The Oakland Raiders had one of the worst groups of wide receivers in the league in 2014, so you’d think fans would be happy when the team signed Michael Crabtree on Monday night. After going through weeks of free agency without giving Derek Carr any new weapons other than third down back Roy Helu, the team finally helped out the second-year quarterback with the best free agent wide receiver left on the market. But despite an addition that clearly makes the group better, many fans were not happy about the signing:
#Raiders about to sign the cancer Crabtree,I hope he doesn’t slow the process on our young wrs,and help them grow. #MrMe
— Brian Shaw (@heavydeacon) April 14, 2015
Leave the diva attitude at home. We don’t play that here. This is an arranged marriage nothing more. Catch the ball. @KingCrab15 — Bandido (@Oklandraida84) April 14, 2015
I don’t like you at all. Not one bit. I’m being straight up but you will respect the Raider shield. Buck up you in Oakland now. @KingCrab15 — Bandido (@Oklandraida84) April 14, 2015
.@KingCrab15 leave your attitude at home bust ass,I’ll eat my words 100%.
— Dr.Death (@26DrDeath) April 14, 2015
Crab is already getting shit from the mob. This so isnt gonna end well. Lotsa people just waiting 4 him 2 fail so they can hit nuke button.
— FORMER FAN (@RaiderBounty) April 14, 2015
There were definitely fans who were happy about the signing as well:
Michael Crabtree is ours! #Raiders crabtree #Raiders .Too bad I just got crabs from a public shower… But hey we got a sweet receiver! — Kym Wyatt McKenzie (@Kym_Wyatt) April 14, 2015
Very happy this morning that the #Raiders signed @KingCrab15 ! Imo he is going to be a great fit, guy plays angry… — Marsh78 (@Bmarsh78) April 14, 2015
And then there were the fans who were just frustrated by the whole thing:
#raiders fans have done a lot to change the generalizations from other fans but sometimes I just want to slap some people
— Rory anderson (@holistic_pickle) April 14, 2015
Since he’s coming off a down year, and the Raiders have a reputation for going after ex-Niners who are past their primes, it’s understandable that the addition of Crabtree hasn’t led all Raiders fans to jump for joy. It probably doesn’t help matters that many 49ers fans called him a malingering diva, either. But to get upset over a one-year deal to the best remaining free agent doesn’t make sense. Crabtree hasn’t been a No. 1 receiver since he tore his Achilles before the 2013 season, but he’s still relatively young (he’ll turn 28 in September), he should be motivated, and he makes one of Oakland’s weakest positions better than it was in 2014. That’s the point, right?
