ers have been lacking, assuming he can quickly learn the offense after missing all of training camp. The 10th pick overall, he also sat out offseason minicamps and organized team activities while recovering from a foot injury, but was a regular presence at the team’s training facility.

The 22-year-old Crabtree and his agent, Eugene Parker, sat down with three top 49ers officials Tuesday in an attempt to work through his contract impasse. Crabtree had balked at a longstanding offer of approximately five years and $20 million with a reported $16 million guaranteed, instead seeking money comparable to higher draft picks.

Coach Mike Singletary acknowledged last month that the 49ers discussed changing their offer to Crabtree, and team president Jed York said in mid-September that the team hoped for a face-to-face meeting with Crabtree but hadn’t heard back from his representatives.