Coach Mike Singletary said Monday that the San Francisco 49ers would still like to have first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree play for the team this season. Now that’s a bold statement.

But it is nice for a change to see something positive about the contract situation coming from the 29ers camp. You know Michael Crabtree just has to be dying watching his team and all his friends playing on Sundays while he’s sitting at home.

The 49ers have until November 17th to sign Crabtree for him to remain eligible for the season. At this point, I’m not sure how optimistic I am that they will get something done. For Crabtree’s sake, he better take the money before the deadline or he will lose millions of dollars.

The first-place 49ers are off to a 3-1 start without Crabtree, but their offense ranks 28th in the NFL. San Francisco’s passing game also ranks 28th and none of the team’s wide receivers rank among the league’s top 50 in receptions. Now part of that may be because Frank Gore is injured and their quarterback in Shaun Hill. Hill isn’t exactly going to light it up… but with Crabtree out there it at least puts fear in the defense.